Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands. It is known as one of the lovely places where anyone can live and enjoy its plethora of attractions and beautiful landmarks. Over the last ten years, the city has completely changed and has become so advanced, especially in the engineering, aerospace and service industries. Whether it is shopping, eating, or entertainment, this place will surely offer something for everyone.

1. What makes Wolverhampton unique?
2. Wolverhampton’s popular attractions
3. Nightlife in Wolverhampton
4. Sport in Wolverhampton
5. Food in Wolverhampton
6. Shopping in Wolverhampton
7. Festivals and events in Wolverhampton
8. Wolverhampton living costs
9. Travel in and around Wolverhampton
10. Explore the UK from Wolverhampton

1. What makes Wolverhampton unique?

Wolverhampton is the second-largest place in the West Midlands county. The city grew initially as a market town specialising in wool trading. In the Industrial Revolution, it became a major centre for coal mining, steel production, lock making and the manufacture of cars and motorcycles.

Wolverhampton is home to the Express & Star newspaper, which boasts the largest circulation of any provincial daily evening newspaper in the UK. Parent company Midland News Association is based in Wolverhampton.

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2. Wolverhampton’s popular attractions

Wolverhampton offers an abundance of fun activities and unique places to visit. Among them, you will find:

• Wightwick Manor. A glorious snapshot of the late-19th-century Arts and Crafts and Aesthetic movements, this is a must-see National Trust house.
• Bantock House Museum and Park. In 50 acres of grounds, this country house dates from the 1730s. It showcases the history of wealthy families, such as the Banktocks.
• RAF Museum Cosford. Anyone fascinated by aviation, both military and civilian, will be in heaven at this museum at the Royal Air Force base in Cosford.
• David Austin Roses. The internationally-acclaimed rose breeder David Austin showcases his work and is cherished as one of the most beautiful rose gardens in the world.
• Moseley Old Hall. This marvellous Elizabethan house is one of two properties on our list that served as a refuge for Charles II following the Royalists’ defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651.
• West Park. An archetypal Victorian urban park, this place was inaugurated in 1881 and still has some beautiful architecture from the period.
• Wolverhampton Art Gallery. In a Neoclassical purpose-built venue, constructed from Bath stone in 1884, this art gallery has a collection that punches above its weight.
• Baggeridge Country Park. This 150-acres of space is somewhere for families to embrace the outdoors, battling over a high ropes course, riding a miniature railway, cycling and cutting loose at the children’s play area.
• Northycote Farm. A local family favourite, this is a free animal attraction around a 16th-century Tudor house.
• Himley Hall & Park. This is a splendid Palladian mansion from the 18th century, set in 180 acres of parkland designed by Capability Brown, the leading landscape architect of the period.
• Grand Theatre. The oldest surviving performing arts venue in the town.
• Black Country Living Museum. In 26 acres, on what used to be industrial land, there are dozens of shops, houses and industrial buildings from across the region known as the Black Country.
• Boscobel House. This 17th-century timber-framed house in Shropshire is where Charles II hid after the royalist defeat in the Battle of Worcester in 1651.
• Willenhall Memorial Park. A park that commemorates soldiers that had sacrificed their lives in the First World War.

Photo credit: Express & Star

3. Nightlife in Wolverhampton

If you fancy a drink during your stay in Wolverhampton, why not piece together a night out from some of our favourite bars, pubs and clubs in the city. Our local guide has all kinds of popular drinking dens, whether you’re looking for cocktails, shots, pints or perries.

When it comes to city centre drinking, The Lych Gate Tavern is tough to beat. It’s a historic pub that dates back to the 16th-century and boasts character features such as a roaring open fire, beamed rooms, and 10 traditional hand-pumps. On top of that, the prices are great, you can bring your own food. Here, you can even buy cobs, pork pies, sausage rolls and scotch eggs at the bar for a cheap price.

Or, if you want, you can make your way to the Hogshead. This location is ideal for students as it is located near the university, thus perfect if you’re looking for a good vibrant atmosphere. The best thing about this club is that it contains a cheap menu of decent pub grub like sourdough pizzas, burgers, fish and chips.

Finally, if you want a calming space, perhaps some laid-back drinks with friends or colleagues, visit The Dog and Doublet. Heading down in the early afternoon or on a weekday, you’ll find yourself in a comfortable pub where you can sit back to enjoy an excellent selection of real ales, beers, ciders, wines, and spirits. At weekends, The Dog and Doublet can be a lively bar that gets packed to the rafters for gigs and DJ nights.

Photo credit: Martin Handley via Flickr

4. Sport in Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton Wanderers, the city’s one and only professional football team, play their home games at the Molineux Stadium.

If you fancy a day at the races then make your way to Wolverhampton Racecourse. The city has a long history of horse racing ever since 1825, and the current sporting arena is one of the most popular in the country with more than 120,000 visitors each year.

Other state-of-the-art facilities open to the public include:

• WV Active Aldersley
• Wolverhampton Swimming & Fitness Centre
• Codsall Leisure Centre
• Millride Country Sports
• Wombourne Leisure Centre
• Bentley Bridge Leisure Park

Photo credit: Bill Wright via Flickr

5. Food in Wolverhampton

With suburb choices, mouthwatering meals and dessert, you will be spoilt with an array of restaurants, coffee shops, and tea rooms that will suit every occasion, mood, and budget.

When it comes to Italian food, Bella is quite an exception. It is a family-run Italian restaurant near West Park which has been around since 2001. Since then it has established itself as a firm favourite with locals, so much so that we recommend booking a table to avoid disappointment. As is the case with the best Italian restaurants, the food is simple, freshly prepared, well-cooked and lovingly presented.

For those that plan to enjoy some Wolverhampton entertainment during their stay by paying a visit to the Grand Theatre. On the corner of Lichfield Street, you’ll find The Hungry Bistro – without doubt one of the best places for a pre- or post-theatre meal. It offers a refreshed menu of marvellous home-cooked food with honest prices, a good wine menu, and stellar services.

If you’re hunting down a good brew in town then head on over to Lucy’s Coffee Shop, a quaint little cafe on Oxford Street with some outrageously delicious sarnies, paninis and toasties for you to chow down on with one of Lucy’s brilliant beverages.

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6. Shopping in Wolverhampton

There’s no better way to kill a couple of hours than a wee bit of retail therapy. Should you fancy a shopping spree during your stay then there are a couple of retail destinations you need to be aware of.

First up, if you want to stay in the heart of the city, then the Mander Centre is the main shopping centre in Wolverhampton. It’s home to a huge four-floor Debenhams along with other High Street favourites such as Clarks, H&M, New Look and Waterstones. Next door, you’ll also find the likes of Primark, M&S and a huge Poundland in the Wulfrun Shopping Centre.

Alternatively, you could head a couple of miles out of town to the Bentley Bridge Retail Park. As well as having a huge Cineworld and being home to many favourite activities in Wolverhampton, it also has a great selection of outlets like Next, Laura Ashley and TK Maxx stores.

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7. Festivals and events in Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton has a number of wide-ranging festivals and events throughout the year, namely:

• Black British Book Festival. A celebration of black authors across all genres​ of literature.
• Brewood Musical Festival. An exciting live music event
• National Bhangra Festival. This cultural entertainment extravaganza will include Live Performances, Dinner, Dance, Exhibition & Free Workshops.
• Black Country Food & Drink Festival. A bank holiday weekend festival of food, drink and live entertainment.

8. Wolverhampton living costs

Budget guide:

• One-way ticket (local transport): £2.40
• Meal out: £10.00
• Fast food (McDonald’s): £5.00
• Gasoline (1 Litre): £1.27
• Cinema ticket: £10.00

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9. Travel in and around Wolverhampton

By car

Wolverhampton is near several motorways, with four being located within 7 miles (11 km) of the city centre. The first to be constructed in the area was the M6, which opened in sections and connects the city with the north-west of England including Manchester and Liverpool, Scotland as well as Birmingham and Coventry to the east, and London via the M1. Together with the M5, it links the city with the south-west of England and London via the M40 - the two motorways form a north-south bypass for the city.

By rail

There were also a number of suburban stations in Wolverhampton – including Dunstall Park and Bushbury north of the city centre; Tettenhall and Compton to the west side of the city on the GWR's Wombourne Branch Line; Wednesfield and Heath Town on the Wolverhampton and Walsall Railway; Portobello on the Walsall to Wolverhampton Line; Priestfield and Bilston Central on the Birmingham Snow Hill to Wolverhampton Low Level Line; and Bilston West and Daisy Bank on the Oxford-Worcester-Wolverhampton Line. Today, all of the suburban rail stations within the city have been closed, although Coseley, Codsall and Bilbrook are just outside the boundaries.

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By bus

Buses in the city are run commercially by a number of operators, the largest being National Express West Midlands. As well as serving suburbs of the city, buses from the centre of Wolverhampton also provide a direct link with the city of Birmingham and connections to Walsall, Telford, West Bromwich, Stourbridge, Cannock, Sedgley, Bilston, Bloxwich, Bridgnorth & Dudley.

The city's bus station operated by Transport for West Midlands is situated at Piper's Row, near to the railway station, providing an interchange between the two modes of transport.

By plane

The nearest major airport is Birmingham International Airport, approximately 25 miles away and can easily be reached via an express train. If you are driving, sometimes it can be quicker to reach Manchester Airport instead, due to traffic delays on the M6 eastbound motorway towards Birmingham International.

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10. Explore the UK from Wolverhampton

A wonderful thing about Wolverhampton is how well-connected it is to other places in the West Midlands Conurbation. Wolverhampton is also an ideal place to have a day trip and enter some of the country’s most famous landmarks and tourist attractions.

Birmingham

Birmingham, a major city in the West Midlands region, is Europe’s youngest city and Britain's second largest city. Famed for the first manufacturing town in the world and hailed as the city of thousand trades, Birmingham withholds unique historical constructions as well as famous cultural heritage. Life here will always grant you the best convenience, whether it is shopping, eating, or visiting beautiful landmarks.

Stafford

With a 38-minute car drive, Stafford is a perfect place for a family trip located in the West Midlands of England. Home to The Elizabethan Ancient High House, this is the largest timber-framed town house in England where you can experience some beautiful landmarks and breathtaking views. There is also Stafford Castle that was built by the Normans in 1090. Here, you can experience an array of leisure activities, from eating, shopping, and entertainment. Surely, this place will never disappoint you with weekend options and easy commutes.

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Liverpool

Liverpool has an excellent network of qualified tour guides. There are over 100 blue badge, green badge and official Beatles tour guides, who offer a wide range of services from individual walking tours to large coach tours, photography, ghost tours, pub tours and of course, the Fab Four Beatles tours which makes it a perfect location for any holiday trip.

Famed as a port during the late 19th and early 20th century, this place will also blow your mind away with its beautiful historic architecture and landmarks. Liverpool is also the birthplace of the famous rock group The Beatles. It is also famous for its football teams, Everton F.C. and Liverpool F.C.