TAMWORTH may not be top of many tourists’ to-do lists, but it boasts the best boozer, a kids-go-free castle and even a chance to ski on real snow, all within staggering distance of each other.
I’m lucky that this Midlands marvel is only half an hour from me, so I headed over to check out all the things that make the town a perfect day trip destination this year.
It’s been ages since I last visited Tamworth Castle, a landmark feature in the centre of town, still standing tall on its original motte.
It’s just announced that it’s the latest visitor attraction to join the Blue Peter scheme, which means that kids who’ve earned a badge from the beloved TV show can get in free.
We were absolutely amazed by all the different eras of history showcased at the castle, a fascinating snapshot of its own journey through time.
What I really loved though was the recreated Saxon mead hall with fount-of-knowledge volunteer guide Ralph on hand to bring history to life and chat to us about the Staffordshire Hoard, a huge stash of Saxon riches discovered by a metal detectorist on a farmer’s field in 2009.
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The hoard was split between three Midlands museums and Tamworth makes the most of the sparkling specimens it received in its Battle and Tribute exhibition.
We love a castle and have visited many of the biggest and best, like Warwick and Windsor, but Tamworth gives them a run for their money in terms of immersive experiences for children and offering up history in easy-to-understand bite-size chunks.
One thing that Tamworth really has going for it is the greenery of the Castle Grounds right in its centre.
This open-to-all public space has a fab castle-themed playground, a skate park, tennis courts and a cafe.
It is bordered by indoor attractions like Namco Funscape, which includes bowling, softplay and adventure golf, and the SnowDome, where visitors can ski, skate, climb and swim.
My boys love taking to the slopes and a firm family favourite here is the snow fun park, where you can play in the white stuff all year round.
The pool offers flumes and floats sessions for families.
If you have a Blue Light Card, you can often get money off and it’s always worth checking out the deals section of the SnowDome website, as you can bag a bargain at quieter times of the year.
We rounded up our visit with a trip to the Tamworth Tap, which has just been named pub of the year by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) for the third time.
It’s the first pub to win this award three times, so it was no surprise to find it already bustling with barely a table to spare within half an hour of its opening on a Friday afternoon.
You won’t be able to bring the kids in here, as it’s over-18s only, but if you’re visiting with older kids who are happy to enjoy the skate park, which is only a two-minute walk away, you can sneak in for a cheeky pint and a portion of £4 frickles – pickles fried in breadcrumbs.
If you’re here in the warmer months, the pub’s beer garden certainly has one of the best views in the town, overlooked by its castle neighbour.
April is a great time to visit the town, with a dragon egg hunt around the castle over the school holidays and then a free medieval festival to mark St George’s Day in the park on April 18, with jousting, archery, games and fairground rides.
Just outside Tamworth, there’s plenty of family-friendly visitor attractions a short drive away where you can easily while away a day if you’re making a weekend of it.
My top picks would be Twycross Zoo (20-minute drive), Statfold Country Park (10 minutes) and Drayton Manor (7 minutes).
As well as visiting the animals, Twycross also has the Gruffalo Discovery Land, which is great for little ones, while both Drayton Manor and Statfold are perfect for train fans and anyone who loves fairground and theme park rides.
Drayton, which hosts Thomas Land, has just celebrated its 75th anniversary by installing a lake lights show, while Statfold recently opened the National Fairground Museum, so visitors can now enjoy vintage fairground rides as well as steam and diesel trains.
With a hoard of hidden gems of its own, this Staffordshire treasure has a wealth of wonders just waiting to be discovered.