A market town, just a short drive from Birmingham, transports visitors back in time to an era that shaped modern Britain, in addition to its notable links to the Titanic and Peaky Blinders
A retro town sits frozen in time with cobbled streets and a renowned fish and chip shop.
While it may not match the size of its neighbouring cities, Birmingham and Wolverhampton, Dudley has a charm all of its own. This West Midlands market town boasts connections to the Titanic, the popular TV series Peaky Blinders, and is home to historic landmarks and a host of attractions for a fantastic day out. One of those is the Black Country Living Museum – a small town in its own right, which was named Britain’s top tourist attraction and transports visitors back in time.
Dudley forms part of the Black Country region, alongside the three other metropolitan boroughs: Sandwell, Walsall, and Wolverhampton. These areas played a pivotal role in fueling the Industrial Revolution – all their furnaces, foundries, and famously strong accents.
The term ‘Black Country’ has been used since the 19th century, referring to the colour of the coal and the air pollution prevalent at the time. Notably, they constructed the world’s first successful steam engine, put the first steam train (the Stourbridge Lion) on US soil, produced the anchor for the Titanic, helped introduce the first minimum wage, and played a significant part in building London’s Crystal Palace.
This impressive history can be explored at the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, which was crowned Large Visitor Attraction of the Year by VisitEngland earlier this year, beating the likes of Alton Towers, Warwick Castle and Blenheim Palace.
The treasured gem, spread across 29 acres, is an open-air museum designed as a real-life community that brings 250 years of industrial history in the region to life, offering a raw and immersive glimpse into the soot, steam and steel that shaped modern Britain. Travelling back to the Black Country’s rich past, visitors can wander along cobbled streets, pop into reconstructed pubs and shops, explore a coal mine and interact with costumed characters.
The immersive experience offers visitors the chance to delve into life in 19th-century Britain, with tickets costing £26.95 for adults, £14.95 for children (aged 3-15), and entry for those under two is free. The museum also served as a major filming location for the hit TV series, Peaky Blinders, tempting visitors to channel their inner Tommy Shelby.
Additionally, the museum boasts a renowned fish and chip shop, Hobbs’ and Sons, which has been praised as one of the finest in the region for its delicious, traditionally cooked fare, served in newspaper. Visitors can also stop by T. Cook’s Sweet Shop to buy a paper bag of traditional, old-fashioned sweets, often weighed out from jars, or head to Veal’s Baker’s Shop.
Trained blacksmiths are on hand, making chains in the forge, which sits in front of the Dudley Canal. The waterway runs through a lengthy tunnel too narrow for horses that used to propel the boats, so captains would lie on the vessel’s roof and push the craft with their legs. Visitors can experience the inventive way of travelling today.
Wolverhampton’s iconic Elephant and Castle pub has been recreated on the museum’s high street, transporting thirsty punters back to a time before fruit machines, Sky Sports and mobile phones were fixtures of a night out drinking.
Despite once being branded the “unhappiest” place to live on Rightmove, Dudley has been elevated by its extensive range of attractions. One of the town’s most cherished destinations is Dudley Zoo and Castle, situated in the town centre.
The zoo is home to hundreds of animals, big and small, and first welcomed visitors in 1937, two years before the Second World War began. During a visit, you can also admire the stunning views across the West Midlands from the top of Castle Hill.
Nestled within the zoo grounds, you’ll find the historic Dudley Castle, a structure steeped in history dating back to 1070 AD. The castle and its courtyard are the backdrop to their ghost and history walks, where it’s rumoured to be haunted by a spectre known as the Grey Lady.
Away from the spookiness, the castle also hosts open-air cinema nights and various children’s events, along with the chance to witness bird of prey displays.
When it comes to Christmas, the Merry Hill shopping centre in Brierley Hill will earn the moniker of ‘Merry Hell’ due to the lengthy queues, but you can’t fault residents flocking here as it boasts a plethora of shops, cafes and restaurants. In addition, there are more dining options across the street, along with a cinema to catch the latest movie and escape the crowds in this unsuspecting market town.
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