Birmingham and the West Midlands boasts some historic gems many are not aware of. You don’t have to travel too far for a castle or ruin that links you with the region’s history.
We all immediately think of Warwick and Kenilworth as the ‘classic’ English castles close by, and even Weoley Castle, however strictly speaking that was never a proper castle, but made the list none the less due to its name.
All are real gems of the Midlands and well worth a visit. I regularly drag my wife and kids round these fantastic buildings and bore them senseless with the fantastic history they all have to tell. However if it gets them out the house for a few hours and inspires them just a tiny bit, then I have done my job as a Dad.
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Also on the list includes Bridgnorth and Stafford and Tamworth. All in close range of Brum for an afternoon out, a walk around and an ice cream before heading home. More surprisingly are ones like Beaudesert Castle at Henley-in-Arden. Not your traditional ruined walled structure, more like a big mound of earth, but a beautiful walk around in the Warwickshire village. Some great tea shops close by and even the new Station Pub with the brewery Henley Mile opening earlier this year. I always have to get a mention of beer in an article as beer and history are my favourite things.
Others just up the road include Shrewsbury, Hartlebury Castle, and just a little further Stokesay Castle which is one of the finest and best-preserved fortified medieval manor houses in England and well worth a visit.
Give them a try, some are free or part of organisations, and some you can walk around the perimeter for nothing so a great cheap day out with a picnic and an ice cream.