I love the location of Oak House. I remember the first time I visited and truly marvelling that as…read moreI passed through the terraced streets of West Bromwich, tucked away is this half timbered Yeoman's house that was built between 1590-1630. With a small walled garden it is a free museum that often has activity days and public events to get you involved with everything from how to wash your clothes with your own pee to the daily life of a Yeoman. I've had the honour of being allowed in the closed off areas and i really wish that they would let you up as there are even more gems to see from a hidden taxidermy collection to stacks of mayoral chairs from when the Black Country local councils became one Sandwell council. It's worth popping by just to see how random it looks in the middle of a housing estate. Fingers crossed they will get the super ancient barn restored and their great plans to make this an even better museum and visitor centre.

this is a small house set in victorian times great to see a bit of historyread more

I used to go in here as a kid all the time due to my family all living in and coming from around…read morethe area. Me and my husband decided to move back here from the south and be with my family so I decided it was only right to introduce him to the Black Country properly! We enjoyed it in the museum so much because it is one of those places which can take as long as you want it too, we spent a good couple of hours talking to the people who worked there, wandering around and even getting a half pint in the pub. The museum is one of a kind and somewhere I feel everyone has to experience once, whether from the Black Country or not! My husbands family are visiting the Black Country for the first time in a couple of weeks and I've already dedicated a day for this and to go to mad O'Rourkes after (also a necessity when visiting)

We loved this place. It was a great experience that I highly recommend. They have taken great care…read morein recreating a coal mining town. You can also do an amazing tour in the mine. Don't skip it!

Definitely one of the must visit air museums in the UK!…read more I've been to duxford a couple times over the years (also a must visit of course), and in my recent trip to the UK wanted to go somewhere else, so I picked RAF Cosford. Was not sure what to expect but the main hanger there definitely makes an impression on you as you pull up! Inside you will find a great collection of aircraft from WW1, WW2, to the cold war, to the near present (an early eurofighter prototype for example). Some aircraft you might not really see anywhere else as they are either one of a few left or teh ONLY one left in existence! Either way I had a great time walking all around the collection (all housed indoors thankfully). Honestly my only complaint was I felt like the last hanger was a disappointment compared to the others. Especially the main cold-war hanger, but in a way it's a good thing they have room from improvement, as well as room to hopefully expand the collection too, gives me hope there will be a reason to come back on one of my future UK trips.

Great museum to see lots of aircraft primarily stored inside out of the elements, with a few…read moreoutside on display. Absolutely loved the rare Japanese aircraft, experimental odd ones like the Bristol 188 and the Gloster Meteor Prone. Each of the planes have placards with plenty information about the history of that plane that is on display. They are the only place where you can find all of the V-Series bombers all intact, but unfortunately the Cold War hall is so crammed full of planes, that you truly cannot appreciate or completely see all of the planes. The museum overall is free, there is a fee to park which you supposedly can pay in advance online (it did not work for me), or you can pay inside because none of the machines in the parking lot work. There is also a cafe to get something to eat, located immediately to the left when you walk into the entrance.

Very historic, beautiful site, what can i say nicest castle in England definetly reccomend and…read morevisit other places around there too

Lovely little hive of history, especially when my childhood castle was ruins, it's always nice to…read morespend some time in one that would still have some chance of holding fort. Did have a good giggle about the people ranting about it being the same tour- funny that, when it's history!

Free museum in Birmingham city centre focusing on contemporary art. It's in a very grand building,…read moreso I thought the museum would be big too, but it wasn't. Well there is a lot of empty space, and not that much to see. Few different rotating exhibitions, I saw some on the rave scene in the 80s and also racial violence from the 60-90s. On the way out I accidentally insulted one of the artists, but he just brushed it off.

We visited this museum yesterday and we really liked it. Both the exterior and interior of the…read morebuilding are beautiful. The museum has a terrific selection of paintings from the 15th, 16th & 17th centuries and a particularly good selection of Pre-Raphaelites. There's a *gorgeous*/large Edwardian tea room and also a separate café (the latter is small and attractive). The gift shop isn't very large, but it had some nice items. Also, I had a wonderful conversation with one of the guards; she was very friendly and kind-hearted.

Ancient castle with lions thrown in! Dudley Castle, part of the Dudley Zoo complex; magnificent,…read morestunning views, historic remains and a fascinating visitor centre opened by HM Queen Elizabeth II in June 1994. Constructed in 1070, the keep is largely intact as are the shells of the 16th century palace buildings around the castle retaining wall. A stunning view opens out when you enter the castle grounds via one of the wall gates - possibly the best one is that from the restaurant by the sea-lions (the secondary gate, not the Main Gate). Walking up through here gives no clue to the huge green area of grass that appears before you, stretching out ahead, framed by the dominating profile of the castle keep at the far end and the complex building remains to the left. If this is your first time, a really great surprise (Don't look at the accompanying pictures!). Explore the Sharrington Range, the burnt out palace built in the 1540's. Then dive inside the visitor centre to appreciate the incredible history, life and times of the castle. See, lying in a basket, the heads of John Dudley's son and his wife Lady Jane Grey after they were beheaded by Mary I (only plaster models, don't worry!). Try putting your own head on the chopping block, to find out what it must have felt like (at least the first stage of the process!). See a fascinating montage of the year round activities of castle life and continue through dark passageways glowing with colourful showcases. Excellent stuff. Back in the open, steel yourself for a climb up the narrow, clausterophobia inducing circular stairwell that runs up the inside of the keep. Emerge at the top, panting and dazzled by the sunlight to view a Lord's perspective of Dudley below, Birmingham beyond and as far as the eye can see towards hills and vales to the south. Marvellous and definitely worth the effort - but need a head for heights. Picnic tables and bench seats available for resting after all the excitement and there is a Tavern built into the walls to supply alternative refreshments (and ice creams), though not always open. Make friends with the Zoo animals on the way back. Getting there by train, arriving at Dudley Port station, is not ideal - approx 3 miles to the Zoo and up hill all the way. Bus number 74 will take you to Castle Gate stop from the rail station. Plenty of trains from New Street, every half hour. Cars do seem more easily accommodated, with large pay and display parking facilities on the Zoo site. A really good ancient castle experience for everyone, young and old. All this included in the price of the Zoo entrance!

Few people seem to realise that they have one of the most complete large castle ruins right in the…read moreUK . Its remarkably intact and has a great history . And to have a zoo thrown in as well . I just think that really the whole thing should be tied in with the black country museum to make one if the most complete days out in the country

I spent 2 weeks in the UK on business. During that time, I wasn't able to do nearly the amount of…read moreexploring that I'd hoped I would. I took a train from Bedford to London and spent the entire day walking around and exploring. I spent a lot of time traveling back and forth between Bedford and Birmingham, and exploring all I could between. Aston Hall was the only place I visited that I knew I would never forget. I was lucky to be here on the off season, on a bright sunny day. I had the property to myself, but was unfortunately unable to poke around inside. Aston Hall is overwhelming. The house had so much personality. The patches of lime green and crazy slippery algae in the corners of near the front door, the big beautiful gardens on either side of the property that smell of roses even before they bloom and the sound of children playing on the lawn *That on it's own blew me away, thinking of kids back home (in America) playing in just regular parks with a swing set while these children run around playing tag in the gardens of Aston Hall.*. The towering and cracking door leading into the front hall. I could go on forever. I don't know what it is about this property, but I felt immediately attached to it. I just sat on the front lawn and stared, knowing that when I left I would miss it immediately. If I had the chance to go back to the UK for just one hour, I'd spend it at Aston Hall.

I have spotted the Aston Hall for the first time some years ago, in my first visit to Birmingham,…read morewhen I was crossing the Aston Park to reach by Aston Villa's pitch. I can't describe how impressed was to see this stunning mansion's garden and I never would think this location would hide such an exuberant building. So I have decided to visit inside this historical Hall properly. What a fascinating experience! Built in 1635, The Aston Hall is considered almost like a treasure of Midlands and it was residence of The Holte Family for several years. The house also suffered a damaged during the English Civil War, in 1643. Nowadays, the Aston Hall is open to the public as a museum and what can be seen inside this Jacobean construction is a really interesting heritage collection of furniture and rooms that express well that atmosphere in Britain, in the period covering from 17th to 19th centuries. The details of the walls and the kitchen supplies of this impressive building are really lovely and visiting Aston Hall is a synonymous of a good day out with family. The admission to Aston Hall is £ 4 (adults) with free admission to children under 16, but every first Sunday of each month it`s free for visiting. The site is usually open from Tuesdays to Sundays, from 12 pm to 4 pm. Take a note: The Headless Statue is an interesting and sad part of Aston Hall history. Look for more information about it before visiting the place.

Another Charles II jigsaw piece for the area, as this is another house where he stayed, bed and…read morepriest hole still there to see. The staff/volunteers are really knowledgeable, (My Nanna has had a couple of them to WI meetings to do talks on historical medicine, and I think the other one was food history). The house is well kept, and more to look round than in seems on the outside, and the gardens are lovely, especially with the resident peacocks. They also put on a lot of interesting features- there were children fencing once in blue and red masks (not historical stuff, but good starting points) and they do food-ie bits etc. Lots of nice facts and etymology thrown around too. Nice tea room and gift shop (everyone needs a national trust picnic blanket in their life)

I have been visiting this fantastic National Trust property since I was a small child and have…read moreenjoyed every subsequent visit to this day. This atmospheric Elizabethan farmhouse conceals a priest's hole and hiding places, in one of which Charles II hid after the Battle of Worcester in 1651 and thus has link with Boscobel House nearby where he also hid in an Oak tree. The actual bed on which the royal fugitive slept is also on view. With an excellent guided tour we followed the story of the King's dramatic escape from Cromwell's troops and find out about 17th-century domestic life in this historic home which has been encased in bricks during its long life. The garden has many varieties of plants in keeping with the period and has a striking knot garden following a 17th-century design (see photo) There is a great little gift shop, tea shop, plant sale and second hand book shop to peruse as well.

PART I, SUDBURY HALL: Actually, the 17th century Sudbury Hall and its (much later) enclosed Museum…read moreof Childhood are one item - but you can visit them separately, and pay separately. Of course, it makes much more "sightseeing sense", if such a thing exists, to combine the two - price-wise, it does too. You will still end up with a UKP 18.30 bill, which is quite hefty, and the reason I cannot award this attraction the full 5 stars. Adults will find Sudbury Hall to be the far more significant one: A very fine stately mansion, owned and inhabited by the family who had it built in 1680-80 until the year 1969, when it was donated to the National Trust. Most of what's inside, in terms of furniture at least, actually comes from late 19th, early 20th century. But still splendid to look at. The main attraction is the astonishing 40 metres long Great Hall, which simply looks stunning and is filled with 2nd tier portraits of family members and (other) notables from the 17th to 19th century. The furniture you'll find in some rooms is a bit on the bland side, but there many interesting objects strewn around. There are very few art objects and paintings inside you'd recognize as outstanding; but then the Vernons didn't belong to the highest of nobility either. I've visited many mansions in England and Scotland over the past 10 years, and Sudbury Hall certainly sits on the lower middle end, three rungs below the most wonderful such place I ever visited, Castle Howard in Yorkshire. But maybe because it's not quite as refined as some others, it allows you an even more interesting glimpse into the everyday lives of the lower nobility. The café is rather nice indeed, though usually as crowded and loud as the attached Museum of Childhood, as those will both be full of industrious little terrorists (i.e. children). If you're in the Derby-Burton-Nottingham area and only have time to visit one country mansion, then I suggest you'll make that Kedleston Hall near Derby, which is far more imposing and luxurious. And easier to get to. Sudbury Hall offers a large car park that's a few minutes walk from the house. By bus, use the hourly 401 service between Tutbury and Uttoxeter. PART II: THE MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD: The Museum of Childhood is located on the grounds of Sudbury Hall (in the former stables of that mansion) - and if you're visiting the stately mansion, it certainly makes sense to include the museum in your tour. It covers two floors of various aspects of childhood (and the history thereof), but mostly focuses on toys of the past 200 years. And there are plenty! If you're at all interested in historic toys, you will find hundreds of those: Dolls, doll houses, board games ... anything, really. Some of them are so elaborate and precious you wouldn't let your own, or anyone's, kids play with them. It will probably cost you about an hour to sample the many exhibits, and while the place can feel a tad cramped (especially with that multitude of real-life little critters running about), it's a worthwhile addition to the main attraction, Sudbury Hall. Having said that, the price (even of the combined ticket) is a bit steep (hence, -1 star). I paid UKP 18.30 for an adult ticket to both places. You can unwind at a rather nice attached café, though when the place is busy, that one will be, too. Very helpful and friendly volunteers from National Trust running about. Unless you go there by car, take the hourly 401 bus from nearby Tutbury.

A National Trust owned property that is a great day out for all the family.Sudbury hall is a…read morefantastic house full of highly decorated rooms.Then there is the childhood museum, see toy's from year's ago, for adult's it takes you back to your childhood.For children it is a delight with play area's and fun thing's to do,but also educational.Visit the victorian school, complete with teacher!.