Tamworth (England)

By car

From Birmingham, head northbound on the M42, leave at J10 and take the A5 into town.

By train

Tamworth station is a two level station; there are two separate lines which cross each other at a raised platform. Connections are available between the West Coast Main Line (at the lower level) and the Cross Country Main Line (at the higher level). CrossCountry trains link Tamworth with Birmingham, Bristol, Plymouth and Penzance southbound and Derby, Nottingham, Sheffield, York, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Edinburgh northbound, while London North Western trains connect Tamworth with London Euston, Milton Keynes, Stafford, Liverpool and Crewe directly; Manchester can be reached with one change of trains.

By plane

The nearest airports are Birmingham Airport (BHX) about and East Midlands Airport (EMA) about .
To reach Tamworth from Birmingham Airport head straight for the M42 Northbound and head north till Junction 10. From East Midlands follow signs for the A42, then continue southbound until it becomes the M42. Again leave at Junction 10 and use the A5 for the town centre.

Tamworth's town centre isn't very widespread, so you can easily get around by foot. Heading outside of the town centre, there are regular buses that go out across the area.

• Tamworth Castle & Pleasure GroundsWithin walking distance of the town centre, it is well worth a visit. It has a history ranging back to Saxon times when the town was the capital of Mercia. It is at the centre of many theories about the history of The Staffordshire Hoard, the largest collection of Saxon treasure ever discovered, about 5 miles (8 km) to the north.

• The BelfryThe world-famous golf course.

• Drayton Manor Theme ParkHome of 'Thomas Land' among many other attractions and roller-coasters, is just on the outskirts of the town. From the town centre, head for Fazeley.

• Kingsbury Water ParkA large flooded quarry forming numerous large boating, fishing and recreational lakes and field areas. Children's playgrounds and activities, a visitor centre and coffee shop are available.

• Cue Sports Leisure Club

  phone: +44 1827 57995
  address: 32 Victoria Rd, B79 7HS
  If you fancy a game of snooker try Cue Sports.

• Namco Funscape

  phone: +44 1827 68448
  address: Castle Grounds, River Drive, B79 7ND
  If you are into ten-pin bowling, the Strykers Bowl is on the edge of the town centre. From the town centre, you can walk there through the castle grounds in around ten minutes. The bowling alley is owned by Namco Bandai (yes, that Namco Bandai) and offer arcade machines as well.

• SnowDome Tamworth

  phone: +44 8448 000 011
  address: Leisure Island, River Drive
  Ski & snowboard year round. Ideal for off-season practice or a family day out.

• Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve160 hectares (400 acres) nature reserve, ideal for bird-watching.

The best place in Tamworth for a bit of shopping is Ventura Retail Park not far from the town centre.

• Ventura Retail Park

  address: B78 3JD
  It has a range of retail outlets such as John Lewis (At Home), M&S, WHSmith, Matalan, Toys R Us, Currys, Focus, Halfords, Hobbycraft, Blacks, Boots, JJB Sports, Sainsburys & Asda WalMart.

In the town:

• Urban Fashion

  address: 81 Bolebridge Street
  Urban Fashion is a trendy clothes shop in Tamworth town centre. It is also the home of Modrophenia.com, a specialist mod & retro clothing website. Well worth a visit

Tamworth has a few restaurants in the town centre.

• Pastiche Bistro, Silver Street. They serve good international food.
• Portobello, Italian, Silver Street
• Jalali, Indian, Aldergate
• Most of the pubs in town also serve good food.
• Asda,Sainsburys, M & S & John Lewis At Home have cafés for people to eat whilst out shopping.

Tamworth has many pubs in and around the town centre, some are listed below.

• The Market Vaults, George Street with rear beer garden

• The Bole Bridge (Wetherspoons)

  phone: +44 1827 317510
  address: Bolebridge St, B79 7PA
  Good for cheap drinks and rotating guest ales.
• The Tavern in the Town, Corporation Street - Often with live music, blues & rock
• The Sir Robert Peel, Lower Gungate sometimes has guest ales.
• Yate's, Lower Gungate
• The Boot, Lichfield Street
• The Three Tuns, Lichfield Street
• The White Lion, Lichfield Street
• The Globe, Gungate
• The Old Stone Cross, Church Street
• The Silk Kite, Church Street

• Ramada Tamworth

  address: Junction 11 M42
  Comfortable hotel just outside Tamworth town centre with Reuben's Restaurant & Bar. Ideal for business guests with free Wi-Fi and easy access to motorway network. Very family friendly with excellent value packages including entry to Drayton Manor & Thomas Land, Conkers, Twycross Zoo and National Space Centre.

• Premier Inn Tamworth Central

  address: Bonehill Road B78 3HQ