West Bromwich

West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands. It is 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road and is part of the Black Country. Historically within Staffordshire, West Bromwich is the largest town within Sandwell, with a population of 136,940 at the time of the 2001 census.

By rail

West Bromwich Central tram stop

is served by the West Midlands Metro, which runs from Birmingham to Wolverhampton. It has no train station, but trains call at

Sandwell and Dudley railway station

, nearby.

By bus

West Bromwich bus station

, adjacent to the tram stop, has services to nearby towns and cities.

By car

Junction 1 of the M5 motorway is adjacent to the town.

• West Bromwich Manor House

  address: Hall Green Road, B71 2EA
  Built by the de Marnham family in the late 13th century as the centre of their agricultural estate in West Bromwich only the Great Hall survives of the original complex of living quarters, agricultural barns, sheds and ponds. Successive occupants modernised and extended the Manor House until it was described in 1790 as “a large pile of irregular half-timbered buildings, black and white, and surrounded with numerous out-houses and lofty walls.” The Manor House was saved from demolition in the 1950s by West Bromwich Corporation which carried out an extensive and sympathetic restoration of this nationally important building.

• West Bromwich Town Hall

  address: High Street/Lodge Road, B70 8DY
  Situated in the centre of the High Street, West Bromwich Town Hall is a Grade II listed building. It was built between 1874 and 1875 in brick and stone to an Italian Gothic design, and its interior reflects the Victorian interest in Gothic and Medieval architecture. Its Grand Organ, built in 1862, is considered to be of historic importance for its musical and technical qualities.

• Dartmouth ParkDartmouth Park sits between West Bromwich Town Centre and Sandwell Valley Country Park. A £6-million restoration project supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and BIG Lottery was completed in 2014. There are plenty of activities for all visitors at this Grade II listed park including a fantastic play area, lakes for fishing, outstanding views across Sandwell Valley, floral displays, sensory garden and a pavilion. Other features and attractions include: Adizone outdoor gym equipment, football, climbing wall and basketball, lakes for fishing, walking and jogging routes and the towns war memorial.

• The Hawthorns (West Bromwich Albion F.C)

  address: Halfords Lane, B71 4LF
  The Hawthorns is an all-seater football stadium in West Bromwich, Sandwell, England, with a capacity of 26,272. It has been the home of West Bromwich Albion F.C. since 1900, when it became the sixth ground to be used by the club. The ground was the last Football League ground to be built in the 19th century. At an altitude of 551 feet (168 m), it is the highest ground among those of all 92 Premier League and Football League clubs.

• Farley Clock Tower

  address: Carter's Green, B70 9LR
  Farley Clock Tower is a grade II listed building. This tower was erected in recognition of the public services of Alderman Reuben Farley. On three sides there are relief panels of the Town Hall, Oak House and Reuben Farley. On the east side there is a doorway with round head and moulded decoration. The upper stages of the tower have clasping buttresses terminating in octagonal pinnacles. Above the clock stage and below a cornice are three open arches on each side. The tower is surmounted by an openwork dome with finial and weather vane The tower is light up at night with large lights beaming up on each side.

• The Oak House Museum

  address: Oak Road, B70 8HJ
  Oak House in West Bromwich is a delightful half timbered yeoman's house built between 1590 and 1630. The original owners of Oak House are not known, but the family most closely associated with it are the Turtons who were living there by 1634. The house is thought to have taken its name from an oak which stood on the green in front of it and was burnt down around 1800, though it could have been named after the oak woodland that once surrounded the house. Alderman Reuben Farley was one of the towns greatest benefactors. He purchased the Oak House with the intention of making it his private residence, but resolved to present it to the town as a museum. The leading architects in West Bromwich, Messrs. Wood and Kendrick, were employed with the task of restoring the house. Skilled craftsmanship ensured the outstanding quality of the restoration and the museum was formally opened on 25 July 1898; gardens and a bowling green were also laid out. To mark the 50th anniversary of the gift, the corporation decided to convert the Oak House into a period house with antique furnishings; the formal reopening took place in 1951.

• RSPB Sandwell ValleyNature reserve run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, to the north of West Bromwich. Adjacent to, and shares its main lake with, Sandwell Valley Country Park.

Budget

• Simma's Diner (aka Eljays)

  address: 13-15 Vicarage Road, B71 1AN
  A traditional English cafe with a wide array of breakfasts and brunchs to suit most tastes. Excellent choice when travelling on a budget and this cafe is very well known locally.

• The Vine

  address: 152 Roebuck Street, B70 6RD
  The Vine used to be West Bromwich's best kept secret. It houses the only indoor barbecue in the West Midlands. Will be extremely busy on West Bromwich Albion home match days.

• Big Johns

  address: Unit 1b Dudley Street, B70 9RL
  Big Johns - home to the UK's first fish and chip drive-through. Big Johns brings the American fast food dining experience to traditional British and world favourites. Fish and chips, pizza, southern fried, BBQ & peri-peri chicken, kebabs, burgers and Asian specialities are all served.

• Luckys Plaice (thruppenny bit)

  address: 14 Parsonage Street, B71 4DL
  One of the best known fish and chip shops in the town. Famed for its orange chips and former building the shape of and old three pence coin. A public campaign started with the intention to get the three pence shaped building listed. However, the campaign failed and the building was demolished circa the turn of the millennium. The business relocated to the row of shops next door and the former site was turned into a car park.

Mid-range

Splurge

• Bellagio Ristorante Italiano

  address: 58-60 Seagar Street, B71 4AN
  For lovers of the finest Italian food and wines served in luxurious surroundings Bellagio Restaurant offers you a unique dining experience using only the finest fresh produce and ingredients specially imported from Italy. Bellagio Restaurant creates food with an explosion of tastes and flavours with authentic Italian cuisine at its heart. Under its Italian director, management and chefs, Bellagio Restaurant is delighted to offer the true essence of Italian food.

• The Crown and Anchor (Jinglers)

  address: Hollyhedge Road, B71 3BS
  The Crown and Anchor is a great place to go out that's within easy reach of Sandwell Valley, Heath Lane and Newton Road. Its serve up food and drink at prices that other pubs, restaurants and even some takeaways in West Bromwich would find hard to beat.

• The Billiard Hall (JD Wetherspoon)

  address: St Michael's Street, West Bromwich Ringway, B70 7AB
  This Wetherspoon pub was purpose-built as a snooker and billiard hall, and has retained its original decorated facade.

• Park Inn by Radisson

  phone: +44 121 609 9988
  address: Birmingham Rd

• Birmingham the adjacent, large city
• Walsall
• Wolverhampton