Dudley
Dudley is a town of almost 80,000 people (2011) in the West Midlands region of England. Its tourist attractions include Dudley Zoo and Castle, the 12th-century priory ruins, and the Black Country Living Museum.
Understand
[edit]The Metropolitan Borough of Dudley includes the areas of Brierley Hill, Cradley, Gornal, Halesowen, Kingswinford, Netherton, Pensnett, Quarry Bank, Sedgley and the town of Stourbridge.
Get in
[edit]By bus
[edit]- 1 Dudley Interchange. Buses from Dudley travel to the towns of the Black Country (including Sandwell, West Bromwich and Walsall) and to the cities of Wolverhampton and Birmingham.
Get around
[edit]See
[edit]- 1 Black Country Living Museum, Discovery Way DY1 4AL (between Tipton and Dudley.). A 26-acre, mostly outdoor recreation of the local area during the last 100 years. It includes its own internal bus service, coal mine, funfair, canal port, rebuilt houses from the period and more traditional museum displays. You can easily spend a whole day living in the past. Recreation of the area's industrial history with walk down coal mine, funfair, village, houses, school, chapel, pub, chip shop, etc. Real buildings rebuilt. Also narrow boat trips into the caverns under Dudley's Castle Hill (additional fee). Adult £17.50, child £8.75.
- 2 Dudley Castle. Grade I listed 12th-century castle located within Dudley Zoo, whose admission charges apply.
- 3 Dudley Zoo, Castle Hill DY1 4QF. Zoo built in the grounds of Dudley Castle that opened in 1937. Adult: £16.75 including "voluntary donation".
- 4 Dudley Canal and Caverns, Birmingham New Road DY1 4SB. A charity & heritage attraction offering a range of boat trips and events centred around unique limestone mines, tunnels and caverns which date back 428 million years to the Silurian period.
- 5 Duncan Edwards Statue, Market Place. Manchester United and England footballer who was killed in the Munich Plane Crash.
- 6 James Whale Memorial, Castle Gate Business Park. Acclaimed Hollywood film director James Whale.
- 7 St James Priory Ruins, Priory Park. Grade I listed 12th-century priory ruins established in 1160.
- 8 Dudley Fountain, Market Place. Grade II listed 19th-century fountain opened in 1867 by the Countess of Dudley.
- 9 Dorothy Round Statue, Priory Park. Two-time Wimbledon champion (1934 and 1937) and Australian Open champion (1935).
- 10 Green Man Entry, Castle Street. An original medieval lane with Rowley Rag cobblestones.
- 11 Coronation Gardens, Priory Street/Ednam Road. Gardens containing the Dudley War Memorial and the statue of Apollo.
- 12 Ben Boucher Statue, High Street. 19th-century poet who described life in the Black Country.
- 13 St Thomas and St Luke Church, High Street DY1 1QD. It was established in the 12th-century, and is now an 19th-century church known locally as Top Church.
- 14 St Edmund’s Church, Castle Street DY1 1LQ. A church was built here in the Anglo-Saxon period. The church was rebuilt in 1724 and is known locally as Bottom Church. Grade II* listed.
- 15 Coroner’s Court and Memorial Tower, St James’s Road/Priory Street. Constructed between 1924 and 1928 in memory of Dudley MP Brooke Robinson and his wife, Eugenia.
Do
[edit]- 1 Dudley Museum at The Archives, Tipton Road DY1 2SQ. This modern museum tells the story of Dudley (and the wider Black Country) through time.
- 2 Showcase Cinema, Castle Gate Business Park DY1 4TA. Modern multiscreen cinema.
- 3 Tenpin, Castle Gate Business Park DY1 4TA. Tenpin bowling alley with an on-site snack bar, party deals, pool tables and arcade machines.
- 4 Dudley Town Hall, St James’s Road DY1 1HP. Entertainment venue used for live music, comedy and shows.
- 5 Dudley Library, St James’s Road DY1 1HR. Grade II listed public library opened in 1909.
- 6 Wren’s Nest National Nature Reserve, Wren’s Nest DY1 3SB. A geological Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is one of the most abundant and diverse fossil sites in the United Kingdom. Home to the ‘Dudley Bug’.
- 7 Priory Park Tennis Courts, Priory Park. Free to use public tennis courts.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Fountain Arcade, Market Place DY1 1PG. 20th-century shopping arcade that opened in 1925.
- 2 Dudley Market, Market Place DY1 1PJ. A market that was established in the 12th-century that trades 6 days a week.
- 3 Plaza Mall, 33-34 High Street DY1 2HA. 1930s art deco shopping mall.
- 4 Churchill Shopping Centre, DY2 7BJ. The Churchill Shopping Centre offers a range of facilities including a variety of retailers.
- 5 Teddy Grays, 5 Churchill Precinct DY2 7BJ. A traditional sweet shop established in 1826.
- 6 J. Hollins Jewellers, 1 Wolverhampton Street DY1 1DA. Gold and silversmith jewellers established in 1804.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Toby Carvery, Burnt Tree Island DY4 7UF. Timeless family chain restaurant serving roast meats carvery-style, kids' menus and classic puds.
- 2 The Venue, 171-173 High Street DY1 1QD. Multipurpose hub with a global cuisine buffet restaurant, wood-panelled bar and function suites.
- 3 Pizza Hut, Castle Gate Business Park DY1 4TA.
- 4 Chiquito, Castle Gate Business Park DY1 4TA. Mexican-themed restaurant.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Lamp Tavern, 116 High Street DY1 1QT. Real Ale pub with Bathams beers (brewed about 2 miles away). Food at lunch time only.
- 2 Court House, 30 New Street DY1 1LP. Real ale pub serving traditional ales and fresh cobs.
- 3 The Old Priory, 47 New Street DY1 1LU. Traditional pub. Good pub grub served till early evening.
- 4 The Griffin, 8 Stone Street DY1 1NS. Town centre pub with a Gothic facade.
- 5 The Full Moon, 58-60 High Street DY1 1PY. JD Wetherspoon town centre pub.
- 6 The Meadow Lark, Dibdale Road DY1 2RR. Part of the sizzling pub chain.
Sleep
[edit]- Best Western Himley Hotel Dudley, School Road, Himley, Dudley, DY3 4LG, ☏ +44 1902 896716, fax: +44 1902 896668, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM (early check-in by arrangement), check-out: 11AM (late check-out by arrangement). Best Western hotel with rooms, meeting rooms and a restaurant. Each bedroom includes bath and/or shower, work desk, flat screen freeview TV and complimentary WiFi. Some rooms have been adapted to allow for easier access. M-Th Sa £55, F Su £45. Breakfast is available for £7.95..
Go next
[edit]- Tipton
- Coseley
- West Bromwich
- Wolverhampton
- Birmingham
Routes through Dudley |
merges with ![]() | N ![]() | → Bromsgrove → Bristol |