Tamworth
Tamworth is a town in Staffordshire in the English Midlands, with a population of 78,700 in 2021. It has a medieval castle, and a series of leisure facilities and nature parks along the valley of the River Tame.
Understand
[edit]When the Romans left England in 409 AD, it split into 7 Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Mercia was the strongest of these and began to absorb the others, and in so far as Anglo-Saxon rulers had fixed capitals, that of Mercia was Tomworðig, "the open meadow by the River Tame". When the Normans arrived they converted Tamworth's wooden royal stronghold into a stone castle which still stands, or at least teeters. The town thereafter was a quiet provincial place, occasionally enlivened by fire, plague, civil war and any other Riders of the Apocalypse, until the 18th century Industrial Revolution. Coal was mined hereabouts, and canals were constructed to take this and other heavy goods to where they would earn a profit. The Peel family became wealthy in the textile trade and Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850) was the local MP and twice Prime Minister: his "Tamworth Manifesto" founded the UK Conservative Party, and he reformed the police service.
Tamworth grew further from the 1950s as overspill housing for Birmingham, and as an industrial centre. "Reliant" cars were made here until 1998, including the three-wheeled Robin.
Get in
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By plane
[edit]Birmingham Airport (BHX IATA) 17 miles south has a good range of flights within Europe. Take the train from the airport to Birmingham New Street and change for the Cross Country train to Tamworth. By road take M42 north to Junction 10.
East Midlands Airport (EMA IATA) 27 miles northeast has budget flights to the Med and a few other popular destinations. Join A42 southbound onto M42 to Junction 10.
Manchester Airport (MAN IATA) has an excellent range of medium and long-haul flights. Take the train to Manchester Piccadilly then south via Crewe.
By train
[edit]1 Tamworth station has two lines criss-crossing. The lower level is on the West Coast Main Line, with hourly trains from London Euston taking 90 min via Milton Keynes, Rugby, Nuneaton and Atherstone. These continue north to Lichfield, Rugeley, Stafford and Crewe (another 45 min) - change there for Manchester, Liverpool, North Wales and Preston.
The upper level is on the Cross Country Main Line. Trains run hourly from Penzance via Exeter, Plymouth, Bristol and Birmingham, continuing north to Derby, Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds, York, Newcastle upon Tyne and Edinburgh. Trains also run from Cardiff every hour or two, via Newport, Chepstow, Gloucester, Cheltenham Spa and Birmingham. Trains between Birmingham and Tamworth are four times an hour, taking 20 min, and you can reach Tamworth from London in two hours by changing there.
The station is north side of town centre. It has a ticket office and machines, and toilets, but the waiting room is closed ufn. There is normally step-free access to all platforms, but the lift to Platform 3 (towards Derby and Sheffield) is out of action ufn.
Wilncote is a platform halt two miles south of Tamworth station. It has hourly trains from Birmingham heading to Derby and Nottingham.
By road
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From Birmingham head north on M42, leave at Jcn 10 and follow A5 into town.
By bus
[edit]Long-distance coaches don't visit Tamworth, change in Birmingham for the local bus.
Arriva Bus 110 runs from Birmingham every 15 min, taking 70 min via Erdington and Sutton Coldfield.
Bus X65 runs from Lichfield every 30 min, taking 20 min.
Buses stop along Corporation St and Victoria Rd in Tamworth, there isn't a bus station.
Get around
[edit]Town centre is small and the sights are within walking distance.
Taxi firms include Tamworth Taxis (+44 1827 62222), Acorn (+44 1827 63333), Stani's (+44 7459 851644), ABC (+44 7947 850658) and Steve's Cars (+44 1827 247247).
See
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- 1 Tamworth Castle, Holloway B79 7NA, ☏ +44 1827 709618. Tu-Su 9:30AM-4:30PM. This bastion was the seat of the Kingdom of Mercia from 781 AD, but this was a simple earthwork and palisade wrecked by the Vikings then the Danes. A stone motte-and-bailey castle appeared around 1080, extended in later centuries. It came into public ownership in the 1890s and was refurbished as a museum. Adult £10, conc £9, child £7.50.
- Moat House on Lichfield St was built in 1572 in what was then the castle grounds. It's now an events venue.
- 2 Church of St Editha, St Editha's Close B79 7DA, ☏ +44 1827 68339. Daily 10AM-2PM. A church was established here in the 8th century, with the present building from the 14th with a makeover in the 1850s. It remains an active Anglican church.
- Staffordshire Regiment Museum is on A51 five miles northwest, see Lichfield.
Do
[edit]- Football: Tamworth FC ("The Lambs") were promoted in 2024 and now play soccer in the National League, the fifth tier. The Lamb Ground (capacity 5000) is half a mile south of the railway station.
- Cinema: Odeon Luxe is at 50 Bolebridge St, north across the river from the castle.
- Tamworth Snooker, 32 Victoria Rd B79 7HS (200 yards south of railway station), ☏ +44 1827 946071. Daily 11AM-11PM. For snooker, pool and darts.
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- Namco Funscape, Castle Grounds, River Drive B79 7ND (100 yards west of castle), ☏ +44 1827 68448. M-F 10AM-10PM, Sa Su 10AM-11PM. Ten-pin bowling alley owned by the Namco Bandai entertainment chain.
- SnowDome, Leisure Island, River Drive B79 7ND (100 yards south of castle), ☏ +44 1827 308420. M-Th 6AM-midnight, F 6AM-10PM, Sa Su 8AM-8PM. Ski and snowboard year round. Ideal for off-season practice or a family day out. Plus pool and gym.
- Coventry Canal skirts the south of town. It courses 38 miles (61 km) from Coventry via Bedworth, Nuneaton, Atherstone, Polesworth and Tamworth to Lichfield and has a firm towpath for hiking or cycling. It has 13 locks and is navigable throughout for narrow-boats not exceeding 72 ft / 21.9 m length, 7 ft / 2.1 m beam and 6 ft 6 in / 1.98 m headroom. It has junctions with several other canals, for instance at Fazeley with the canal to Birmingham, and forms part of the 106 mile circuit of the "Warwickshire Ring".
- 1 Drayton Manor Theme Park, Fazeley B78 3TW (off A4091), ☏ +44 1827 287979. F-M 11AM-4PM. Theme park with rollercoasters for teens and Thomas the Tank Engine and zoo for younger children.
- 2 Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve, Bodymoor Heath Rd B78 2BB. Daily 8AM-5PM. 160 hectare (400 acre) nature reserve in former gravel pits, with meadow and wetland habitats for bird-watching. Parking £4.
- 3 Kingsbury Water Park, Bodymoor Heath Lane B76 0DY (on A4097), ☏ +44 1827 872660. Daily 6:30AM-8PM. A large flooded gravel pit forming numerous large boating, fishing and recreational lakes and field areas. Plus children's playgrounds and activities, a visitor centre and coffee shop. Parking £5.
- Golf: the premier course is The Belfry (below). Drayton Park GC is in Fazeley, with a resort hotel. Wittington Heath and Darnford Moors are northwest, see Lichfield. Atherstone GC is southeast.
- 4 The Belfry, Lichfield Rd, Sutton Coldfield B76 9PR, ☏ +44 1675 238600. Resort hotel and spa with three golf courses: the Brabazon, the PGA National and The Derby.
Buy
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- Morrison's, Aldi and Lidl are near the railway station.
- Ankerside is the central shopping centre, on George St.
- Ventura Retail Park is south side of town by the Premier Inn. Stores include M&S, WHSmith, Currys, Halfords, Hobbycraft, Boots, JD Sports, Sainsburys, Aldi and Asda.
Eat
[edit]- Portobello is at 12 Silver St, open Tu-Sa 5-10PM, Su noon-8PM.
- Blue Water is an Indian next door at 11 Silver St, open daily 5:30-10:30PM.
- Shokodu is a Japanese on Orchard St, open Tu-Sa noon-10PM, Su noon-8PM.
- Jalali is in Old Victoria Arcade on Aldergate, open Su-Th 5:30-11PM, F Sa 5:30-midnight.
- Champagne Indian Fusion is at 7A Aldergate, open daily 5:30-11:30PM.
- Christopher's British Bistro is within Peel Hotel on Aldergate.
- Paparazzi is next to the library on Corporation St, open daily 5:30-11PM.
- Rayu Pan Asian is at 29 Lower Gungate, open daily 5-11PM.
- Woodshed Burger Co is at 3 Little Church Lane, open Th-Sa noon-10PM.
Drink
[edit]- Market Vaults at 7 Market St has a beer garden. It's open Su, Tu W noon-8PM, Th-Sa noon-11PM.
- Tamworth Tap is a microbrewery at 29 Market St, open Tu-Th 4-11PM, F 2-11PM, Sa noon-10PM, Su noon-8PM.
- The Old Bank House is at 9 Lady Bank, by the junction of Silver St and Market St. It's open M W Th 4-10PM, F 2-11:30PM, Sa noon-11:30PM, Su noon-10PM.
- 1 The Bole Bridge, Bolebridge St B79 7PA, ☏ +44 1827 317510. Su-Th 8AM-midnight, F Sa 8PM-1AM. Reliable JD Wetherspoon, good for inexpensive food, drinks and rotating guest ales.
- The Penny Black is at 2 Lower Gungate, 100 yards north of The Bole Bridge. It's open M-Th 9AM-10PM, F Sa 9AM-2PM, Su 11AM-10PM.
- Old Stone Cross is at 33 Church Street opposite The Penny Black.
- Sir Robert Peel at 13 Lower Gungate has a beer garden and guest ales. It's open M 1-8PM, Tu-Sa 1-11PM, Su noon-10PM.
- The Globe on Lower Gungate has rooms. The public bar is open M-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su noon-7PM.
- King's Ditch is a micro-pub specialising in cider. It's opposite The Globe at 51 Lower Gungate, open Tu-Th 4-7PM, F 2:30-9:30PM, Sa noon-9:30PM, Su noon-5PM.
- The White Lion is at the corner of Aldergate and Lichfield Street, open daily noon-11PM.
- The Three Tuns is on Lichfield Street in Fazeley, by the canal junction so it's a good place to finish a walk. It's open M-F 2-11PM, Sa Su noon-11PM.
- Tamworth Distillery produces a range of spirits but alas is in Tamworth, New Hampshire.
Sleep
[edit]- Travelodge Tamworth Central is on Bolebridge St half a mile south of the railway station.
- 1 Tamworth Arms, 71 Lichfield St B79 7QL, ☏ +44 1827 735369. Inexpensive hotel, restaurant and pub. B&B double £100.
- 2 Premier Inn Tamworth Central, Bonehill Road B78 3HQ (Jolly Sailor Roundabout), ☏ +44 333 321 9067. Reliable chain hotel. B&B double £130.
- 3 Premier Inn Tamworth South, Watling Street, Wilnecote B77 5PN (by Jcn 10 of M42), ☏ +44 333 321 9069. Convenient for motorists. B&B double £130.
- Travelodge M42 is in the motorway service area off Jcn 10, a quarter mile north of Premier Inn South.
Connect
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As of Dec 2024, Tamworth and its approach roads have 5G from all UK carriers.
Go next
[edit]- Lichfield has a 7th century cathedral and the birthplace of lexicographer Dr Johnson.
- Appleby Magna has a zoo.
- Burton upon Trent has a formidable collection of breweries.
- Ashby-de-la-Zouch has a tumbledown castle and a blast furnace for the former ironworks.
- Birmingham for big city attractions.
| Routes through Tamworth |
| London/Bristol ← Solihull ← | SW  NE |
→ Appleby Magna → Nottingham |
Cannock ←  ← |
NW  SE |
→ Nuneaton → Rugby |
| Stafford ← Lichfield ← | NW  S |
→ Kingsbury → END |