The 17 best castles in and around Sandwell

Really big place with loads of great stores and a huge world foods restaurant area. The only downside for me as a disabled person was the lack of working lifts. It meant a lot of people with wheelchairs or mobility aids had to walk the extra distance and wait in line just to get to a different floor. It could also benefit from more maps showing the store layouts as it's easy to get lost in there! It's definitely worth a visit, though.

I have been shopping at Merry Hill quite literally since it first opened and it’s always a great place to shop. There are plenty of restaurants and food outlets not to mention the recently added bowling alley so there is plenty to keep you busy and make the visit fun. There is plenty of free parking and most of the big name stores you would expect all indoor to keep you dry on those wet and windy days.

Located very close to Dudley this is a large shopping complex with plenty of free parking. There are many clothes stores and coffee shops and plenty of places to eat. There is even now a bowling alley with a number of good eateries next door. If you fancy the 'bargain' option just go to the on site Wetherspoons. Everything on one site including an Odeon cinema.

Hey guys. Just visited again and this time I was presented with a sterling member of security staff called Bill. He was absolutely lovely and very helpful. I can't recommend this guy's worth enough. Merry hill management.....take note. This guy should be running the whole security outfit. I'm blessed to be in and around a shopping mall that had dedicated, friendly and helpful staff. Well done and keep up the good work.x

An awesome place to visit when you have shopping in mind!!!!🐣

Merry Hill Shopping Centre is a large indoor shopping destination offering a wide range of high street and everyday brands and stores. It's family friendly, has buggies available for young children, and features a very large Eat Central with numerous eateries and restaurants. The centre offers a large, free car park, but be prepared for it to be very packed on weekends and holidays. Entertainment options include a Hollywood bowl in the facility an Odeon cinema nearby, along with many restaurants and supermarkets in close proximity. While Merry Hill is a good okish for general shopping needs, it may not be the best place for luxury or designer clothing. However, for everyday items, dining, clothing, home and entertainment, it provides a pleasant and convenient place for visitors of all ages.

Massive shopping mall WITH ALL THE traditional mall shops and eateries. Very popular with families. Probably has something for everyone..plus many other large stores outside (T.K.MAX. B&M. PLUS OTHERS)and a wetherspoons 🥳. Massive carpark with dedicated spaces for disabled. People with small children. Electric vehicle charging. Absolutely fabulous area.

Recently hired from JD's for the second time and was once again delighted with the service provided. Due to awful weather conditions I was able to change the date at short notice with no hesitation from JD's. Friendly and reliable service 😊 couldn't ask for anymore. Thank you! Will definitely be using them again.

Brilliant service & value for money, arrived early to set up in time for party, kids had a great time! Would definately use again, thank you so much.

Recently used for sons 1st birthday party. Equipment arrived on time , was set up beautifully and in good condition. I would use this company again.

Arrived on time, product was exactly what we wanted to hire. Bouncy castle was up in no time and rules were handed to me in form of printout. Really good service

Great service, arrived on time, polite and professional. Bouncy castle was clean and bright, kids had a great time.

Arrived on time, quick set up, clean castle, professional with safety advice given.

Great service, will use again.

Almost 5 stars but this was our first visit & entering the carpark we had no idea or signs to say which way to the entrance or instructions to pay for the carpark. It wasn't very busy today but we thoroughly enjoyed our time spending over 4 hrs. The staff were delightful & oh so helpful. Fish & Chips were utterly delicious, best I've had in a long long time. The houses & shops were wonderful, bringing back so many memories. All in all a truly wonderful day, thank you.

Such an amazing experience. The museum and what it offers is phenomenal and the staff and volunteers are so engaging. The way they have set this up is exemplary and we learned so much from the people there and the exhibits. The forging and Army and Navy store were two of our favourites as well as the canal and chain shop area. A must see if you are here, a short train ride from Birmingham New Street to Tipton and it's about a 15 minute walk to the museum. Excellent day.

Our second visit to the Black Country Living Museum this year and was just as brilliant. Ages between 12 - 66 and we all had a fabulous time. So much to explore as always, staff in character and very friendly. Not a bad word to say about this place and would recommend to anyone. It's such an enjoyable day out. We used our free returns which is a brilliant offer after original booking to be able to return for up to a year. Kids were also able to use their Blue Peter Badge cards making it a very affordable family trip. Fish and Chips are 10/10, sweet shop brings back memories buying your favourite sweet treat and the gift shop offers a great variety of souvenirs.

Well worth a visit. Great family day out. We have two boys 7 and 11. They engaged really well. The fun fair cost more but parents of little ones went on free and they were great. Staff were super 👌. The fish and chips were amazing much better than we get these days and cheaper. The demonstrations were informative and entertaining. Definitely go down the mine but watch your head! The gift shop was reasonably priced.

Really enjoyed it and here. Took my 8 year old. Lovely to walk around and really takes you back. Even I remember houses like these when I was alot younger. The boat rides do have an additional cost. There is alot to see and do. Although they do have some eateries we didn't bother. I think I'd have preferred a packed lunch regardless. Definitely recommend a visit here!

Open air museum, this is more like a small, Industrial Revolution, town with plenty to see and do. Very good parking facilities with plenty of disabled space as well as spaces for families, especially those with younger children giving easy access to site. A quick 2 minute walk from the car park to the main entrance where you are greeted into a large atrium in a modern building with a comprehensive gift shop to the right on entry. To the left there is an eatery serving up hot and cold food, and the usual coffees/teas and soft drinks etc. Exiting the main entrance the is a world of history in front of you starting with a tour of the mines. Sadly even early In the morning 10:30 (30 mins after opening) there was a long queue however this was accessible during the day. Old buildings galore, presented in various period decor all accessible to view both upstairs and down as well as black smiths, foundries, smelting, brick production, the list goes on. Heritage building with cars and bikes for viewing. The museum also runs a bus service with busses from 1940’s. They operate an early funfair with several period rides including ghost train, carousel and penny slot machines, well worth a ride. To the rear of the museum there is a modern building dedicated to the canal trust and preservation with the ability to take passenger on a boat ride through the caves where they mined line stone. Several found outlets in the various building, accessible toilet throughout the site, actors on site who interact with the public. All in all a fantastic day out FYI, I travelled from Essex the morning of the visit. Worth every penny.

Haven't been since I was a kid, and absolutely loved taking my kiddos here and they loved it too. It has changed quite a lot over the years but only for the better. I definitely recommend it for the incredible "time warp" experience. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Awesome experience,amazing staff!! They have designated talk and feed times for penguins and otters, so you could enjoy that. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Specially enjoyed the penguins. Would have given a 5 or even more if otters were close instead of on screen. However I understand and appreciate that they need to adapt first to this environment before exposing them to public. Overall, it was a very fun experience and Happy Weekend instead!!

There is a helpful little tip for visiting - in the corner of the gift shop there is a lift back up to the toilets. These are back at the beginning of exhibition so you can head round again to pick up any bits you missed! It is a great half day out with the kids. The centre feels like it could do with some updating and refresh on some of the side activities but the exhibits are all great, and the feeding / talk times flow quite well through your visit. The staff are all super friendly and helpful, our daughters especially loved the roaming pirate!

It was am awesome experience! I'll be honest when I first went in, I thought it was quite small, however it is extended at the back so it was indeed quite spacious. Easily took us 2-3 hours to explore the entire place at a slow pace with a 5 month old. The penguins were adorable at the start, the amount of fish in each aquarium space was quite adequate. I did wish we could see the otters though, only managed to catch s tiny glimpse in the room at the far back. The area with the jellyfish was so mesmerising. There were different photography stations located at multiple areas. You could take photos at each station, and at the end you could choose which pictures you'd like to buy and what package. Overall there was a lot of cleanliness, tanks were clean, the walkways were clean too. We ended up going at a busy weekend, but still could easily manage to get around with a baby pram. There was however a pram parking area, if you will, to store the prams if you'd rather do that. Definitely worth a trip.

Had a lovely visit here on Saturday, wasn't too busy and no wait to go inside. We booked it in the morning through our Merlin passes and there was plenty of admission availability. So many things to see if you take your time, but it's easier said than done. Lot's of talks going on throughout the day, we really wanted to watch one of them but there was too much pushing and shoving from other adults and didn't want my child getting trampled on. Some better crowd control would be ideal at the talks/feeding times. Nice gift shop at the end with plenty of stock and very lovely staff.

Good for a one time visit. Gets busy and cramped with the crowds but nice variety of fish and aquatic life to see. The tunnel at the end is the best and provides a nice visual experience where you get to see underwater from all angles.

Visited the National Sea Life Aquarium with my kids and we had a beautiful, exciting time. It was such a delight discovering different aquatic creatures—there’s so much to see and learn! The only downside for me was how crowded it was. Maybe it’s just the holiday season… maybe not. Either way, it was a bit too packed for my liking. Also, I was a little disappointed to learn that the big sharks are no longer there—they were apparently removed a while ago. That said, the kids didn’t seem to mind and had an absolute blast. Overall, a delightful experience and we’ll definitely be back—hopefully during a quieter period.

I have never been to a liquid zoo before, I am 30 and my fiancé is older, we had the BEST time! We loved the penguins and the fish, we had photo opportunities and they came out perfectly. Yep my fiancé was taken from me by a beautiful and friendly penguin! The staff were kind and lovely! It’s not hot or cold in there, it smells lovely, the lights are dim so we can see the sea life better. At the gift shop we each got something and I got a mini penguin for my kitten! We will come again soon, many thank you’s to all the staff there!

Beautiful nature reserve, great for walking the dogs with the family! In the spring and summer The whole nature reserve is layered with bluebells and is a really gorgeous place to go for a walk would recommend!

Great day out, we followed the green arrows for the Daulton trail, the only reason I dropped it a star is because I printed a map off the website, and the map seemed to go in the opposite direction to what the sign posts took us? I thought the Daulton Claypit would be near the beginning of our walk, not near the end?

A small and easily accessible nature reserve with lots of entry points. Easy green space for locals and the nearby Saltwells restaurant is good for amenities and lunch. Some history points here too which are interesting. Just a shame the reserve has been abused by some people - multiple areas of rubbish, squatting, fly tipping and wild camping with litter left behind in many places.

Absolutely beautiful place. Had loads of fun without the dogs. (Nice break from our life lol) but definitely somewhere we will take dogs in future. Loved the sculptures and the tracks that went off in different directions. Wasn't as big as we expected it to be but not sure if we were missing something? We were there just two hours and had looped part twice of it and gone across a road into somewhere else.

Lovely place to walk, especially in the heatwave last week. All the trees kept the area shaded and cool. Topped off with a drink in the pub and some scratchings. Lovely 👍🏻

A nice enough walk, not very busy. We did the longest walk which was easy enough and I'm not really a walker! It was lovely to see horses roaming around freely in the hills.

Such a lovely place to visit, both my husband and I are disabled so we couldn't go very far but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! So many different types of trees it's beautiful. When we finished walking we walked through a little ally and came to a wonderful pub, it's so clean with an amazing garden with a little playground for the children. The saltwell pub I think it was called

I live local and walk around the park regularly it’s a nice place to walk and tennis courts are great, lots of places to sit and quite areas too. I enjoy going and taking the kids for some fresh air! Some lovely photos to be taken.

I've lived near here almost forever and have never visited,it is a small priory ruin but is fully open to walk touch and experience. Beautiful place with parking on road.

Beautiful park to walk around for the whole family. It has a gated children's area which has a variety of equipment. Castle ruins and gardens are stunning

A great place to visit. Easy to get too and parking is great too. Priory park has these amazing ruins of an old priory built in the 1150's. It is right on the edge of a lovely park where families can enjoy the outside. If you love parks this is ideal, if you love to visit ruins it should top your list. Worth a visit.

Really nice Park, hadn't been here in years. The ruins of the old priory are on one end, then nicely maintained lawns and flowers, including a lovely rose garden, then a decent sized kids play area.

The cafe is open Monday to Saturday from 10 until 2. Very inexpensive and loads of free play items for children. Highly recommended

Priory Park in Dudley offers a captivating blend of history and nature, with its striking historical ruins and diverse, vibrant greenery. The ancient ruins, steeped in historical charm, stand as a focal point, while a variety of tall, lush trees—including a particularly impressive towering tree—create a serene, shaded environment along the winding paths. These features make the park a promising spot for history buffs and nature lovers alike, with the potential to be a true community treasure. Regrettably, several issues detract from the park’s appeal and demand attention. A damaged plaque leaves visitors without information about the ruins’ history, while a pond in one of the gardens, reduced to mostly mud with little water, feels neglected and diminishes the garden’s charm. Litter scatters the paths and lawns despite ample bins, and groups openly drinking beer from cans disrupt the tranquil atmosphere. It’s a shame to see such a beautiful park hindered by these shortcomings—improved maintenance, clear signage, and better oversight could restore Priory Park to its full potential.

Had a fantastic visit to RSPB Sandwell Valley recently! It’s a beautiful, peaceful spot that’s perfect for birdwatching and relaxing in nature. The staff and volunteers were really welcoming and helpful. During my visit, I spotted some amazing birds, including oystercatcher, lots of geese, and many other species. The hide is brilliant — well maintained and perfectly placed to give you a great view without disturbing the wildlife. It’s such a calm and relaxing place to sit quietly and enjoy nature. The only downside was a few bike riders passing nearby with very loud engine sounds, which disturbed the peace a little and seemed to unsettle some of the birds. It didn’t ruin the visit, but it would be even better if the area could be kept quieter for both visitors and wildlife. Overall, it’s a wonderful place and I highly recommend a visit if you love nature, birds, and some quiet time outdoors!

We have a fantastic day in the children's Thursday activity, £6 per person. Totally worth it!!! We did pond dipping, we find fantastic creatures there!!! We burnt Marshmallow in the fire, we lit a fire... complicated for adults as well, and there were plenty of craft to get imagination flying. Have a wonderful experience myself!! Child was happy as well!

Plenty to see here 👍. The hide was a bit noisy though as someone was checking what their group had seen from a long checklist. They could have done that back at the visitor center. Anyway there were lots of warblers around, saw a couple of Little Ringed Plovers and the Parakeets were very active. Nice calm oasis.

Great place for wildlife, nature and bird spotting. Easy access with a nice cafe and toilets on site.

I recommend a visit, even if not an avid bird watcher. The walk from Forge Mill carpark around the lake to the centre is so relaxing by the river.

Very friendly staff in the centre and hide, lots to see, a great way to spend a couple of hrs in nature

Had a great time on the beginners bird watching walk! The volunteers were very helpful 😁

Nice place to visit not far from Intu Merry Hill

What a fabulous experience. I visited for a sound bath in the Singing Cavern, a private organised event, The boat staff were great explaining the tunnel and canal network as we went, absolutely fascinating. They were super patient helping us on and off the boat. Highly recommend visiting.

The Singing cavern is fantastic and the price is very reasonable. We live very close to this attraction and drive past it daily, yet first time in 20 years I have set foot in it!We did like the explanations that go along the narrow boat expedition which is of a good length. We found it interesting to couple with the visit to the Black Country Living Museum several times

Loved the 45 minute trip.

It works still tis a great place for dog walking no lighting on the canal so after dark walks take a torch. Day and night fishing is allowed on this route you'll find the Netherton tunnel

Calming effect on a sunny day, walking along the canal and admiring nature. Chatting to fishermen and dog walkers, waving to passing canal boats and cyclists. It's a safe friendly route to walk for hours but not suitable for wheelchair users.

I didn't mind going in the canal barge underground, in fact I thought it was very good indeed, but my wife thought it was claustrophobic, there is good parking,good food,and very friendly staff to tell you all about the tunnels etc,so it's a must to go

Beautiful place you can lose yourself to the Beautiful nature of this place there is an indoor and outdoor places in the place a playground and some peacocks 🦚 dotted around plenty of events lots to learn they also do cati shows very good Mike gee are the best. Toilets 🚻 on site plus on site parking however it gets packed quickly chargeable as well lots of disabled access available emma on the entry tickets is always fantastic very friendly and helpful deserves a raise brilliant keep up the good work

I really enjoy visiting the Botanical Gardens. Over the years I have been to see Shakespeare plays and summer walks through the beautiful gardens. However, I only give this place three stars as I believe there is room for improvement. Visiting here only today, we were greeted by a very unfriendly person at the desk, who did not even crack a smile. We experienced similar behaviour when we went into the cafe for lunch. The cafe itself is old and drab. It needs a serious make-over. They would be better making a bistro type place with good food and drink - it would be a goldmine! I believe with better customer service skills from the staff this place would be really good. It really makes a difference. Cannot fault the gardens, they are beautiful and I really enjoyed the butterfly house!

Very nice park for family and couple, relaxing atmosphere and nice photos for memories

Beautiful gardens and very well maintained. I thought it was good value for money. I loved walking round the gardens, all the flowers were in bloom. The gift shop was very nice too. Would definitely recommend and wouls love to revisist

The only place in Birmingham I feel as though will never disappoint anyone you suggest go there. Closest thing to The Met.

I expected a lot more from botanical gardens, seems a lot of it was fenced off. This is my first time coming, in future I'll likely go try other attractions around Christmas as I feel value for money this wasn't great.

Excellent trip with igersbirmingham during the dinosaur exhibition. Always a pleasure to visit anytime of the year.

Absolute joke! Ordered a bouncing castle from this company around 1 month ago. Was told I would have confirmation a couple of days before the party- which I did. Was told that the castle would come some time between 9:30-10:30am. Day of my daughters party arrived for no castle to show up! Phoned them on numerous occasions, to which I recieved a text saying they would arrive in around 30 minutes (currently 11am at this point). 11:30 came and went (the new time the castle should have arrived). Called a few more times and finally got through to be told they would be there soon. At this point it was now just after 12pm (the start of my daughters party! To which all her friends had arrived). Countined to call them throughout the day- to which I was unable to get in contact with them! I also tried on two different mobile numbers. I text the number- to which no reply. So annoyed and gutted as the kids were looking forward to the bouncing castle. Currently now 17:40 the time I am writting this review and still no reply or bouncing castle. Joke! Would never ever consider this company ever!

Failed to deliver our booked bouncy castle and inflatable assault course on the day of our hire - this was a community event held at a church. Lots of children were disappointed. We were told at 7am the morning of the event/day of hire and our contact was unresponsive for the rest of the day, even when we offered to collect the items ourselves. Shame. Will never use again nor recommend to anyone.

Would recommend this company to anyone. Booked a disco dome for my daughters birthday and it was fantastic. All the kids had a whale of a time, their service was spot on and the disco dome was spotless. Will be booking again

kids had a fantastic time on the jungle bouncy castle yesterday. The staff were friendly and helpful both on the phone and on the day. Will definitely use again. Thanks all.

Thank you for providing a great service, the obstacle course is awesome and made my lads birthday really special. First class 😎

Excellent service with great clean and safe equipment. Will he sure to use again. All the best for the future.

Great service.

Karen runs a high quality automotive retrimming business. She has the knowledge and experience to do good quality work at affordable prices. Get your orders in early as she runs a busy place.