# West Bromwich

West Bromwich is in Sandwell, West Midlands.

## Understand

West Bromwich is a town of about 78,000 people (2018) in 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.

## Get in
### By rail

* 52.5166-1.994761 West Bromwich Central. Served only by the West Midlands Metro, which runs from Birmingham to Wolverhampton and connects with rail services in both cities.
* 52.505-1.9642 The Hawthorns. Rail station serving the Football Stadium of the same name. Trains from London Euston, Rugby, Coventry, Worcester and Hereford arrive here, as do West Midlands Metro trams. (updated Sep 2020)
* 52.508636-2.0117783 Sandwell and Dudley station. Mainline railway station, just outside the town.

### By bus

* 52.518-1.9954 West Bromwich bus station (next to the central West Midlands Metro stop). It has services from nearby towns and cities.
Major routes:
* Route 4/4H/4M connects Walsall, Halesowen and Merry Hill
* Route 5 and 71 connects Sutton Coldfield
* Route 74 connects Birmingham, Handsworth, Great Bridge and Dudley.
* Route 79 connects Wolverhampton, Bilston and Wednesbury
* Route X12 connects Solihull

### By car

Junction 1 of the M5 motorway, which runs south-west to Exeter, is adjacent to the town. It connects to the M6 at the latter's junction 8, slightly further north.

## Get around
### By bus

Buses run up and down the High Street very often. Many connections from nearby towns and cities can be made via West Bromwich Bus Station in the centre of town, which also has a West Midlands Metro tram stop adjacent.

### By tram

There are 8 52.48-1.90255 West Midlands Metro. tram stops in West Bromwich: Black Lake, Dudley Street Guns Village, Dartmouth Street, Lodge Road, West Bromwich Central, Trinity Way, Kenrick Park and The Hawthorns. West Bromwich Central serves the town centre, and is adjacent to the bus station. The Hawthorns serves the football stadium, and offers connections to regional train services. Dudley Street Guns Village, Dartmouth Street and Lodge Road are only 5 minutes from the High Street.

## See

* 52.5206-1.9980971 West Bromwich Town Hall, 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.
* 52.5467-1.99332 West Bromwich Manor House, 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.
* 52.5206-1.98183 Dartmouth Park (Entrances from Reform Street, Dagger Lane, Herbert Street, Lodge Hill and from Sandwell Valley (King George V Playing Fields Car Park)). Open everyday from dusk till dawn. Dartmouth 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 town's war memorial. free.
* 52.524492-2.0048354 Farley Clock Tower, 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.
* 52.5155-2.00425 The Oak House Museum, Oak Road, B70 8HJ (on the corner of Oak Road and Cambridge Street just a short distance from West Bromwich High Street and Lodge Road Metro station), ☏ +44 121 553-0759. 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. free, but there is sometimes a small charge for special events and activities..
* 52.5331-1.956 RSPB Sandwell Valley. Nature 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.
* 52.52118-1.972767 Sandwell Park Farm (On foot via Sandwell Valley or Dartmouth Park; by car from Salters Lane, West Bromwich, B71 4BG). Features include rare breeds, walled kitchen garden and tea rooms, plus museum-style exhibits. Own car park (fees apply). (updated Jul 2021)
* 52.543101-1.9550088 Bishop Asbury Cottage, Newton Road, Great Barr B43 6HN (Bus no. 5 (West Bromwich - Sutton Coldfield); Bus 51 (Walsall-Birmingham; then walk or change to bus 5 at Scott Arms). Train to Hamstead then walk.). By appointment or on special occasions. Boyhood home of Francis Asbury (1745 – 1816), one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church (now The United Methodist Church) in the United States. Now a museum in his memory. No parking, no visitor facilities, and no disabled access (access via steps). Free (charge for group visits; includes talk). (updated Feb 2023)

## Do

* 52.509167-1.9638891 West Bromwich Albion FC, Birmingham Rd B71 4LF. "The Baggies" were relegated in 2021 so they play soccer in the Championship, the game's second tier. Their home ground The Hawthorns has a capacity of 26,272, all seater. (updated Jun 2021)

## Buy

* 52.52027-1.990751 New Square, Cronehills Linkway, B70 7PP. M-W F Sa 9AM-7PM, Th 9AM-8PM, Su 11AM-5PM.. Shopping centre featuring fashion shopping, groceries, mobile phone shops and places to eat. (updated Jul 2021)
* 52.5171-1.993482 King's Square, B70 7NW. Small shopping centre with a grocery store, indoor market and electrical shops. (updated Jul 2021)
* 52.51868-1.994283 West Bromwich High Street. Sometimes referred to as the "Golden Mile" is the string of shops that stretch from Dartmouth Square Clock Tower to Carters Green Clock Tower. Banks, fast food venues, clothing, electrical and discount shops can all be found on the High Street. (updated Jul 2021)
* West Bromwich Markets. The markets can be found outdoors on the High Street and indoors in King's Square. The markets operate M-Sa. (updated Jul 2021)
* 52.52054-1.995174 Astle Retail Park, B70 8NS. Outlet shops can be found here including M&S as well as PureGym which is open 24/7. (updated Jul 2021)

## Eat
### Budget

* Simma's Diner (aka Eljays), 13-15 Vicarage Road, B71 1AN (turn off the A4031 (All Saints Way) near the hospital and continue down Wilford Road until you reach the row of shops), ☏ +44 121 522-2861. 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, 152 Roebuck Street, B70 6RD (just off M5 Junction 1), ☏ +44 121 553-2866. 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, Unit 1b Dudley Street, B70 9RL, ☏ +44 121 525-0677. 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, 14 Parsonage Street, B71 4DL, ☏ +44 121 588-3877. One of the best known fish and chip shops in the town.
* Mr Singh's Pizza 15 New Street, B70 7PP, ☏ +44 121 525-7466. Meat-free pizzas with an Indian spin.

### Splurge
## Drink

* The Crown and Anchor (Jinglers), Hollyhedge Road, B71 3BS, ☏ +44 121 567-0921. 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.
* 52.518597-1.9954981 The Billiard Hall (JD Wetherspoon), St Michael's Street, West Bromwich Ringway, B70 7AB, ☏ +44 121 580-2892. This Wetherspoon pub was purpose-built as a snooker and billiard hall, and has retained its original decorated facade.
* The Sandwell, 277 High Street, B70 8ND, ☏ +44 121 580-2618. Live sports and karaoke events. (updated Jul 2021)
* 52.523586-2.0030262 The Old Hop Pole, 474 High Street, B70 9LD, ☏ +44 121 533-0252. Traditional and old fashioned pub with live music and outdoor seating. (updated Jul 2021)

## Sleep

* 52.513727-1.975821 Mercure Birmingham West Hotel, Birmingham Rd, ☏ +44 121 609-9988. 168 room hotel with bar and restaurant. (updated Oct 2020)

## Go next

* Birmingham the adjacent, large city
* Walsall
* Wolverhampton
* Dudley