Museum of the Jewellery Quarter
Birmingham
The Smith & Pepper jewellery factory is preserved as it was on its closing day in 1981 after 80 years of operation. Guided tours lasting around one hour…
Must-see attractions in The Midlands & the Marches
Peak District
Up the southeastern side of Mam Tor, 2 miles west of Castleton, Blue John is a maze of natural caverns with rich seams of Blue John stone that are still…
Birmingham
Dedicated to St Philip, this small but perfectly formed cathedral was constructed in a neoclassical style between 1709 and 1715. Pre-Raphaelite artist…
The Midlands & the Marches
The 17th-century Market House sits atop weathered sandstone columns in Market Pl. The salmon-pink building is now home to artist collective Made in Ross,…
Warwickshire
A survivor of the 1694 fire, the wonderfully wonky Lord Leycester Hospital has been used as a retirement home for soldiers (but never as a hospital) since…
Lincolnshire
Built in the early 14th century, St Botolph's Church (the name Boston is a corruption of 'St Botolph's Stone') is known locally as the Stump, in reference…
The Midlands & the Marches
Built in 1595 and now surrounded by High St shops, the Ancient High House is believed to be the largest remaining timber-framed Tudor town house in…
The Midlands & the Marches
A converted corn mill houses the entertaining Canal Museum, which charts the history of the canal network and its bargemen, lock-keepers and pit workers…
Webb Ellis Rugby Football Museum
Warwickshire
Intriguing exhibits at this little museum include the evolution of the ball and historic team photos from the Webb Ellis Cup (aka the Rugby World Cup). It…
Warwickshire
Rugby's main cultural space has changing art exhibitions and local history displays. Within the complex, the 2016-opened World Rugby Hall of Fame has…
Peak District
Many victims of the village's 1665 Black Death plague outbreak were buried at Eyam's church, whose history dates back to Saxon times. You can view stained…
Lincolnshire
Located between the castle and the cathedral, the triple-arched, battlement-topped Exchequergate, where the church's tenants paid their rent, dates from…
The Midlands & the Marches
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is one of the few surviving round churches in the country. It was founded when the first Earl of Northampton, Simon de…
Shropshire
Hewn from flaking red Shropshire sandstone, the town castle contains the Shropshire Regimental Museum. There are fine views from Laura's Tower and the…
Nottingham
The most atmospheric time to visit this beautiful stone church with a history stretching back to Saxon times is during evensong (6.15pm Wednesday during…
The Midlands & the Marches
Situated 2 miles east of Newark by the Winthorpe Showground, this aviation museum has over 100 aircraft, including a fearsome Vulcan bomber, a Vampire T11…
Chesterfield Museum & Art Gallery
The Midlands & the Marches
Chesterfield's history as a Roman fort through to the present day is documented at this engaging local museum, which also has information about the town's…
Peak District
Up on the hill above Rutland Sq, All Saints Church is packed with ancient features, including a 14th-century font, a pair of Norman arches, some fine…
Peak District
Attached to the tourist office, the cute town museum has displays on everything from mining and geology to rock climbing, hang-gliding and the curious…
The Midlands & the Marches
Sprawling over two 16th-century mansions, this entertaining museum details the lifestyle of locals through the centuries. Don't miss the walk-through…
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Centre
Lincolnshire
See Spitfires and the four-engined Lancaster City of Lincoln at the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Visitor Centre on 90-minute hangar tours. Bus IC5 (…
Malvern Museum of Local History
The Midlands & the Marches
Straddling Abbey Rd in the grand Priory Gatehouse (c 1470), the town museum offers a thorough exploration of Great Malvern's claims to fame, including…
Shropshire
Up an inconspicuous laneway, the Ludlow Brewing Company produces award-winning all-natural brews and sells directly from the brewery and its airy, post…
The Midlands & the Marches
Exhibits cover 1300 years of Lichfield history at this museum inside the revamped St Mary's Church, which also contains the town's library and art gallery…
Lincolnshire
A handsome Edwardian building decorated with carvings of cow skulls houses an impressive collection of works by greats such as Turner, Lowry and English…
Birmingham
St Paul's Sq is dominated by this beautiful 18th-century Georgian church, where 'Birmingham Brains' Matthew Boulton and James Watt came to pray. Details…
The Midlands & the Marches
Local history and industry displays include fine ceramics produced by Royal Crown Derby and an archaeology gallery, along with paintings by renowned…
Lincolnshire
An endearingly wonky 13th-century broach spire tops the 12th-century St Mary's Church. Classical concerts are held here in summer; tickets (from £14) are…
Shropshire
Built in classic Tudor style in 1540, the wonky Guildhall features some splendidly ornate woodcarving. One of the pillars supporting it was used for…
Lincolnshire
Displays at this charming community museum housed in an old Victorian barracks span everything from Victorian farm implements to the tin-can tank built in…
Peak District
Vivid displays on the Eyam plague are the centrepiece of the engaging town museum, alongside exhibits on the village's history of lead mining and silk…
Nottingham
Behind its lace-patterned concrete facade, Nottingham Contemporary holds edgy, design-driven exhibitions of paintings, prints, photography and sculpture.
The Midlands & the Marches
Dating from c 900, St Nicholas is Leicester's oldest place of worship, and incorporates tiles and masonry from Leicester's Roman baths. Hours can vary.
The Midlands & the Marches
Now a romantic ruin, Bess of Hardwick's first house, Hardwick Old Hall, neighbours the manor Hardwick Hall.
The Midlands & the Marches
Leicester's perfectly preserved 14th-century guildhall, one of England's finest, is reputed to be the city's most haunted building.
The Midlands & the Marches
The 12th-century church of St Michael and All Angels has a splendid 18th-century spire and tower divided from its medieval nave.
The Midlands & the Marches
A striking modernist cube on Market Pl, Quad contains a futuristic art gallery and an art-house cinema.
The Midlands & the Marches
Phenomenally popular Alton Towers, 4 miles east of Cheadle off the B5032, offers maximum G-force for your buck. Wild rides include the Th13teen, Nemesis,…
The Midlands & the Marches
Built around 1703, quirky Calke Abbey was occupied by a dynasty of eccentric and reclusive baronets, resulting in a ramshackle maze of rooms crammed with…
The Midlands & the Marches
Drayton has been serving up screams since 1949. Crowd-pleasers include the heart-in-mouth Apocalypse free-fall tower and Shockwave, Europe's first stand…
