Wolverhampton

Once an Anglo-Saxon settlement, later a wool-trading town and then a key player in the Industrial Revolution, today this is a lively university city in the West Midlands.

With a striking architectural landscape, superb galleries, pretty gardens and sporting events, Wolverhampton has plenty to offer. Art galleries, museums and theaters provide excellent cultural experiences, restaurants serve food from all corners of the globe and traditional pubs present the chance to socialize with locals.

Discover landmark buildings while wandering the streets of Wolverhampton. Edwardian houses, timber-framed buildings and the Prince Albert Statue decorate Queen Square in the heart of the city center. Stroll through St. Peter’s Gardens to the 15th-century St. Peter’s Collegiate College. Other notable sights are the French-Renaissance Old Town Hall (Magistrates’ Court) and the Church of St. John.

Marvel at Georgian, Victorian and pop art masterpieces at Wolverhampton Art Gallery. Independent galleries showcase the talent of regional artists. Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, which is the city’s longest-running theater, has a year-round schedule of concerts, musicals, operas and pantomimes. Join a 3,000-capacity crowd for boxing, circus, darts and live music events at Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

If you feel like shopping while you are in Wolverhampton, then head to the Mander Centre and Wulfrun Centre where you can browse brand-name fashion outlets, cosmetic, footwear, homeware and jewelry stores. Bakeries, boutiques, coffeehouses and department stores line the city center streets.

Refuel after your shopping adventure at curry restaurants inspired by Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani and Thai flavors. Take part in a true British tradition by sipping on a pint of beer at cozy Victorian-era pubs, some squeezed between rows of terraced houses.

Soccer fans should book tickets to watch Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux Stadium, built in 1889. The attached Wolves Museum tells the story of one of England’s oldest soccer clubs. Try your luck at Wolverhampton Racecourse. For something different, visit Wightwick Manor and Gardens, a Victorian stately home adorned with pre-Raphaelite paintings.

Buses and trains travel to Wolverhampton from major cities such as Liverpool, London and Manchester. A direct tram, called the Midland Metro, operates between the city and Birmingham. For an alternative view of The Midlands region, join a narrowboat tour and cruise along a network of scenic canals.