15 Best Things To Do In Bromsgrove

Image: Windmill at Avoncroft Museum by Katy Wrathall / Flickr

Bromsgrove is located in Worcestershire in the heart of England. It’s an old market town steeped in history and surrounded by beautiful countryside.

There is plenty to do in Bromsgrove and its immediate surrounding areas from museums to historic houses to wonderful walks. You will find something for everybody from families with young kids to couples looking for peace and tranquillity.

Bromsgrove is situated between the historic city of Worcester and Birmingham (the UK’s second city). Just a short train ride or drive away and you will also be able to explore the delights these amazing cities have to offer.

See Dr Who’s Tardis at Avoncroft Museum Of Historic Buildings

Image: The Merchant’s House by Katy Wrathall / Flickr

The Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings is an open air museum which is home to 30 buildings that have been rescued and relocated and span many time periods.

Highlights include a working windmill, the 1940s prefab house and Anderson shelter, toll house and the UK’s biggest telephone kiosk collection with Dr Who’s Tardis. There is a miniature railway that runs on some days (normally Sundays and event days – check the website to see when its running). There is also a children’s playground.

There are often events at Avoncroft Museum which include historical re-enactments, traditional Mayday activities, ghost stories at Halloween and traditional Christmas celebrations . During the summer holidays, the museum run extra events for children on certain days which include trails, arts, crafts and other activities.

Find out more at Avoncroft Museum.

Stroll Around Sanders Park

Image: Sanders Park by Elliott Brown / Flickr

Sanders Park is the main park in Bromsgrove and features a children’s playground, duck pond, bowling green, skate park, fitness/gym area, tennis and basketball courts. There are large green areas perfect for dog walking and games of rounders, cricket and football. There are some pathways which enable you to meander around the park and are suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. There is also a wooded area and brook which runs through the park.

Sanders park also has a takeaway cafe which serves snacks, lunch and refreshments.

During the summer months, there are sometimes events for kids and families. There is a bandstand which is regularly used on Sundays during the summer.  On Sunday mornings at 9am, children can take part in the junior park run event. Primal fitness sessions run here through the year too.

Check out the Sanders park website to find out more.

Walk To See the Alpacas at the Alpacafe

Image : Alpacas by Alpacafe / Facebook

A hidden gem in Bromsgrove is the Alpacafe. It’s open mostly during the summer months, although sometimes they open on weekends in school holidays during the winter too.

Come down, enjoy a coffee, tea or hot drink and hang out with the Alpacas and other animals. There is no parking at the venue so as part of your experience you will need to walk to get there. There are many walks to enjoy to get to the alpacafe but if you park in Bromsgrove town centre the walk is about 1.3 miles each way. Find the route here.

Alternatively check out the Alpacafe website for more walking route options.

You can also book a Alpaca experience to enjoy meeting and walking closely with the Alpacas.  You can do this via their Facebook page

Find out more about the Alpacafe.

Play Footgolf (or even golf) at Bromsgrove Golf Centre

Image : Bromsgrove Golf Centre

Bromsgrove Golf Centre has an excellent golf course for experienced golfers. It’s a fantastic course which is well looked after.

Kids can try their hand at the 9 hole foot golf course for an activity with a difference. You can do the 9 hole course two times to extend the game if you wish. Kids love trying to kick the football in the hole with the fewest attempt possible.  The club also has a junior golf academy.

The golf centre also has a bar and restaurant with very reasonably priced food which is well worth a visit too.

Find out more at Bromsgrove Golf Centre. 

Discover the History of Hanbury Hall

Image : Hanbury Hall by Tony Hisgett / Flickr

Hanbury Hall is a National Trust venue on the outskirts of Bromsgrove (about a 15 minute drive from the town centre).

It’s an 18th century house, garden and parkland. Tour inside the house to learn about it’s history and the Vernon family who lived there. Afterwards stroll around the beautiful kept gardens. There is also lots of parkland to explore. Don’t forget to visit the orangery and the Ice House too.

There are often events organised for the children during school holiday which can include crafts, games and trails.

Find out more at Hanbury Hall.

Norton Collection Museum

The Norton Collection museum is a small museum which holds the lifetime collections of one man, Dennis Norton,  many of which are associated with Bromsgrove. Dennis Norton started collecting in 1949 and never stopped.

It looks small but many visitors describe the museum as a tardis, there is a lot more inside there than you would imagine looking in from the outside.

The upstairs is filled with shop fronts crammed with exhibits based on real Bromsgrove businesses that used to exist in the town. You’ll find a toy shop, a wireless shop, a ladies outfitters, a hairdressers, a chemist, a newsagent, a photographic store and a gramophone shop.

There are also lots of information about the crafts and industries which made Bromsgrove an important town in the past. Did you know the gates of Buckingham Palace were made in Bromsgrove?

The volunteers are knowledgeable and friendly and the museum is well worth a visit.

Find out more at Norton Collection Museum.

Hanbury Woods

Hanbury Woods (also known as Piper’s Hill and Dodderhill Common) is a 10 minute drive from Bromsgrove. The woods contain some of the oldest trees in the country.

The public footpaths run through the woodland, it can get muddy so bring your wellies if it’s been wet recently. At the foot of the woods there is a small pond which is home to some ducks.

You can walk up the woods to Hanbury Church which is often open so you can visit the church too which often has self service refreshments. The views from Hanbury church are spectacular and when the weather is good there are amazing views over Worcestershire. If you want to extend your walk even further, continue on the footpaths down to Hanbury Hall – see the Hanbury Circular walk for a map of the area.

Find out more at Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

Go Climbing at Bromsgrove Leisure Centre

Image : Bromsgrove Sport & Leisure Centre / Facebook

Bromsgrove Leisure Centre is home to a clip n climb experience, that’s fun for both kids and adults. Clip ‘n Climb uses automatic belay devices which take in the slack as you climb and then gently lower you to the floor when you reach the top of the wall. After the health and safety briefing, you’re good to go and it’s so much fun.

There are numerous walls to try which feature both easy and harder routes. Try the speed wall and see how quickly you can reach the top and stop the timer.

Book your session at Bromsgrove Sports and Leisure Centre

Aztec Adventure

Image : The Aqua Park

Aztec Adventure is situated in Wychbold (just under 4 miles from Bromsgrove town centre). Try out many boating and aqua activities on the lake including kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing and the aqua park. There are also land based activities including archery, high level ropes course, low level ropes course, giant swing and rock climbing wall.

The Aqua Park is open from May to September in Wychbold (between Bromsgrove and Droitwich).

It’s a fun wet activity for kids (aged 6 plus) and their families. Climb and slide down the inflatables in the lake.

Book in advance and you can hire a wetsuit there. There are two cafes (The Beach Bus Cafe and and the Boat Shack Cafe) where spectators can grab food and drink.

Find out more information on Aztec Adventure website. 

See the Farm Animals at Lizzie’s Farm and Tea Room.

Lizzie’s farm is a great place to take young children to see a few farm animals and treat yourself to lunch or a coffee and a cake.

Find out more at Lizzie’s Farm / Facebook 

See A Football Match

Image : Bromsgrove Sporting / Facebook

Bromsgrove is home to Bromsgrove Sporting and they play non league football in the Southern League Premier Division Central.

They play home games at the Victoria Ground. Their matches are well attended and if you are a football fan why not pop down and watch a home game during the football season.

Find their up and coming fixtures at Bromsgrove Sporting.

Tardebigge Lock Canal Walk

Image: Andrew Batram / Flickr

On the outskirts of Bromsgrove, you’ll find the longest flight of locks in the UK, comprising 30 narrow locks on a two-and-a-quarter-mile (3.6 km) stretch of the Worcester and Birmingham Canal at Tardebigge, Worcestershire.

Enjoy a lovely walk along the canal with views of magnificent open countryside, while watching boats navigate the locks.

Consider the Tardebigge Circular Canal Walk or walk from Tardebigge to Stoke Prior. You could combine you trip with a pub stop off at the Queens Head in Stoke Pound.

Webbs Garden Centre

Webbs at Wychbold (which is a few minutes drive from Bromsgrove) is so much more than a garden centre. It offers events throughout the year which have included ice skating and a light trail in the winter months. They also often put on events during the summer school holidays which include pumpkin carving, decorating a bird feeder, plants for mothers day and lots more.  It’s well worth checking their what’s on section to see what’s planned.

In the summer months they are often host to a circus too.

It’s a great place to take young children and toddlers as there is a pets and fish section which they enjoy looking at. Currently on Tuesday they have a free storytime session for young children. Have a bite to eat in the cafe and children will also enjoy the outdoor playground.

Also, stroll through the 5 acres of riverside gardens which give some unusual ideas of garden design. Young kids will also love the Hobbit house, a great place for children to explore and crawl through tunnels

Webbs is brilliant for a browse. Explore the garden plants and the home, gifts, butchery and food sections.

Jinny Ring Craft Centre

On the outskirts of Bromsgrove, near Hanbury you’ll find a craft centre with many traditional crafts, gifts shops, a duck pond and a cafe. It’s located in a beautiful setting of a 200 year old barn.

Some highlights include the glass blower who is great at showing kids his craft. There is also a chocolatier, artist, butcher, gift shop and plant shop. It’s probably best to go on a Saturday to ensure most of the shops are open.

The Jinny Ring has some events throughout the year, so check out their website to see what’s going on.

Rosedene

Image : Rosedene / National Trust

Owned by the National Trust, this red-brick cottage remains largely unchanged since it was first occupied by early Chartists. It has a beautiful garden and orchard at the back of the house. This plot of land would have been very important to the first occupants of the house to supplement their diet and income.

You need to book in advance to be able to visit and the visits only take place on the 1st Sunday of the month. However, the guides are fantastic and give an amazing insight into the social history of the 19th century. You can email to book your tour.

Find out more at Rosedene

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