England has no shortage of historic towns, sites, and destinations. Even London itself is full to the brim with history and fascinating stories. But travel just a short distance away from the capital, and you’ll find a charming town with a pretty impressive claim to fame. Today, Tamworth is a market town just a short distance north-east of Birmingham. But trace its history back, and you’ll discover that it was once the capital of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Mercia.
Okay cool… But what’s Mercia?
Back during the 6th to the 8th century, during Anglo-Saxon times, the United Kingdom was divided into 7 smaller kingdoms. These were known as the Heptarchy. One of those kingdoms was Mercia, which largely encompassed the region now known as the Midlands.
Mercian royals favoured Tamworth as a home base. It’s now considered to have been the capital of the kingdom. And today it’s simply a charming historic place to visit.
It’s worth noting that this is an oversimplification. Some contemporary historians don’t believe it was ever the case that all seven kingdoms existed at the same time – with some likely splintering off into smaller groups at various times. Nonetheless, it’s a helpful way of understanding Tamworth’s importance throughout history.
What to do in Tamworth
One of the best spots to visit in Tamworth is, obviously, its namesake castle. Today, it’s one of the most impressive examples of a motte and bailey castle in the UK – a style of castle or fortress with a keep atop a raised bit of earth (the motte) and a walled surrounding courtyard (the bailey).
Guests can explore the castle’s maze of rooms and chambers, and they can even see history come to life through live events and regular ‘Living History Days’.
As well as lashings of history and a haunted spot or two, Tamworth is home to a number of family-friendly attractions. These include Drayton Manor Theme Park and The Snowdome – an indoor ski slope with real snow.
The Statfold Country Park is also a popular attraction, with everything from outdoor play areas to mini golf, zip lines, and a woodland trail. Within it, you’ll also find The National Fairground Museum, with amazing vintage fairground rides, and the Statfold Barn Railway and Museum. You can travel around the area on a narrow-gauge locomotive, or take a trip on the miniature railway.
But then, in addition to the attractions themselves, the town is also a brilliant spot for riverside strolls, market wanders, and a spot of nature. Nature-lovers won’t want to miss a visit to the expansive 60-acre Buzzards Valley. The free-to-enter nature reserve features a “400 hundred year old woodland and bluebell woodland, [and a] pollinators garden,” as well as 6 lakes and much more.
Getting to Tamworth
Tamworth is just over an hour’s journey from London. A direct train will take you from Euston to Tamworth in just 1 hour and 4 minutes.
Or, if you’re driving, it will take you about 2 and a half hours.
Needless to say, I recommend catching the train.
