The market town of Tamworth in Staffordshire has become a very desirable place to live. With two canals passing through, the Coventry Canal and the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, it has also become quite a magnet for canal-side living.
It has many things going for it. For a start, Tamworth enjoys a convenient central location in the heart of England making it handy for commuters. There’s also a wide range of homes to choose from: from modern starter homes and affordable housing to premium executive homes and period properties. Steeped in history, there’s lots to see and do in Tamworth with some great amenities for family entertainment.
If you’re thinking of, or about to move to Tamworth, Extra Room Self Storage shares some handy local knowledge to help you get settled in. Here are our top 6 things you need to know about moving to Tamworth:
1. Best ways to travel around Tamworth
A real benefit of living in Tamworth is its central location, bordering both Leicestershire and Warwickshire. It’s a town served by a good road network. Tamworth is close to the M1, M6 and M42 motorways, as well as the nearby A5. This is convenient for travelling to nearby cities such as Birmingham, Coventry and Leicester, as well as popular towns such Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield.
For those, who prefer to use public transport, Tamworth won’t disappoint. There’s Tamworth Rail Station located at Victoria Road, just 10 minutes from Tamworth town centre, with services to and from nearby towns as well as Solihull, Leamington Spa, Shifnal, to name a few. From Tamworth, you can also catch a train into Birmingham (which is just a short journey away) as well as other cities such as London, Nottingham, Cardiff and Edinburgh. Tamworth Station is located at the crossing point between the Cross Country Line and the West Coast Main Line.
Tamworth is also well served by bus routes. Operators such as Arriva and Stagecoach offer regular bus services around popular areas of Tamworth such as, to and from the Ventura Retail Park, and suburbs of Tamworth, such as Amington Green, Dunstall Park and more. Bus services are also available to those who want to travel out of Tamworth, such as to Birmingham, Nuneaton and Lichfield.
There are also a number of cycle routes around Tamworth, for those who prefer two wheels instead of four. Staffordshire County Council has produced some handy maps for those who enjoy cycling.
2. Best schools in Tamworth
There’s a good selection of schools in and around Tamworth with options for both state and private education. These include both primary and secondary schools which Ofsted has rated ‘Good’ or even ‘Outstanding’, as well as those catering for children and young people with special needs.
Mary Howard Church of England Primary School, Birchwood Primary School and The Howard Primary School are given ‘Good’ star ratings on the website www.schoolguide.co.uk. St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary School and St Gabriel’s Catholic Primary School in Tamworth have also been rated ‘Good’ from Ofsted. Meanwhile, St Andrews Church of England Primary School has been awarded ‘Outstanding’.
There’s Kingsbury School, a smaller secondary school that is part of the Castle Pheonix Trust in the Kingsbury area of Tamworth, which gets good all-round reviews. Landau Forte Academy in Tamworth has a good reputation and there’s also the Wilnecote School, as well as schools catering for special educational needs such as Kettlebrook Short Stay School. Additionally, there are primary schools rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted. These include Amington Heath Primary School and Oakhill Primary School as well as Glascote Academy for 4–11-year-olds awarded ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.
Obviously, parents need to do their homework (no pun intended!) when it comes to the most suitable educational establishments for their children. Our list is just a small selection of the many great schools in Tamworth.
3. Best Historic Places to Visit in Tamworth
For those interested in history, there are some fine examples of historic buildings in and around Tamworth. Let’s start with the incredible Tamworth Castle and Grounds which is open to the public. Take a journey 900 years back in time, through Saxon, Norman, Tudor and Victorian eras, or explore the stunning castle grounds. This must-see attraction is located at The Holloway in Tamworth, close to the town centre and the River Tame. Tamworth Castle plays host to many interesting events and exhibitions, with entertainment for all the family.
There is also the incredible Middleton Hall, a real gem of a manor house dating back to the 13th century set in 42 acres of picturesque North Warwickshire countryside. Middleton Hall, home to the Peel Society Museum, hosts a wide range events throughout the year, and offers some lovely countryside trails for all the family to enjoy. It has a lovely Georgian walled garden, a tearoom, and courtyard. What’s more, it’s just a stone’s throw away from Tamworth, located between the Belfry Hotel and Drayton Manor Park, just off the M42 in the village of Middleton.
The list of historic places to visit in Tamworth is endless, but we have to mention the famous St Editha’s Church dating back to 963 AD, today a place for worship and education. It remains an attraction for its architecture and treasures, such as its beautiful Pre-Raphaelite stained glass, Norman arches and magnificent organ. It is the largest parish church in Staffordshire.
Lastly (but by not means least) there are the famous Tamworth Assembly Rooms in the town centre on Corporation Street, hosting live shows, films, comedy acts and concerts. A remarkable Grade II list building dating back to 1889, it was originally built to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. It’s had a lively and colourful history, including fulfilling an important role in World War I and II. Today, this Victorian building really is the heart of arts and entertainment in Tamworth.
4. Best Outdoor Spaces in Tamworth
Tamworth is graced with some lovely outdoor spaces and activity centres. We have already talked about the beautiful Tamworth Castle gardens, which is the setting for many outdoor events in Tamworth during the summer months.
Nearby, there is also the famous Drayton Manor Theme Park offering an abundance of thrilling rides and amusements, as well as Thomas Land and a zoo. With so much to see and do, it’s a great venue for entertaining the young people in the family!
For those who prefer a quieter outdoor experience, there are several local nature reserves in the area co-managed by Tamworth Borough Council and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.
We also recommend Statfold Country Park which has its own private railway line and museum, showcasing many steam locomotives, together with children play areas. There’s also a fabulous retro roller skating rink that’s great for a party!
For animal lovers, there is also the nearby Polesworth Donkey Sanctuary. A visit to see these rather cute donkeys is also helping the charity. There are also other animals to see too and the Donkey Diner to grab some refreshments.
Meanwhile for those who like water sports, Cliff Lakes aqua park on Tamworth Road is ace! Aqualand offers the challenge of some great thrills and spills, with water-based slides, climbing walls and more. There’s open water swimming and the opportunity to learn how to standup paddleboard on the lakes, and for the really keen, there’s an onsite standup paddleboard club.
5. Best Places to Eat and Drink in Tamworth
From traditional pubs to gastropubs, modern European and a wide range of international cuisine, Tamworth caters for all culinary tastes. The more traditional places to eat include The Globe Inn Tamworth and The Malthouse at Kingsbury.
For those who like Indian food, Zaazu on the A5 at Dordon is fab. If you’re looking for a restaurant to celebrate a special occasion, then Paparazzi serving Mediterranean food also comes highly recommended.
Slightly further afield, San Giovanni in Sheepy serves mouthwatering italian cuisine and the Fig and Olive near Middleton is very popular.
At Ventura Retail Park, there’s a full range of popular eateries including Pizza Express, Five Guys and our beloved Nandos!
We also can’t write about popular Tamworth eateries without mentioning the best jacket potato in town and perhaps the world. The world famous Spudman!
There are, of course, many other excellent places to eat and drink in Tamworth, as well as some good takeaways for those who prefer to ‘eat in’. Genuinely, we find it hard to pick out a favourite!
6. Best Shopping in Tamworth
The other beauty of Tamworth is its wide range of shops. From independent retailers to the large national chain stores, Tamworth won’t disappoint the most serious shoppers. Ventura Retail Park is where you will find the larger stores, such as Marks and Spencer, Costa Coffee, Curry’s and Asda. There’s also the Jolly Sailor and Cardinal Point, where the likes of Sainsbury’s, McDonalds, B&Q, Aldi and so on can be found. They are all just a short distance from Tamworth town centre.
In the town itself, there is Ankerside Shopping Centre, which is home to around 60 shops. Explore the streets too because it is here you will come across some of the independent shops, cafes and all sorts of eateries, offering something a little different.
Of course, there is also Tamworth market, held on a Tuesday and Saturday in the town centre, where fresh produce is in abundance.
In case you are wondering about the best place for self storage in Tamworth, well look no further than Extra Room Self Storage! Close to Tamworth, we offer a secure and pristine self-storage centre offering rooms and units in a variety of sizes. Whether you are doing some renovation work on your property in Tamworth, or simply want some temporary space to store your belongings, Extra Room Self Storage is the company to call on. Please click here to find out more about Extra Room Self Storage – Tamworth.