10 Reasons Why Wolverhampton Is A Good City To Visit – From A Local
Wondering if Wolverhampton is worth a visit?
As a long time Wolverhampton local, (I’ve spent the majority of my life living here), I’m very experienced to answer the question: is it a good city to visit?
If you’re visiting the Midlands in England for the first time then you may be wondering what exactly is there to do in Wolverhampton? Is it worth your time to visit and is it a good city or not?
In my experience, it is a city that surprises first time visitors at just how much there is to do here. In this blog post I’ve detailed the top ten reasons why Wolverhampton is worthy of your time, so read on if you’re considering visiting.
Is Wolverhampton A Good City To Visit?
The answer is a resounding yes from me; Wolverhampton is indeed a good city to visit! Let’s be honest here, Wolverhampton isn’t on anyone’s top tourist destination places in 2024.
But if you’re visiting the region and curious to know what the city has to offer, then you may be surprised to learn that there’s plenty of things to do here.
Whether that’s attending Premiere League football matches, visiting galleries or national trust buildings, there are a lot activities to keep you occupied.
Wolverhampton has had a reputation for a long time as being a run down, poor city and there’s no denying that it is very much economically challenged. But it still has a lot to offer and you shouldn’t let other’s opinions deter you from visiting.
Neighbouring city Birmingham which is just 17 miles away from Wolverhampton is the much more popular city, and has experienced quite a transformation into a top UK city to visit in recent years.
While Wolverhampton on the other hand is a much smaller, less attractive city without the investment and culture that Birmingham enjoys.
But give Wolverhampton a try and you may be in for a pleasant surprise. It has several fantastic restaurants (including vegetarian restaurants), cafes, a bustling high street and a lot more to offer.
Top Ten Reasons To Visit Wolverhampton
So what exactly is there to do in Wolverhampton and what makes it a good city to visit? Let’s look at what the ten best things to do are when visiting the city:
1. Watch a Premiere League Game ⚽
Without a doubt, the biggest reason right now in 2024 why people visit Wolverhampton is because of its football club; Wolverhampton Wanderers (or Wolves, as most supporters call the team).
Wolves play their football (or soccer if you’re American) in the country’s top flight Premiere League division, which means a lot of visitors come to the city whenever there is a matchday, usually on weekends.
This of course brings in a lot of much needed revenue to the city, which relies on the teams’ success to help more visitors experiencing everything that it has to offer.
With games against the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and so on, watching a game at the Molineux stadium is a fantastic experience; there is always a cracking atmosphere and it makes for an entertaining day out.
The stadium also features a museum which exhibits the past glories of the football club. Wolves has a famous history, they were one of the founding members of the English league in 1888 and won the league several times throughout the 1950’s.
2. Go to a Music Concert 🎵
Wolverhampton has a great history of producing fantastic music bands over the decades, with Led Zeppelin’s singer Robert Plant being a local and 70’s glam rock band Slade also originating from the area.
And the city is home to one of the best music venues you’ll find anywhere in the UK; the Halls. Formerly known as the Civic Halls, this venue underwent a costly makeover to the tune of £40 million over an eight year period.
This drought of a venue dedicated to live music was sorely missed over those eight years, but the revamped venue reopened in 2023 and now welcomes some of the biggest musical acts and entertainment artists from around the world on a regular basis.
From the likes of Blur, Liam Gallagher and The Black Crowes, to famous British comedians such as Jimmy Carr and John Bishop, the venue is Wolverhampton’s major tourist attraction for all music lovers out there.
3. Watch a Theatre Show 🎭
Wolverhampton also has a top theatre venue which is just as popular as the Halls; the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.
Based just a few minutes’ walk from the train station, the grand theatre has been the city’s main entertainment hub since it opened way back in 1894.
It has been entertaining locals and visitors ever since and now welcomes some of the best performance art shows that are touring the UK all throughout the year.
From thought provoking theatre plays to musicals and tribute acts, there is a great variety of performance art at the Grand and a visit here makes for a top night out of entertainment.
Visiting the Grand is a really special experience as the building itself is a Grade II listed building and seats up to 1200 people.
There is always a good quality show on at the grand, so keep your eyes peeled for what’s playing next time you’re visiting Wolverhampton.
4. Check out the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands 🛩️
Just a short train ride away from Wolverhampton in Cosford is the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands. This is a fascinating museum (that’s totally free) that details the history of aviation and in particular the British royal air force.
Situated in a huge hangar, the museum is a fun day out for families as well as aviation enthusiasts. There are over a 100 aircrafts, tanks, cars and more on display in the main hangar which is quite an impressive collection.
There are also exhibitions and a ‘Flight Zone’ that includes a flight simulator and a 4D theatre. This is a fantastic option for families visiting Wolverhampton and best of all is that it doesn’t cost a penny to enter!
The museum is open from 10am to 4pm 7 days a week and there is car parking at the museum as well as a cafeteria serving hot food and drinks.
Travel Tip: The best way to reach the Royal Air Force Museum is to catch a train direct from Wolverhampton to Cosford, which will usually take around 20 minutes.
5. Have a Beer at a Traditional Pub 🍻
Wolverhampton is home to several traditional pubs in the city centre that date back hundreds of years, and are definitely worth experiencing when visiting the city. Here are my top three traditional pubs I recommend having a beer in:
📍 The Posada – this is a beautiful small pub in the centre of the city that opened in 1886 and still features many of its original bar fittings and tiled walls. It’s a cosy little place with a nice beer garden which is perfect during the summer months.
📍 The Lych Gate Tavern – Based just a minute’s walk from the Posada is the Lych Gate Tavern, a lovely traditional pub which features Georgian frontage that dates back to 1726. The interior features original timber frames and it also features a downstairs beer garden too.
📍 The Giffard Arms – Just a couple of minutes’ walk from the Lych Gate is the Giffard Arms, a popular place that is Gothic themed and supposedly haunted. It has a spooky past and was officially opened in 1927. Expect live music every weekend night and a lively atmosphere.
6. Explore a Historical Building 🏰
There are several national trust buildings around the outskirts of Wolverhampton which are well worth a visit for any history enthusiasts visiting the region. Here are the 3 top historical buildings to see near the city:
📍 Bantock House Museum – This is a gorgeous Edwardian building that was built in the 1730s and has been restored to its former glory.
It has lush gardens nearby and is surrounded by 43 acres of parkland. Admission to the building and museum is totally free and there is a cafe on the premises as well.
📍 Wightwick Manor and Gardens – This is a Victorian manor house with a fantastic collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings. It is surrounded by 17 acres of beautiful gardens and is a delightful place to explore.
📍 Moseley Old Hall – This amazingly atmospheric Elizabethan home has a lot of history to it – it is most famous for hiding King Charles II from Cromwell’s army following the Battle of Worcester in 1651.
Based near Wolverhampton in Staffordshire, this is another fantastic place worth exploring that is also owned by the National Trust.
7. Experience the Black Country Living Museum 🏛️
Arguably one of the best living museums in the whole of the UK is situated close to Wolverhampton, just several miles away in Dudley; the Black Country Living museum.
This is a brilliant open air museum with over 80 rebuilt historic buildings that will transport you back to the 1800s, when the region earned the name of: ‘the black country’ (because of the smog that factories produced during this era).
This is a fascinating place to explore with lots of industrial workshops, houses and shops to discover what life was like during this era for metalworkers, nurses and miners. It also features a historic fairground, making it a perfect day out for families.
Travel Tip: If travelling from Wolverhampton to Dudley then I recommend catching the X8 bus from Wolverhampton bus station.
8. Visit Wolverhampton Art Gallery 🎨
Wolverhampton has a top quality art gallery based in the city centre which is very much worth a visit. Wolverhampton Art Gallery is housed in a fantastic historical building that was officially opened in 1884.
The gallery is always showing family friendly displays and touring exhibitions featuring artwork from local and international artists. It also has a top quality cafe called: ‘Glaze‘ that offers hot food and drinks throughout the day.
9. Go for a stroll at a Victorian Park 🌲
Wolverhampton is home to one of only a handful remaining Victorian parks in the whole of the UK; West Park. Situated just a ten minute walk from the city centre, West Park is a beautiful place full of nature and is a great escape from city life.
Officially opened in June 1881, West Park is almost 40 acres in size and has plenty of lush landscaped gardens, lakes, wildlife, statues, tennis courts, children’s play areas and more.
It’s a very serene place to enjoy nature and unwind and is very popular with the locals throughout the summer months.
10. Experience Wolverhampton’s nightlife
When it comes to which city is better: Wolverhampton or Birmingham, most people would say that Birmingham has the better nightlife.
But in my opinion Wolverhampton is a more authentic experience with traditional pubs and a lively atmosphere wherever you go.
As well as top restaurants, pubs and clubs, there are several fantastic cocktail bars worth checking out and a lot of places feature live music too.
Wolverhampton locals are always friendly, making for a fun night out whatever you may fancy.
Wolverhampton FAQs
Still not sure if Wolverhampton is a good city to visit? Let’s answer some commonly asked questions about Wolves:
Is Wolverhampton a safe place to visit?
Wolverhampton is considered the most dangerous city in the West Midlands area, but as a local who lives near the city centre I have in my experience never witnessed any crimes, so from my point of view it is a safe city.
There are petty crimes daily in the city and it has a homelessness and drug problem for sure, but so does every other city in the UK unfortunately.
I would advise to be vigilant when visiting the city centre just as you would anywhere else, but please don’t let this deter you from visiting.
How many days do you need to visit Wolverhampton?
I would recommend a day trip to Wolverhampton depending on where you’re travelling from. If coming from Birmingham then you can easily spend a day visiting a few of the major tourist attractions in Wolverhampton.
If travelling from further afield then you may wish to spend an extra day or two, but in one day you can cover a lot of the main places worth visiting and get a feel for the city.
What is public transportation like in Wolverhampton?
There is really good public transportation in Wolverhampton city centre that connects to other cities in the Midlands region and to other places in the UK.
Wolverhampton has it’s own tram line which starts from the train station and stops at towns close by such as West Bromwich and goes all the way to Edgbaston in the Birmingham region.
There is also a very good bus service in Wolverhampton where you can catch a bus to all the different regions on the outskirts of the city.
And from Wolverhampton train station you can catch a train direct to most of the major UK cities, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Edinburgh, as well as hidden gem towns such as Shrewsbury.
Conclusion: Why Wolverhampton is a Good City to Visit
So that is all you need about why Wolverhampton is a good city to visit. Yes, it has a poor reputation as not being a nice place, but personally I think there are a lot of surprising activities and reasons why you should check it out.
There’s plenty to do in and around the city, whether you’re a history or aviation enthusiast or a huge football fan, there are also several cooking classes you can take if you fancy.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my list of reasons why you should come and see this underappreciated place for yourself. Now that you know that Wolverhampton is indeed a good city, the only question you have to ask yourself is: when will you next visit?
