A Middleton Day Out - history, nature & the canal

Middleton Hall & Gardens

Middleton Hall, Tamworth, Warwickshire B78 2AE | Tel: 01827 283095 Open Wed–Sun, 11am–4pm | Charges apply.

Middleton Hall is one of North Warwickshire's best-kept secrets - a Grade II* listed manor with nearly 1,000 years of history set in 42 peaceful acres. The buildings themselves are remarkable: medieval, Tudor and Georgian architecture standing side by side, each period preserved rather than replaced, so that walking through the site is like moving through time.

Its most famous residents were Francis Willughby, the 17th century naturalist and ornithologist born here in 1635, and his friend, tutor and collaborator John Ray - widely regarded as the father of English natural history. At Middleton Hall, the two men developed the taxonomical systems that form the foundations of how we classify plants and animals today. The herb garden is dedicated to their memory. Earlier, in 1575, Queen Elizabeth I visited the Great Hall to knight Sir Francis Willoughby, making Middleton one of the county's quieter Tudor connections.

By the late 20th century the Hall had fallen into serious decay but since 1980, a dedicated team of volunteers working under the Middleton Hall Trust has painstakingly restored it using traditional techniques, putting in hundreds of thousands of hours. The result is one of Warwickshire's most rewarding visits. The Georgian walled garden, herb garden, Peel Museum, working smithy, courtyard shops and tearoom all add to the experience. Allow a good two hours before moving on to the next stop, almost directly behind the Hall. If you’ve lingered here all morning, Middleton Hall is a good place to grab lunch.

Travel

• approximately 5 minutes
• approximately 5 minutes. On foot via the canal towpath it takes around 10 minutes

Stop 2: RSPB Middleton Lakes

Bodymoor Heath Lane, Bodymoor Heath, Tamworth B78 2AN | Tel: 01827 259454 Open daily dawn to dusk | Free entry | Parking £4 (free for RSPB members)

Until 2007 this was a working gravel quarry. The RSPB has since transformed the site into one of the most important nature reserves in the Midlands - wetlands, reedbeds, meadows and patches of ancient woodland spread across 160 hectares of the River Tame Valley, supporting a remarkable range of wildlife.

Kingfishers, grey herons, avocets and lapwings are among the birds seen regularly here, and the reserve is also home to otters, dragonflies and rare wetland plants. Old English Longhorn cattle and Konik ponies graze the site, their grazing keeping the habitats in the condition the wildlife needs. Four signposted trails cross the reserve, with viewing screens and a large lookout hide looking out over the north lake. For families with younger children, there's a play meadow with den-building and pond dipping. 

If you've not had lunch yet, you can head back to Middleton Hall, or visit The Green Man, Middleton, a traditional gastro pub immediately adjacent to the RSPB reserve car park.

Travel

• The Birmingham & Fazeley Canal towpath runs directly through the reserve.

Stop Stop 3: The Birmingham & Fazeley Canal Towpath

Access from within the RSPB reserve or from Fazeley Junction, Tamworth B78 3QN Free | Open access at all times

The Birmingham & Fazeley Canal runs directly through the RSPB reserve and provides a natural, peaceful way to round off the day. Authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1784 and completed in 1789, the canal connects Birmingham to Fazeley Junction near Tamworth and forms part of the Warwickshire Ring. The towpath section here separates the former gravel pits to the east from ancient woodland to the west - a beautiful and quietly historic stretch of waterway. The towpath walk is approximately 2 miles and takes around 40–50 minutes at a leisurely pace. For those not walking, Fazeley Junction is around 10 minutes by car.

Walking northwards from the reserve towards Fazeley Junction, look out for the distinctive Grade II listed Gothic footbridge near Drayton Bassett, with its small white turrets either side of the canal - an elegant and unexpected landmark. Narrowboats pass through regularly, kingfishers are frequently spotted along this stretch, and the whole walk has a genuinely unhurried, restorative quality.

Stop 4: The Belfry Hotel & Resort

Lichfield Road, Sutton Coldfield B76 9PR ~10 mins from Middleton Hall

Ten minutes from Middleton Hall and needing absolutely no introduction, The Belfry is set in 550 acres of North Warwickshire countryside and is arguably the most famous golf resort in England. It has hosted the Ryder Cup four times on its legendary Brabazon Course - more than any other venue in the world - and for golfers, a round here is firmly in bucket-list territory. The Brabazon is a par-72 championship course spanning 7,235 yards, designed by Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss, with tight fairways, fast undulating greens and holes that have passed into golfing folklore - among them the driveable par-4 10th where Seve Ballesteros famously drove the green in 1985. For those who want a world-class test without quite the same pressure, the PGA National is the only PGA-branded course in England, while the shorter Derby course is a beautifully maintained parkland option that suits all levels. 

For non-golfers - or for those who simply want to swap clubs for something more restorative - the Belfry Spa is a calm, dedicated wellness space set apart from the main hotel. Signature treatments include massages, facials and holistic therapies, alongside a relaxation room, sauna, steam room and experience showers. The signature Fire and Ice experience takes you through 12 bio-thermal rooms in sequence and is deeply restorative whether taken alone or paired with a treatment. Robes, slippers and towels are provided, and full access to the leisure club - including the pool, gym and fitness classes - is included with a spa day booking.

Alternative stop 4: Drayton Manor Theme Park

Drayton Manor Drive, Tamworth B78 3TW ~5 mins from Middleton Hall

If the idea of spa treatments and championship golf sounds rather too civilised, Drayton Manor Resort is the alternative - five minutes from Middleton Hall, right on the canal, and offering a very different kind of afternoon. Set across 180 acres of former Peel family estate, it is one of the UK's largest theme parks with over 100 rides and attractions spread across themed areas including the Vikings zone, Adventure Cove, Wild West and the only Thomas & Friends themed land in Europe, with over 25 attractions for younger children. For those after genuine adrenaline, the standout rides more than deliver: Shockwave is one of only two stand-up roller coasters in Europe; Apocalypse is a 54-metre freefall drop tower; Maelstrom spins riders at high speed over water; and Stormforce 10 is the park's signature white-knuckle water ride. Thor, a brand-new Disk'O Coaster, and Loki - the UK's first Zamperla Nebulaz - are among the more recent additions.

Beyond the rides, the park's 15-acre zoo is home to over 100 animals including Sumatran tigers, red pandas, spider monkeys, capybara and flamingoes, with daily keeper talks and animal experiences throughout the day. It makes for a natural mid-afternoon breather from the rides, and is genuinely well-regarded in its own right. Book tickets in advance online to avoid queues and secure the best prices; the Drayton Manor app provides live queue times and a park map on the day. The park runs a full season of events including a May Bank Holiday fireworks spectacular and a Wild West Fest later in the summer. Drayton Manor is the natural choice for families with children, groups of friends chasing thrills, or anyone who simply wants the loudest possible contrast to a quiet morning at Middleton Hall.