Coleshill
Perched on a ridge between the rivers Cole and Blythe, just on the edge of Birmingham, Coleshill has been a market town since the Middle Ages as coaches chose to stop here on the long road north to London. Walk up the High Street today and echoes of that coaching past are still very much present. Many of the original coaching inns remain, mostly along the High Street and Coventry Road and the town's elevated setting gives it a quiet dignity.
Plus, Coleshill has a lively and proud community who bring festivals, markets, and events to the town throughout the year.
Coleshill’s highlights
The High Street
Take a look at the Pillory and Whipping Post outside the old market hall, once used to punish drunks and bakers who sold underweight loaves. This is an exceptionally rare, example: a three in one wooden punishment device, one of the few surviving in the UK.
The Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul
The Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, with its 52-metre steeple, one of the finest in Warwickshire, dates from the 13th century. Inside, a 12th century font of Norman origin is one of the finest examples in the country.
Maxstoke Castle
Just a short drive away, this fine 14th century moated and fortified manor house has been in the continuous ownership of the same family for over 400 years. Among its remarkable contents is a table around which the Gunpowder Plot is said to have been planned in 1605, and a chair upon which Henry VII was crowned after the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Maxstoke Castle is privately owned, but it’s worth keeping an eye out for the limited guided tours that are occasionally available.
A Town of Curious Inventions
Seek out the Peter Walker bronze sculpture on the High Street - it tells the town's story in a single glance. This bronze sculpture in the High Street celebrates three unexpected threads of Coleshill's story: a stagecoach wheel, a visiting circus elephant, and the creation of the Typhoo Tea brand. It is a reminder that behind the quiet market town facade, Coleshill has a surprisingly eventful past.
The Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer
The Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer is a major Christian landmark now under construction in Coleshill, near Birmingham, designed as a 51‑metre‑high infinity‑loop structure built from one million bricks, each digitally linked to a story of an answered prayer. Expected to open in 2028, the monument aims to make hope visible by creating the world’s largest database of answered prayers, viewable through a bespoke app that allows visitors to explore testimonies from any brick. Visible from up to six miles away and passed by around 500,000 journeys each week, the Eternal Wall is intended as a national symbol of faith, reflection, and inspiration.
Ancient roots
Coleshill's origins stretch back to the Iron Age, before the Roman conquest of AD 43, with evidence of a Romano-Celtic temple on Grimstock Hill to the north of the river. By 1066 the town was a Royal Manor held by King Edward the Confessor, recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, and in 1207 King John granted it a market charter.
Insider tips
- Visit on market day for fresh and local produce.
- Visit nearby Middleton Hall, a Grade II listed manor house, 17th century walled gardens and lake.
- Take the footpath down to the River Cole on the northern edge of town for an easy, peaceful stroll away from the road traffic.
- During the summer, watch cricket in the Memorial Park for a lazy English afternoon.
Getting here
By rail
Coleshill Parkway station sits on the Birmingham to Peterborough line, with regular trains in each direction, including Sundays, connecting to Birmingham New Street, Nuneaton, Leicester and beyond. The station is about a mile north of the town centre and is well served by onward buses and taxis.
By bus
Regular bus routes serve the town, connecting Coleshill to Birmingham, Chelmsley Wood, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield.
By car
Coleshill sits close to the M6, M6 Toll and M42 making it one of the most easily reached market towns in Warwickshire from across the wider Midlands. Car parking is available in the town centre within easy walking distance of the High Street.
Walking and cycling
The countryside around Coleshill rewards those who take the time to explore on foot. The River Cole and River Blythe both offer easy waterside walking, while the lanes and field paths east of the town open up a quieter, greener corner of North Warwickshire. The following walking routes pass through or close to Coleshill:
Heart of England Way
Discover one of England's great long-distance walking trails right here in Warwickshire. The Heart of England Way is a remarkable 100-mile route stretching from Milford on Cannock Chase to Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds, linking beautiful countryside, historic market towns and some of the region's most scenic landscapes.
As it passes through North Warwickshire, the trail skirts the shores of Shustoke Reservoir and winds through the ancient woodland of Dumble Wood, offering peaceful rural views, abundant wildlife and a chance to experience the county's quieter corners. The route passes close to Coleshill, making it an ideal place to stop for refreshments, explore local heritage and enjoy Warwickshire's warm welcome before continuing your journey.
Whether you're tackling the full route or exploring a section of the trail, the Heart of England Way offers a wonderful way to experience Warwickshire's countryside on foot. Find more walking inspiration and places to stay at Visit Warwickshire.
Warwickshire Centenary Way
This 100-mile long-distance trail was created to mark a century of Warwickshire County Council, beginning at Kingsbury Water Park and winding south through the Tame Valley, Nuneaton's green belt, and on through Kenilworth, Warwick, and Leamington Spa before finishing near the edge of the Cotswolds at Upper Quinton. Pick up the Way near Shustoke Reservoir, just 3 miles east of Coleshill, making the town the perfect base.
North Warwickshire cycle routes
The North Warwickshire Cycle route is entirely on road covering 31 miles of beautiful countryside. Starting at Kingsbury Park, it takes you through Blythe Valley, parts of the Forest of Arden, and George Eliot Country. The route offers plenty of scenic vistas at Shustoke Reservoir and Hartshill Hayes Country Park, as well as pretty Warwickshire villages including Maxstoke and Fillongley, Astley, and Baxterley.
Discover more
To discover more things to do and explore in and around Coleshill, take a look at Visit Coleshill.