Oldbury is very much a traditional, quiet town, but it can boast about being the home of the first ever branch of Lloyds Bank which opened here in 1864. The building still stands, although is no longer in use as a bank. Situated slap bang in the heart of the Midlands, there's lot to do in and around Oldbury.
Get active
Whether you're advanced or a beginner, going solo or taking the kids, the Portway Climbing Wall is a real challenge. Veterans of Everest may find it a little small, but it's a great family evening out and has taster sessions for young and old. Flip Out, meanwhile, also caters to children with it's a trampoline arena.
The TeamSport Birmingham indoor track at Oldbury claims to be the longest, fastest and largest in the Midlands. With a top speed of 40mph in 200cc Sodi karts, a buzzing environment and great facilities, it's a fun day out whether on your own or in a group.
The buzz of Birmingham
You're only a few miles from Birmingham, a bustling city that’s in a constant process of reinvention. The 'Second City' has been keen not just to be the graveyard of the industrial revolution, but to be a cutting-edge city in the new millennium. The Gas Street Basin has been converted into a cool waterside area, Selfridges looks like it has come from another planet and more traditional shopping centres such as the Bullring and the Mailbox are always updating themselves.
You're never far from a canal here, and strolling along the side of one to the Jewellery Quarter is a nice reminder of the role they played in transforming this city. This isn't an area preserved in aspic, but a working area with over 500 active jewellery businesses. Relax in the Georgian Square before treating yourself to some trinkets.
Away to the Avon
Oldbury is also less than an hour away from Stratford-upon-Avon, and a day trip combining the birthplace of the bard, William Shakespeare, with a visit to Royal Leamington Spa is a pleasure. Stratford-upon-Avon is very much geared towards tourism, with Shakespeare's birthplace, Anne Hathaway's Cottage, Hall's Croft, Mary Arden's Farm, Nash's House and New Place all boasting a connection to the playwright. There are few better places to witness a performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company than in their spiritual home.
Royal Leamington Spa, nearby, is petite and elegant. Park up and explore the Victorian and Georgian avenues on foot, stopping off at the Royal Pump Rooms to discover how people used to take the waters here. It's now a lively art gallery and museum. The Jephson Gardens are a former 'Best Garden in Britain' winner, complete with a Victorian tea pavilion, glasshouse, art studio, boating area and lake and beautiful bee-friendly plant areas. Starkly gorgeous in autumn and winter, it's a riot of colour in spring and summer.