Oldbury sits on the M5 that links West Bromwich to Worcester and continues down to the fringes of Cheltenham, Gloucester and all the way to Exeter in the south-west of England. The extensive road network allows easy access to the rest of the Midlands. Exit the town going east on the A457 to get to Birmingham, the largest city in the region and home to both Edgbaston Cricket ground and the 02 Academy. It also has some of the best shopping in the area, with the Bullring, Jewellery Quarter and the stunning space-age Selfridges rubbing shoulders with sedate Victorian arcades.

The A4034, which becomes Bromford Lane, is the route north to West Bromwich, home of the Baggies – West Bromwich Albion Football Club – and the Grade II listed Italian Gothic Town Hall, built in the late 19th century. Head West on the Dudley Road and then either branch off onto the A4033 for Dudley or continue onto the Tipton Road for Tipton. The latter's grade II listed District Library is worth a visit, while Dudley's key role in the industrial revolution is evident in much of its architecture. The Black Country Living Museum, Dudley Zoo, Castle and Priory all attract visitors to the region.

Between Dudley and Tipton, the Birmingham New Road snakes north-west to Wolverhampton, with its excellent art gallery, the spectacular grounds, gardens and timber beams of Wightwick Manor and a vigorous cultural life. There's a lot more to see using Oldbury as a base, with easy access east to Coventry, south-east to Royal Leamington Spa and north-west to Shrewsbury and beyond.

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.