Why move to Dudley
Situated a comfortable ten miles away from Birmingham city centre, inhabitants of the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley enjoy a lifestyle that’s relatively quiet, yet far from dull. Dudley is rich in cultural and historical attractions which combine the delicate charm of the past with the energy of the modern day, as well as a vast retail park, good schools and award-winning green spaces. Whilst many commute out into the busy city centre of Birmingham, the borough is relatively self-sufficient with most choosing to work in Dudley itself.
Transport
In the Dudley Borough is reasonably good, with buses running from each town into Birmingham every seven minutes on average. Stourbridge can also be reached by narrowboat and has two train stations that connect with Birmingham and London. Alternatively, main roads link each town to its neighbouring districts and there are plenty of cycle networks for those who prefer to travel on two wheels.
Lifestyle
Dudley’s dining scene isn’t particularly exciting, with many residents choosing to travel into Birmingham for a more eclectic restaurant and bar scene. However, that’s not to say that Dudley is devoid of good dining – a mix of cuisines can be found here, with renowned local spots including The Fellows, The Old Glasshouse and Spices, while chain restaurants such as Chiquito, Bella Italia and Pizza Express continue to be popular among locals.
While all the urban centres in Dudley offer their own small shopping facilities,such as the Cornrow Shopping Centre in Halesowen and the busy Stourbridge High Street, its the vast Intu Merry Hill Shopping Centre that draws the most visitors. Located in Brierly Hill, just outside Dudley, this immense retail park is home to over 250 shops as well as restaurants, a cinema, and 10,000 car parking spaces. Anchor stores include Marks and Spencer, Primark and Asda, while everything from luxury fashions to homewares can also be found.
Groceries
Many major supermarkets can be found throughout Dudley, including a Tesco Extra Superstore at Burnt Tree in Dudley, a large Asda in Halesowen and branches of Iceland and Farmfoods in Dudley Town Centre.
Health & Sport
Dudley may be the largest town in England to have never had a league football club, but that’s not so say that exercise facilities in the area are limited – a selection of gyms and council-run leisure centres can be found across the borough, including Dudley Leisure Centre, the Crystal Leisure Centre in Stourbridge and Halesowen Leisure Centre.
Culture
There are plenty of historic sites to be found in Dudley for curious residents, including Himley Hall, the majestic Dudley Castle with zoological gardens, the Dudley Canal and the award-winning Black Country Living Museum, which attract older adults and young children alike. Alternatively, the neighbouring town of Halesowen is centred around a beautiful Norman church with excellent access to the countryside. Picturesque natural sites such as Clent Hills and the Grade I listed Leasowes Park are also located here, while cinephiles will enjoy Merry Hill’s large Odeon cinema.
