Where is the Black Country?
Situated just to the North West of Birmingham bordering the counties of Worcestershire, Shropshire and Staffordshire.
Getting Here
Being at the centre of the UK makes the Black Country one of the most accessible parts of the Country.
By Road
Right in the middle of the UK’s motorway system with unrivalled direct access to the M5, M6, M54 and M6 Toll Road.
Approx Travelling Times by Car
The Black Country
- - London 2hrs*
- - Manchester 1 hr 15mins*
- - Newcastle upon Tyne 3hrs 10 mins*
*Calculated from Wolverhampton City Centre
By Rail
The City of Wolverhampton is on the West Coast Main Line and provides an excellent choice for those wishing to travel to the Black Country by train. Sandwell and Dudley train station and Stourbridge junction are also serviced with trains from London. For rail prices and timetables telephone 08457 484950 or visit www.thetrainline.com.
By Air
Birmingham International Airport is only half an hour away, so if you are arriving from further a field – we are just as easy to find. The Airport provides easy onward connections by rail, coach and bus.
Canal
The network forms part of a busy local boating circuit and improvement in water quality has done much to improve the canals as angling venues, many of which are controlled by the Birmingham Anglers Association.
The Birmingham Canal Navigation (BCN) is a 100 mile network of narrow canals situated at the very heart of the Midlands waterway system. If you plan to moor your boat in the Black Country go to The Birmingham Canal Navigation Society for more information.
Getting Around
Once you get here – it is also incredibly easy to get around with our metro and canal network.
Exploring the Black Country is simple through our network of local trams, buses and trains.
Train stations can be found in many different areas of the Black Country.
The new Metro system links Wolverhampton with Birmingham in just 45 minutes, taking in many parts of the Black Country on the way. Trams depart every 10 minutes from early morning until late evening. A network of buses also serves the region.
Useful Contacts
For bus and rail enquiries
- Centro – www.centro.org.uk
- Hotline 0121 200 2700
- Metro – www.travelmetro.co.uk
- Travel West Midlands – www.travelwm.co.uk
Journey Times to the Black Country
| Town / City | Miles | Hours / Mins |
|---|---|---|
| Aberystwyth | 119 | 2.40 hrs |
| Barmouth | 99 | 2.20 hrs |
| Cardiff | 108 | 2 hrs |
| Chester | 70 | 1.26 hrs |
| Edinburgh | 290 | 5.25 hrs |
| Exeter | 166 | 3 hrs |
| Glasgow | 290 | 5.30 hrs |
| Great Yarmouth | 180 | 3.45 hrs |
| Holyhead | 162 | 3.33 hrs |
| Liverpool | 89 | 1.40 hrs |
| London | 130 | 2.30 hrs |
| Manchester | 76 | 1.34 hrs |
| Newcastle | 202 | 3.50 hrs |
| Newquay - Cornwall | 252 | 4.45 hrs |
| Plymouth | 209 | 3.49 hrs |
| Rugby | 46 | 0.55 hrs |
| Southampton | 150 | 2.50 hrs |
| Stafford | 18 | 0.24 hrs |
| Warwick | 40 | 0.47 hrs |
