Historic English market town that’s home to the UK’s best pub – and a top theme park
A UK town best known for being near a popular theme park is also home to the best pub in the country.
About 14 miles north-east of Birmingham lies Tamworth - a historic market town in Staffordshire.
While the Staffordshire town is home to several popular attractions, including Tamworth Castle and Drayton Manor, it also as The Tamworth Tap.
The Tamworth Tap was crowned the National Pub of the Year 2023 by the Campaign for Real Ale.
Tucked away inside a 16th-century building, the Tamworth Tap is only the second pub to win the top prize in consecutive years.
According to the BBC, judges described the Tamworth Tap as an "excellent example of a pub at the centre of its community that supports a wide variety of diverse local activity groups, with knowledgeable, helpful staff to help you find a real ale or cider to suit your taste".
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Located just a stone's throw away from Tamworth Castle, the pub features original Tudor architecture in its upstairs seating area.
There's also a courtyard beer terrace to the rear of the building, where diners will be able to take in views of the castle.
The pub serves a selection of homemade snacks, plus a wide range of ciders, gins, wines, bottled beers and ales.
Special events run throughout the year, including live music with local performers, bat-watching evenings, and the screening of cult films.
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The local watering hole has received praise from visitors in recent years.
One person wrote: "It's an absolutely fantastic place, and will always be my local. You don’t just come here for a pint, you come here for the experience."
Another person added: "A super venue with an ever-changing presentation of ales and ciders. There's always something going on like tastings, music and art - it's a super place."
Away from the pub, there are other attractions worth visiting, including Tamworth Castle.
Tamworth Castle attracts thousands of visitors every year thanks to its long history, family-friendly games, and costume characters.
The Staffordshire castle has over 900 years of history from its important seat in Anglo-Saxon England to being the home of wealthy, noble, Victorian families.
From the 7th to the 9th Century, Tamworth Castle was at the heart of the kingdom of Mercia in Anglo-Saxon England.
In 913, the castle was re-fortified by Aethelflaed who was the daughter of King Alfred the Great, and the Lady of the Mercians.
Dubbed the "warrior queen" by historians, Aethelflaed played an important role in key military campaigns until she died in Tamworth Castle in 918.
The Staffordshire castle has been open to visitors for over 100 years.
Inside the castle, there are 15 rooms to explore as well as other hands-on activities for younger visitors, like trying out domestic chores, wearing heavy armour in the armoury, or sitting at a Tudor banquet table.
Visitors can also explore the Saxon Exhibition, which even has real pieces of the Staffordshire Hoard.
While Tamworth Castle is currently closed for the winter, it is set to reopen on January 30, 2024.
Entry tickets into the castle cost £9.75 for a full-paying adult, and £7.50 for children aged between two to 15 years.
Tamworth is home to Drayton Manor, a top UK theme park, which has over 50 theme park rides and attractions, including plenty of family fun rides, Europe’s only Thomas Land, a 15-acre zoo and a 4-star hotel.
A new "thrill" ride is currently being constructed at the Staffordshire theme park.
The brand new coaster will stand where Apocalypse used to be before it closed last year, with Managing director Victoria Lynn predicting it will be one of the country's best rides.
She told the Birmingham Mail: "One of the key things we want to say is that in 2024 there will be a new family thrill coaster coming.
"This is going to be one of the best coasters in the UK in my opinion. I think it is important to say we are still doing family thrill and not just kid rides."
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Meanwhile, this Victorian town in the UK has its own timewarp pub and is like travelling back in time.
And this "frozen in time" village is often used to film British films and TV shows.
