Redditch

Situated just South of Birmingham, Redditch is a town of rich history and culture. It’s surrounded by Vale of Evesham and the Severn Valley, meaning that there are plenty of beautiful parks and woodlands just on its doorstep. Redditch has seen a huge amount of growth in recent years, and there are now plenty of shopping and employment opportunities in the town for those moving to the local area.

Schools

There are plenty of schools with Outstanding Ofsted ratings in the local area, including the popular Arrow Vale School. For little ones, there are plenty of highly rated nurseries in the area, such as Holly Trees Day Nursery, Little Oaks Preschool and Woodland House Private Day Nursery Limited.

Getting around

Redditch has excellent transport links, with a regular train service to Birmingham that takes just 40 minutes and plenty of trains to other Midlands areas, such as Lichfield and Solihull. It’s also close to neighbouring M42, and the M40, meaning that London is two and a half hours away.

Sightseeing

For those in need of some green space close to home, Redditch’s Arrow Country Park has 900 acres of parkland to roam, along with a 27-acre lake that is fed from the River Arrow. For days out in the local area, try visiting Forge Mill Needle Museum, which covers the history of the needle and fishing tackle industries. On the same site, just a quick walk from Forge Mill Museum, are the ruins of Bordesley Abbey - a medieval Cistercian Abbey.

Things to do

The New Redditch Palace Theatre is a beautiful Grade 2 listed theatre, with an excellent mix of shows; from panto, live music, comedy, ballet and dance. For sporty types, the Abbey Stadium has extensive sporting facilities including swimming pools, football pitches and a leisure centre. There are also two golf clubs in the area: Pitcheroak Golf Course, which is private, and Redditch Golf Club, which is open to the public.

Shopping opportunities

The Kingfisher Centre is the shopping centre of Redditch, with over 100 stores and places to eat and drink, plus a Vue Cinema and 360 Play. Shops include H&M, Pandora and Waterstones, just to name a few, but there are plenty of smaller shops and newsagents dotted along the main high street