Since getting a dog we are always looking for dog friendly places and Himley Halls grounds are…read moreperfect! They have parking (£1.80 all day), Golf course & hire, cafe, toilets and even water bowls for the thirsty doggies. Beautiful walks and even got a stream you can trek along. The food in the cafe is basic but good. My only criticism was the toilets where closed so we had quite a walk to get to the other toilets located by the hall. My mom has trouble getting around and nearly had to go in the bushes lol. Thankfully we got there in time! Overall great place for anyone who likes a good trek and ideal for dog owners.

Located in the old grounds of Himley Hall which was the home of the Earl of Dudley . Theres…read moreopenland , woods , fishing lake and a public golf course . They have many big events here such as the usual bonfire night but also music events , wedding fairs etc .

With a pretty lake at it's centre, sloping grass verges and wildlife, it's easy to see why the…read moreparents of a prospective student would want their child to live here whilst studying. With many facilities on site such as a bar, restaurant and shop, there's not many reasons for students to leave, apart from to go to lectures of course. The village even has it's own one day music festival each year, the much loved Vale Fest. However, living in such attractive surroundings does not come cheaply, and in such destitute times, the Vale is going to be outside many students' budgets. The onsite Costcutter is also seen by many as being overpriced, which is particularly a problem when the local shops are quite a distance away. In conclusion, though the Vale is not without it's flaws, this is a nice place to live when doing your degree. As long as you can afford it...........

Having been to several other universities (both on open days and to visit friends) and sampled…read morenumerous different examples of university accommodation, I can with some degree of certainty see that the Vale is the nicest setting for student flats in the country. The main blocks of accommodation are all adjacent to, or indeed, actually part of, the Vale, an expansive stretch of park in the middle of the leafy area of Edgbaston (although even here it stands out as an exceptionally beautiful setting). Various trails wind in and out of various wooded areas, and the whole effect is set off by a huge lake, home of many birds, and, if you're lucky, you may get to see swans nesting and eventually having signets at the start of third term. It's a wonderful location, and really shows students apprehensive about Birmingham, possibly due to its reputation in parts as being something of a concrete jungle, that there's most definitely another side to it. The one downside to living on the Vale is that it when it's sunny, it's very hard to resist the temptation to stop working and go outside!

I discovered this just today by accident, by taking a wrong turning. What a nice surprise! I've…read morealways thought that Birmingham is well stocked with good public parks, and it seems that there are even more that I had no idea about. Cotteridge Park is really quiet for an urban park. Considering the fact that it's close to the Pershore Road, there is little by way of traffic noise. It's a great park: really spacious, with tree-lined paths, a car park, a kids' play area, some big open spaces, a skate ramp and some tennis and a basketball court! Who knew?! The only noise that I could hear (other than kids on their way home from school) was the bells from the carillon in Bournville. How very quaint and pleasant :) A train did rattle by while I was there, but other than that it was relative peace and quiet. 'Relative' due to the fact that it was home time from school so there were plenty of kids running around. Which is good. That is what parks are for. I've decided that I now want to live on Franklin Road (the road that backs onto the park)...

Cotteridge Park is a spacious with wide vast amounts of field which is great to walk dogs and hang…read morearound with large groups of friends on a hot sunny day. They also provide a miniature skating area and an abundant play area that consists of many arenas such as a climbing frame, rock climbing facilities, conventional playground swings and much much more! They have also assembled park like pieces of art such as their wick hut that satisfies both children and people of my age! It is definitely a place to be hanging out in the summer and is easy to gain access to as its location is situated between both train stations, Kings Norton and Bournville. Even for a nice little stroll, the area is very tranquil and peaceful.

Great place, skate boarding, climbing wall, bmx bike riding, loads of good courses. Friendly atmos…read more Well recomended.

This place is ideal for families or just younge or old adults who like to be active, a lot of…read morepeople bring their skat boards or roller blades and skate on the ramp, which is wacthed by many people and many are welcome to go and wacth, they also have rock climbing for begginers and for the advanced, you can also get food and drinks here and listen to music, it is just full of options.

Roughly 500 acres of mixed woodland and heathland centred on a Long ridge of High land just to the…read moresouth of kinver . The highlights are the views from the Iron Age fort and the troglodyte dwellings . Some have been restored by the national trust and are open to the public .

Leasowes park and woodland covers over 140 acres, including the Halesowen Golf Club. The Leasowes…read morePark is one of the most beautiful natural landscapes i have seen. They have also been designed by a poet from the 18th century called William Shenstone (if your interested in history). The area consist of wooded hillsides, scenic grasslands and small lakes and streams. Free parking is available at the Leasowes Lane entrance. It's natural and in areas very wild, isolated and utterly without basic facilities. But having said that its great for getting back to basics for a proper old school adventure! Spend the day hiking, have a mini beast finding safari, or have the hide and seek tournament of your lives... there is lots of fun to be had here! This public space is a great bit of wilderness in a heavily industrialised area. A great place to come to escape from it all. A much used and loved place for family recreation, couples, friends alike. There are a few must see features to find like the bridge over the water feature, this place is great as you'll find nothing but green here. it truly is Lovely!

This is a lovely and green parkland located just away from Halesowen town centre. It was landscaped…read moreto closely resemble the natural environment, so there are lots of trees and winding pathways to help you explore the sizeable (143 acre) space. There is a fishing pond with a well-trodden path that takes about 20 minutes to walk around. It is a pleasant stroll through the woodland up to the golf course. The main problem is accessing the park by car as it can only be reached from the downhill carriageway of Mucklow's Hill.

One of Birmingham's lesser known parks, and all the better for it, if you ask me! We really are…read moreblessed / spoiled over in the south of the city when it comes to parks - there seems to be one every few hundred yards - from large, countryside-equse open spaces like Warley Woods and the Lickeys, to ornate urban parks like Cannon Hill Park. This place is a little of both - the large open space that dominates it provides a lovely respite from the bustle of Harborne, and the gardens that border it are well kept and a legacy of the park's Victorian roots. A great little park - much recommended!

Queens Park is one of Birmingham's best parks in my opinion, its very secluded and not very known…read moreabout and all the better for it! We don't have many great outdoor spaces in Harborne so its a great place for young children, teenagers and adults too. Its has a great open large space, people come here to play football, tennis (has 2 tennis courts), basketball (has a basketball court). Has a playground area for young children. Very popular with dog walkers, joggers and cyclists. Ive been here day and night and never had any trouble, the gardens are well kept and very pretty in every season. There is 2 car parks available on site which is free, space available for disabled vehicles too. A great little park!

As a fan of the arts and crafts movement Wightwick Manor was a delight to visit, home of the…read moreManders family (manders paint) the house was built in the 1880s in the style of a medieval manor house. The guided tour of the house was informal and informative, the rooms are in there original decor the only alterations that have been made are for health and safety reasons and you wouldnt notice if not shown. William Morris wallpaper and textiles William de Morgan tiles its an alladins cave of treasures. The gardens are well kept , and very pretty . There if a tiny tearoom where i had the best sandwich ,ever stilton and apple yum.The National Trust maintain this property but the family still keeps a flat in the house for their own use. Admission is by timed tickets and openings vary so it might be worth phoning beforhand well worth a visit (tel 01902 761400)

A lovely property, wonderfully preserved by the National Trust…read more I honestly do not think you will find a better example of the arts & crafts movement anywhere. There is an enormous amount of William Morris interior items - in fact the house stands pretty much as a William Morris museum. A lovely exterior too with quaint and attractive gardens.