Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield
The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield owes its royal connections to Henry VIII.
It was in 1528 that the King bestowed Sutton Coldfield with a Royal Warden and Society Charter, following persuasion by the town's greatest benefactor, John Harman, The Bishop Vesey.
And so the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield was born - a title Suttonians are still proud of to this day.
Once an area of Warwickshire, Sutton Coldfield became part of Birmingham in 1974, when the metropolitan county of the West Midlands was formed. It's now the largest constituency in Birmingham and is a thriving place to live.
At its centre lies a vibrant shopping precinct which is in the process of being transformed by world class consultants with quite a pedigree: they have previously designed a Chinese city for 250,000 people, and restored property for the royal family.
King Edward Square, Sutton Coldfield
And the town boasts a delightful choice of traditional pubs, stylish bars, gastro-pubs and restaurants that can be as upmarket or as informal as you wish.
For a really special occasion - and to increase the chances of a celebrity sighting - book a table in nearby Newhall Hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant.
This is allegedly England's oldest moated manor house which is still inhabited, and it frequently plays host to pop and rock stars appearing at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre.
But perhaps Sutton's greatest asset is its glorious park - boasting 2,400 acres of woodlands, heathlands and wetlands. It's a great place to walk, jog, cycle or simply sit back and enjoy a quiet oasis in the middle of a bustling town.
Offering all this and more, less than ten miles from the centre of Birmingham, it's not surprising Sutton Coldfield has become home to the West Midlands' rich and famous.
Areas of Sutton Coldfield
1. Wylde Green
Located to the far east of Sutton Coldfield, it is bordered by the Birmingham Road which runs directly into the second city – making it a great location for an easy commute into Birmingham.
The housing type is predominantly traditional, spacious family homes.
Wylde Green has its own small commercial centre with plenty of shops and restaurants. It also has its own golf course and the convenience of a railway station close by.
2. Boldmere
Stretching from the bottom tip of Sutton Park down to the Chester Road, the main Boldmere Road is the thread that runs right through the ward.
Boldmere is a good option for first-time buyers to get onto the property ladder with its mixture of traditional terraces, flats and semis.
There’s a busy local shopping area offering everything from boutiques to a butcher's shop. There's also a popular library, a thriving theatre for amateur dramatics and a municipal golf course.
3. Four Oaks
Recognised as the jewel in Sutton Coldfield’s crown, Four Oaks is the most northerly ward in Birmingham, and is the priciest area in Sutton.
Comprising of affluent neighbourhoods including Hill Hook, Roughley, Doe Bank, Ley Hill and Four Oaks Park, it has the village of Mere Green at its heart.
Traditional semis dominate and there are also some stunning detached family homes. Buyers are predominantly families and young professionals.
Sutton Park is a beautiful feature right on this area's doorstep, and boasts 2,400 acres of National Nature Reserve.
4. Moor Hall / Redicapp
Moor Hall sits to the north of Redicapp, bordering the ward of Four Oaks. Redicapp includes the neighbourhood of Whitehouse Common and the area to the south of Rectory Park.
Moor Hall has a top class golf club and four star hotel at its centre, and boasts a popular primary school. Redicapp has two major secondary schools along with a row of convenience shops.
The exclusive Moor Hall Estate boasts some truly outstanding properties. Redicapp offers more of a mix as ex-council housing rubs shoulders with brand new houses and flats.
5. Streetly
Officially, Streetly is located within the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall, but its proximity to Four Oaks, Little Aston and Aldridge means it has strong ties with Sutton Coldfield. Geographically it is separated from Walsall by the hills of Barr Beacon.
Streetly has its own very individual character. At its heart is the charming Streetly village, complete with boutique shops, restaurants and a beauty spa.
The most sought-after homes are set back along leafy roads. Roman Road, the Millionaire’s Row of Sutton Coldfield, is a stone’s throw away.
Streetly boasts its own private golf club and there is direct access into Sutton Park via Streetly Gate.
6. Walmley
Located to the south of Sutton Coldfield, Walmley offers a real mixture of housing, including some brand new developments which provide homes for families and young professionals keen to move into the area.
It’s home to New Hall Valley Country Park which covers 198 acres of green belt and will soon boast an extended cycle path, made possible through the People’s Lottery’s largest ever grant.
Living Here
Sutton Coldfield High Street
Transport:
Road: Sutton is seven miles from Birmingham with easy access to the city centre via the A38 (Aston Expressway).
It’s also just a stone’s throw from the M42, the M5 and M6, making it a commuter’s dream. Sutton Coldfield is also on the interior of the M6 toll road.
Trains: Sutton has its own station on the Lichfield to Redditch London Central Line calling at Birmingham New Street, and all the neighbourhoods in between including Butlers Lane, Four Oaks and Wylde Green.
Buses: Sutton town centre is serviced mostly by West Midlands Travel buses, but there are several independent companies operating throughout town.
Services travel throughout the Birmingham conurbation and to out-lying towns, such as Tamworth and to the City of Lichfield.
Air: Birmingham International Airport is about 20 minutes' drive along the M42 to Junction 6.
East Midlands Airport is also accessible in about 40 minutes, as is Coventry Airport.
Shopping:
Sutton Coldfield town centre is where you will find the largest mix of shops. It’s dominated by The Mall, a partly enclosed complex which offers all the high street outlets any shopper could want.
Plans are in the pipeline for a brand new complex on Brassington Avenue offering a mixture of restaurants, retail and penthouse living.
Most of the districts within the town have a few traditional independent stores.
Eating and Drinking:
Probably the best option for eating out is in one of the many gastro-pubs – try dining on the edge of Sutton Park at La Reserve.
In the town centre there are a couple of restaurants, namely Pizza Express, Jimmy Spices and the newly re-branded Restaurant 82.
There is no shortage of traditional pubs and stylish wine bars in Sutton Coldfield.
One of the most famous in town is The Three Tunns, which is steeped in history and its cellar is supposedly home to a resident ghost.
The Michelin-starred restaurant at Newhall Hotel in nearby Walmley Village is worth visiting for delicious, organic food in a magnificent setting.
Entertainment:
The town’s art deco Empire Cinema boasts four screens and shows all the latest blockbusters.
Sutton Coldfield’s thriving amateur dramatics scene is based at Sutton Arts Theatre in the town centre and at The Highbury Little Theatre in Boldmere.
Birmingham's theatres are only 20 minutes' drive away if you want to catch the finest professional shows.
Sutton Park
Parks and Open Spaces:
Sutton Park is Birmingham’s largest park, covering 2,400 acres of woodlands, heathlands and wetlands.
The entire park, which was recently designated a National Nature Reserve by English Nature, has around two million visitors annually.
It’s home to a Visitor Centre, Donkey Sanctuary, Bee-Keeping Club and numerous man-made lakes, and it's a haven for walkers, cyclists, joggers and sailors to name but a few.
Sport & Leisure:
Sutton has its own municipal leisure centre offering a running track, racquet courts and football and hockey pitches, and plenty of classes for fitness fanatics.
There are plenty of private members' clubs including Fitness First in Mere Green and Bannatyne’s Health Club in New Oscott.
Sutton Coldfield boasts a great selection of sports clubs for people of all abilities. Sutton Tennis Club on Highbridge Road is an excellent example, as are Sutton Rugby Club and Sutton Town FC.
The largest sporting event of the year is the Great Midlands Fun Run – a charity event which sees thousands of competitors pounding Sutton’s streets to raise money for causes close to their hearts.
Sutton’s swimming pool is currently undergoing major refurbishment.