Is Wolverhampton a Safe City? 22 Reasons Why You Should Visit
Unsure if Wolverhampton is safe enough to visit? Read on to find out!
A lot of people ask themselves: is Wolverhampton a safe city when considering visiting, and in this blog post I’ll show why it is indeed worth a visit.
Yes, it does have a higher crime rate than average, but that shouldn’t deter you from visiting.
I was born and raised in this city and still live here today, and in my experience I’ve always felt relatively safe here.
But is it really a safe city? Well, I’ve put together this blog post to definitively answer the question and give you insider information on the best places to visit that only a local would know!
Plan Your Trip With My Recommended Resources:
šØ Accommodation: I always use Booking.com
š Rental Car: Discover Cars has the best car rental prices
ā¤ļø Travel Insurance: I recommend using Visitors Coverage
āļø Flights: Kiwi.com has the best prices on flights
š±eSIM: Airalo has a fantastic range of eSIMs
Is Wolverhampton a Safe City?
Let’s start with the facts when discussing is Wolverhampton a safe city. It is considered one of the most dangerous cities in the West Midlands region of England.
But it’s not at the top of the list when it comes to the most dangerous cities in the whole of the UK.
In fact, the likes of London, Blackpool, and neighbouring West Bromwich and Birmingham are all considered more dangerous places than Wolverhampton.
The city does indeed have a high crime rate. As a local, I often notice that it has a big homelessness and drug problem in the city centre on a daily basis unfortunately.
But that definitely shouldn’t deter you from visiting. In fact, there are are a surprising amount of things to do when visiting Wolverhampton.
It is a good alternative to busy Birmingham, which can get crowded and be too expensive to visit. So let’s see why you should visit Wolverhampton.
22 Surprising Reasons Why You Should Visit Wolverhampton
Although itās not the most obvious tourist destination that the UK has to offer, Wolverhampton is a unique city thatās well worth a visit.
Wolverhampton (or ‘Wolves’ as many people call it) played an important part during the industrial revolution, but these days itās a multicultural hub with plenty to see and do.
As a long time resident of the city I really do believe that it has a lot to offer than most people may expect. So, hereās my list of 22 surprising reasons why you should visit Wolverhampton:
1. See a show at The Grand Theatre
The Grand Theatre holds a capacity of 1200 and is one of the cityās shining lights, with a continuous programme of musicals, theatre plays and comedy shows.
Itās famous for attracting stars during its annual pantomime every Christmas too. Itās always best to book up online at the box office if you fancy a ticket to one of their many great shows here.
2. Visit Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Just a couple of minutes walk from the Grand Theatre is Wolverhampton Art Gallery. This gallery probably has the nicest piece of architecture that the city has to offer.
The building features stunning Victorian architecture and it is in my opinion the most beautiful building to admire in the whole of Wolverhampton.
The art gallery features inspiring permanent galleries and temporary exhibitions throughout the year and also has a lovely cafe. Plus, itās totally free entry for all age groups! Have a look whatās currently on at the gallery here.
3. Experience a concert at The New Halls
Formerly known as the Civic and Wulfrun Halls, these two concert venues have been closed for several years due to refurbishment, at a cost of an eye watering Ā£48 million!
But the venues recently reopened in June 2023 and host some of the biggest acts and bands in the world of music and entertainment.
I remember seeing the likes of radiohead, blur and manic street preachers at the civic hall many years ago.
This new venue is in my opinion the number one best tourist attraction that Wolverhampton has to offer – have a read about what acts are playing at the halls here.
4. Watch a Premiere League football game!
The cityās football club ā Wolverhampton Wanderers (or Wolves for short) have enjoyed success in the Premiere league over the past several years, which has certainly helped to bring in much needed revenue to the city.
It can be difficult to buy a ticket on the day of the game. So itās always best to book several weeks or months in advance.
I used to attend Wolves matches very often when I was younger and I recommend you go to game when visiting a city – I promise you’ll have a good time whether you’re a football fan or not!
5. Take a pleasant walk in West Park
Just a five minute walk from Wolvesā Molineux stadium is West Park. This is a really beautiful park that is a perfect place for a walk and a bit of peace and quiet.
Itās a really big park and is considered to be one of the best examples of a Victorian park that still remains in England today.
The park features lovely lakes, gardens and free to use open air tennis courts. Thereās plenty of walking paths and cycle paths and canāt be beaten on a lovely summerās day!
I visit West Park at least once a week for a stroll and is in my opinion the prettiest, most beautiful spot in the whole city – perfect to get out of the busy town to enjoy some peace and quiet.
6. Visit Bantock House
Based just outside the city centre of Wolverhampton is Bantock House, a famous museum that depicts Edwardian life. It is surrounded by beautiful parklands and gardens and is a delightful place to visit.
The house was built in the 1730’s, so a walk around it’s interior really does feel like you’re stepping back in time. It also has a cafeteria which is very good value for money as well.
7. See the animals at West Midlands Safari Park
West Midlands Safari Park is one of the most popular places to visit in the midlands! Based in Bewdley, which is roughly 18 miles outside of Wolverhampton, this safari park has hundreds of different types of animals, plus it has a theme park too!
It’s a great day out for all the family, you can actually drive through the safari park and animals can come up close to your vehicle!
8. Experience living history at the Black Country Museum
Located in nearby Dudley, just 6.5 miles down the road is the famous Black Country Museum. This living museum offers visitors the chance to step back in time and experience life in the Black Country during the 19th and 20th centuries.
This is a really unique, one of a kind experience! The museum has a range of exhibits, including a working coal mine, a traditional village, and a 1930’s sweet shop.
And a fun bonus fact: the well known BBC series āPeaky Blindersā filmed many scenes at the museum!
9. Enjoy a night out in Wolverhampton!
There’s plenty of interesting pubs and clubs to enjoy a good night out in Wolverhampton!
There are several unique pubs situated in beautiful old historical buildings dating back hundred of years which I love to visit whenever possible – they have great atmosphere and really friendly staff.
Here are three of my favourite places to go for a drink (or two) in Wolverhampton:
š» The Giffard Arms Pub: This gothic themed pub features tables in the shape of coffins and an old wooden armchair that looks like it came from a Games of Throne set! The pub is supposedly haunted as well, so keep an eye out!
š» The Posada Pub: Based opposite Wolverhampton Art Galllery and opened in 1886, the Posada pub is a cosy, lively pub in a very traditional setting.
š» The Lych Gate Tavern Pub: This is another classic traditional pub in the heart of the city. It dates way back to the 1700ās, with some of its framing dating back even earlier to the 1500ās! It has a really warm, welcoming atmosphere and has a great list of strong ales and stouts.
Wolverhampton also has a surprising amount of cocktail bars as well, which are worth checking out when visiting.
10. Go climbing at Wolf Mountain
Did you know that Wolverhampton has it’s very own indoor rock climbing centre? Wolf Mountain activity centre features numerous adventurous activities from climbing to bouldering and much more.
This is a great way to exercise a popular activity that’s suitable for all the family!
11. Visit Northycote Farm and Country Park
Situated just a few miles outside of Wolverhampton is Northycote Farm and Country Park, a beautiful parkland that has lots of history, animals and nature.
This is a great place to get out of the city for a while and enjoy the nature and the animals that the farm has to offer. It’s free and the farmhouse has a lovely tea room that’s open 10am to 3pm, Tuesdays to Sundays.
12. Have fun at Wolverhampton Jurassic Golf
Wolverhampton is a brand new adventure golf course that is dinosaur themed! It’s based just outside the city centre and boasts 18 holes of fun, featuring a waterfall area and realistic dinosaur models on show.
It’s the perfect place for a family day out and it also has a bar and restaurant to enjoy after your round of golf! Tickets cost less than Ā£10 per adult and it’s free entry for children.
13. Visit Dudley Canal and Limestone Mines
Nearby from the Black Country Living Museum is the Dudley Canal, which features the second longest canal tunnel in the UK! It is considered a historical landmark and there are boat tours available to enjoy this engineering feat at it’s fullest.
There are also fantastic Limestone Mines that you can visit at the site too, making this one of the most interesting and surprising things to do when visiting Wolverhampton!
14. Experience the majesty of Himley Hall
Himley Hall is an impressive, 17th Century mansion surrounded by a lot of beautiful parkland. It’s based just 7 miles outside of Wolverhampton and is very much worth a visit if you want to experience some majestic architecture.
There are guided tours inside of the mansion and it also features various galleries and a coffee lounge. The location often is host to numerous events all year long, so be sure to check what’s on before your visit.
I used to visit Himley a lot as a kid and have very fond memories of the place. I still visit now every once in a while and think it is one of the best kept secrets in the UK – I highly recommend you give it a visit!
15. Go for a hike at Cannock Chase Forest
Cannock Chase is a huge park forest located in Staffordshire, around 16 miles north of Wolverhampton. It is a superb place to go if you want to get lost in nature on a good hike or cycle ride.
It features beautiful scenery and wildlife in a really peaceful setting. And it has a children’s play area; Go Ape, which is perfect for kids to enjoy, making Cannock Chase a great family day out.
I love visiting Cannock Chase and go there for a hike whenever I can; it’s a very serene place that I highly recommend!
16. Enjoy the local cuisine!
There are also plenty of places to eat and drink in Wolverhampton, including several really great hidden gem food spots, vegetarian focused restaurants and cocktail bars throughout the city. Hereās my three favourite places to eat in Wolverhampton:
š Made in Thai Restaurant: This is as authentic as Thai restaurants come! It features beautiful Thai decor on its walls and exotic plants. Plus a Buddha statue and a miniature waterfall await as you enter.
š Queens Cantonese Restaurant: This is a very popular restaurant in the heart of the city that has been open since 1990. They serve traditional Cantonese dishes in a very relaxed atmosphere. Great quality food and great service too!
š Dilshad Restaurant: Every good city in England needs a great curry house, and for Wolverhampton, Dilshad restaurant is the place to be! Dilshad has been serving top quality authentic curries since 1972 and I highly recommend it their curries.
17. Visit Wightwick Manor
Wightwick Manor is another fantastic piece of history worth seeing when visiting Wolverhampton. The manor is was built in 1887 and is now owned by the National Trust. It features impressive Victorian architecture and beautiful gardens.
The manor has a huge collection of historical art on show as well, so you’ll surely enjoy a visit if you love Pre-Raphaelite art! Tickets to enter the manor cost Ā£14 for adults and Ā£7 for children.
18. Watch Greyhound Racing at Monmore Green
A tradition in England which foreigners may not be aware of is greyhound racing, which takes place at outdoor stadiums up and down the country.
It’s quite an unusual sight spending an evening watching dogs racing, but it is totally ethical for the dogs and actually great fun! I go there with my family at least once a year and always have a great time.
Monmore Green race track is based just on the outskirts of Wolverhampton and they have greyhound racing every Thursday and Saturday evenings. I can attest that going to the dogs is a really entertaining night out!
19. Experience the thrill of Wolverhampton Speedway
And when Monmore Green isn’t hosting greyhound racing then it’s busy hosting Wolverhampton Speedway events! Speedway is a motorcycle sport where several riders race around a track for four laps with no brakes, speeding up to 60 miles per hour!
Wolverhampton Speedway goes back to 1928, and the Speedway season starts from March until the end of September. Great fun!
20. Visit Moseley Old Hall
Moseley old Hall is another historical site on the outskirts of Wolverhampton with a fascinating history. It was once home to Charles II after he escaped the Battle of Worcester in 1651.
It is a timber framed building and is a Grade II listed building which is now owned by the National Trust. It’s a very interesting place to visit especially if you’re a history buff like me! Tickets cost Ā£11 for adults and Ā£5.50 for children.
21. Visit the Royal Air Force Museum
Located in Cosford in Shropshire (just a few stops on the train from Wolverhampton), the Royal Air Force Museum is a really enjoyable place to visit with a numerous exhibits under several hangars which will keep you busy for several hours!
The various exhibits showcases British, German and Japanese aircraft from both world wars. You really do need several hours to make the most of your trip here, the vast collection is an amazing glimpse into aviation history!
22. Go to the Wolves Museum
And finally in this list is the Wolves Museum, which has been on display at the Wolverhampton Wanderers football club; the Molineux, for the past ten years.
This is a great museum where you can learn all about the history of this famous old football club, detailing all of its many successes it achieved throughout the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. It’s the perfect place to visit if you’re a footie fanatic like me!
Wolverhampton FAQs
Still unsure if Wolverhampton is a safe city and if you should visit? Let’s have a look at some frequently asked questions about the city to help persuade you more:
How many days should you visit Wolverhampton?
It depends on how many activities and things you want to do in Wolverhampton! Some may say that a day trip to Wolverhampton is enough to get a vibe of the city and what it has to offer.
But a longer visit may be better to experience the many different attractions that we’ve looked at earlier in the blog post. I would say a weekend in Wolves is the perfect length of time to visit.
Are the people in Wolverhampton friendly?
Absolutely! I can say as a resident of Wolverhampton for many years, that the people here are what we call: ‘salt of the Earth’. They are very warm people who are only too happy to help if you have a query.
Cities in the UK like Wolverhampton do have a bad reputation for being ‘grim’ and not overly friendly, but that honestly couldn’t be further from the truth.
How to get to Wolverhampton?
As Wolves is based very centrally in England then it’s very easy to reach, either by train, tram, bus or car. The West Midlands bus service connects Wolverhampton to several other cities and towns nearby.
And the West Midlands Metro is a tram line that goes from Wolverhampton all the way to Birmingham and is a really interesting way to see lesser known places along the way, such as West Bromwich.
Personally, I always choose to catch a train when travelling to and from Wolverhampton. It’s the fastest public transport option available; it’s possible to reach Birmingham from Wolverhampton within 20 minutes, or 40 minutes to reach Shrewsbury.
Conclusion: Is Wolverhampton a Safe City?
So we’ve seen that there is a lot of activities to do and places to visit when in Wolverhampton. Is Wolverhampton a safe city though? It’s difficult to answer. I’ve witnessed a handful of crimes in the city centre over a period of many years.
It does have a high crime rate so it’s not necessarily the safest city in the UK, especially compared to cities and towns on the south coast such as Brighton or Weymouth.
But, Wolverhampton, whether it is a safe city or not, is worth checking out, so do visit when you get the chance!
ā”ļø Planning your trip? Here are my favourite resources:
šØ Accommodation: I recommend using Booking.com
š Rental Car: Use Discover Cars for the best car rental prices
ā¤ļø Travel Insurance: I recommend using Visitors Coverage
āļø Flights: Use Kiwi.com for the best prices on flights
