A town that bloomed from a population of 2,000 to over 80,000 during the industrial revolution, Walsall has a history as a hotbed of industry, notably its leather making skills. And those continue to this day, as the town still makes leather handbags for the Royal Family, while the fascinating Walsall Leather Museum charts the growth and importance of the industry on the town. There’s much more to Walsall than stylish goods, however. The town’s art gallery houses pieces by Van Gogh, Turner and Constable while the Forest Arts Centre is a cultural beacon for the area, hosting a wide range of events including comedy, musicals, plays and more. The town centre is packed with pubs, bars, cafés and restaurants, most of which are just a short walk or drive from our Walsall hotels. Factor in several modern shopping malls, professional football action at Walsall FC and some excellent town-centre parks and you have a well-rounded town a short distance from the bright lights of Birmingham that continues to grow and evolve.
Things to do in Walsall
Shopping
With over 50 stores, Saddler’s Shopping Centre in the heart of Walsall is one of the leading indoor malls, packed with high street fashions, electrical and tech shops, health and beauty and more. There’s an on-site car-park with nearly 500 spaces, while the centre has seven cafés and fast food outlets including Costa Coffee, Subway and Chopstix Noodle Bar.
A short walk east is The Old Square Shopping Centre home to big brands including Debenhams and Primark, as well as more niche outlets like East St Arts and Games Workshop. The one-floor centre has several food and cafés including the Debenhams Restaurant and a large NCP car park attached on the Freer St entrance.
Lastly, the Crown Wharf Retail Park is opposite our Walsall Town Centre hotel and the Waterfront complex. The modern retail park houses several huge stores including Argos, H&M, Mothercare, River Island and Next, as well as three cafés and restaurants.
Getting Around
Less than 20 miles from Walsall, Birmingham Airport is the seventh-busiest UK airport with over 13 million passengers each year flying to dozens of destinations across the UK, Europe and further afield. The quickest way to get there is by car or taxi taking around 25 minutes while there are about 65 trains each day from Walsall to Birmingham International taking around an hour with one change in Birmingham. Alternatively, stay the night before you fly at one of our hotels near Birmingham Airport to make your journey even smoother.
Part of the Saddlers Shopping Centre and 200m from our Walsall Town Centre hotel, Walsall Train Station is a three-platform station with regular departures to Birmingham and Wolverhampton. The ticket hall has a counter, toilets and shop, while Saddlers shopping centre has a wide range of stores and several cafés and fast food outlets.
Shopping in Walsall
