The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield has long been one of the most sought-after suburbs in Birmingham. It has been named as the fourth least deprived area in the country and often has some of the most expensive homes in the West Midlands going up for sale in the prestigious Four Oaks estate.
Sutton Coldfield is a popular residential area and housing is the major land use as a consequence. There are large areas of pleasant leafy suburbs, a mixture of interesting historic buildings including the conservation areas of Four Oaks and the Town Centre.
Much of Sutton Coldfield is an open space, with 2,400 acres of Sutton Park as well as most of the City’s green belt providing the area with one of its major assets. Sutton Park is a National Nature Reserve with areas of woodlands, heaths, wetlands and pools that attract many species of wildlife, as well as two million visitors a year.
It is the largest Local Authority Park of its type in the United Kingdom and contains some of the last surviving examples of natural countryside in the area.
Schools in this area
- Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls – Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls is an all-girls grammar and sixth form with academy status aged 11 – 18. It was opened on 18 September 1929 as Sutton Coldfield High School and then changed its name to Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls in the late 1990s. This school is Ofsted rated outstanding.
- Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School – Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School is a selective state grammar school with academy status aged 11 – 18. Founded in 1527 by the Bishop of Exeter, John Vesey’s who was a friend of Henry VIII and tutor of his elder daughter Queen Mary I. This is one of the oldest schools in Britain and the third oldest school in the West Midlands. Ofsted has rated this school outstanding.
- Sutton Coldfield Primary School – Sutton Coldfield Primary School is part of the Prince Albert Community Trust – a successful multi-academy aged 3 – 11.
Sutton Park
Sutton Park is a large urban park located in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, England. Most of the park is a National Nature Reserve; large parts are also a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Sutton Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United Kingdom. The park covers more than 2,400 acres according to one source, or 2,200 acres according to another. It consists of a mix of heathland, wetlands and marshes, seven lakes, extensive ancient woodlands, several restaurants, a private 18-hole golf course on its western edge and a municipal golf course to the south, a donkey sanctuary, children’s playgrounds and a visitors’ centre.
Drayton Manor
Drayton Manor Theme Park is a theme park, zoo and accommodation on the grounds of the former Drayton Manor, in Drayton Bassett, Staffordshire, England, UK. It covers 180 acres, of which about 113 acres are in use, and hosts about 1.5 million people each year. It is the fourth-largest amusement park in the UK by land area at 280 acres. The park is also home to Thomas Land and Drayton Manor Zoo, home to over 100 animals, including red pandas, Eurasian lynx, Sumatran tigers and a variety of monkeys and gibbons. On 3 August 2020, Drayton Manor Park was sold to Looping Group, which own two other attractions in the UK, West Midland Safari Park and Pleasure wood Hills.
Children’s farms, and waterparks
Great place to take your kids to see some farm animals and enjoy themselves in the play barn.
Kingsbury Water Park is a country park in north Warwickshire, England, not far from Birmingham and lying on the River Tame. It is owned and managed by Warwickshire County Council. It has fifteen lakes situated in over 600 acres of country park. It is renowned for its birdlife and is popular with birdwatchers. It is bordered on the western edge by the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.
A lovely array of restaurants:
The Bracebridge (formally known as The Boathouse)
When the sun’s out this is Sutton’s number 1!
Simpsons gin bar
Did you know The Vamps lead singer Bradley Simpson co-owns a gin bar in Sutton Coldfield? Sadly, when we visited, Brad was in LA but his mum Anne-Marie who manages the bar was happy to show us around. She and her husband Derek Simpson have lived in the area since moving from the Northeast in 1993. They opened the bar in 2017.
Windowbox Cafe, Wylde Green
A very good example of how Sutton can do cool and quirky. This cute family-friendly café is so-named due to the fact it’s full of windows. This is a great place for a quick bite to eat – go for the smashed avocado on toast with bacon and poached egg. The pancakes and coffee are great here too!
Pizza by Goli
Pizza by Goli is a quaint Italian restaurant that’s been going for 30 years. The place is always packed. When we asked the locals what they love about this place, they told us the garlic bread is heavenly! And of course, the pizzas are rather excellent too. Along with so many more like Wetherspoons, Pierre, ample coffee shops and independent businesses.
This is a great central place to be for all ages and especially great for families, definitely worth a visit and to live to provide everything you could need.
