Beautiful Villages in the West Midlands
Lovely villages and hamlets in Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire
See the Beautiful English Villages Index
 Arrow Lawn Cottage, Eardisland
Eardisland, Herefordshire
Forming part of the ‘Black and White Village Trail’ on account of the number of half-timbered houses to be found here, Eardisland is a picturesque little village of some 500 residents. Close to Leominster, the eastern boundary of the parish is defined by the ancient Roman road of Watling Street West. Places to stay: Bed & breakfast accommodation within Eardisland is available at Lawton Bury Farm. Nearby Leominster offers other period options, including Ryelands B&B which is a fine Grade-II listed Regency country house and the Best Western Talbot Hotel whose origins are 15th century. Those seeking holiday cottage self-catering options, however, will find plenty to choose from in and around Eardisland. Eardisland at TripAdvisor |
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Eastnor, Herefordshire
Named after nearby Eastnor Castle (seasonal opening), the village itself possesses some attractive half-timbered houses and the Church of St. John the Baptist (extensively restored by Sir Gilbert Scott in the mid-19th century). The small town of Ledbury is close by, while Hereford, Worcester, Gloucester and Cheltenham are all within easy reach. Places to stay: Those who like to combine heritage with their accommodation will find the best options in nearby Ledbury. These include The Talbot Hotel which dates from the late 1500’s and is typical of the half-timbered houses which so typify the area. See our specific page for The Talbot at Ledbury. Eastnor at TripAdvisor |
 The Red Lion, Weobley
Weobley, Herefordshire
Boasting the second tallest church spire in the county of Herefordshire, Weobley is also of the larger villages on the Black and White Trail. The others include Pembridge, Eardisland, Eardisley, Yarpole and Dilwyn. Places to stay: Ye Olde Salutation Inn offers bed & breakfast accommodation within Weobley itself, while Burton Court a couple of miles to the north offers B&B and plenty of historic interest. Weobley at TripAdvisor |
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Cardington, Shropshire
Close the South Shropshire Hills an in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Cardington is a pastoral conservation village within easy reach of Telford, Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth. It contains a number of listed buildings dating from the 15th to 19th centuries, while the Grade-I Church of St James possesses a nave dating from the Norman period. Places to stay: Those seeking hotel accommodation are best served by the small towns of Much Wenlock and Church Stretton. The nearest inn with rooms, however, is The Feathers at Brockton – a charming piece of old English architecture around ten minutes drive from Cardington towards Much Wenlock. Cardington at TripAdvisor |
 Alstonefield Manor
Alstonefield, Staffordshire
In an area inhabited by man for thousands of years, the origins of this little Peak District village are probably Saxon (the name meaning “Aelfstan’s open land”). Alstonefield has a small but thriving resident community, and is located close to Staffordshire’s border with Derbyshire. Places to stay: Bed & breakfast accommodation is available at Alstonefield Manor, a pleasing 16th century house with later Georgian additions. Nearby Stanshope Hall is a fine peak district property dating from the 17th century which also offers bed & breakfast. Also close by is the Manifold Inn which is a traditional coaching inn. Alstonefield at TripAdvisor |
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Avon Dassett, Warwickshire
With a resident population of little over 200, this small village is situated amid the attractive Burton Dassett hills. It possesses a large number of listed buildings - most of which are privately owned - and an award-winning inn, The Avon. Places to stay: Crandon House offers bed & breakfast within the village itself. Alas, we are unaware of any period accommodation in the immediate outlying area. Avon Dassett at TripAdvisor |
 Howard Arms, Ilmington
Ilmington, Warwickshire
Set around an ancient village green, Ilmington is the highest village in Warwickshire and located at the northernmost end of the Cotswolds. With a shop, post office and two inns, the place is distinctly more self-sufficient than many other villages of equal size. Places to stay: Folly Farm Cottage offers B&B accommodation, while The Howard Arms is the village’s 400-year-old inn. Ilmington at TripAdvisor |
 Hathaway Hamlet, Shottery
Shottery, Warwickshire
Effectively a part of Stratford-upon-Avon but with an identity all of its own, Shottery is a tiny village most famous for being the site of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. Map Places to stay: For those requiring historic hotel accommodation then there are a significant number within Stratford upon Avon, many of which are within easy walking distance of Shottery - see our page devoted to historic Alveston Manor, for example. Alternatively, The Legacy Falcon, Mercure Shakespeare Hotel and the renowned Ettington Park Hotel are all close by, too. The White Swan also boasts a connection to Shakespeare. Shottery at TripAdvisor |
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Wilmcote, Warwickshire
Only two miles to the north west of Stratford-upon-Avon, Wilmcote is a quiet village famed for being the birthplace of Mary Arden - William Shakespeare’s mother. Experts also say that the village is named in The Taming of the Shrew. Places to stay: While there are numerous heritage hotels within Stratford (see Shottery, above), Wilmcote itself offers a notable bed & breakfast in The Old Post House. Wilmcote at TripAdvisor |