Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why">WHY?</h2>



<p>This bustling market town on the north Warwickshire border was the centre of the UK&#8217;s hat making industry from the 17th century until the last factory closed down in 1999. Now it&#8217;s full of lovely independent shops, surrounded by gorgeous countryside walks and known for its raucous annual ball game held every Shrove Tuesday. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/09/Untitled-design-2207.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-54837" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/09/Untitled-design-2207.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/09/Untitled-design-2207-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/09/Untitled-design-2207-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/09/Untitled-design-2207-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Head to <a href="https://www.sangiovanni.co.uk">San Giovanni</a> (above) for Italian fine-dining with views for days over the rolling Warwickshire countryside and the nearby lake. For pub grub there&#8217;s <a href="https://www.roseinnbaxterley.co.uk">The Rose Inn</a>, the <a href="https://www.thejockeybentley.co.uk">Horse and Jockey</a> or <a href="http://thekingsheadatherstone.co.uk">The Kings Head</a> which serves up locally-sourced food and is perfect for alfresco dining right next to Coventry canal. A bit further out is <a href="https://theblackhorserestaurant.co.uk/#">The Black Horse</a>, a former coaching inn which is now a rustic restaurant with great ambiance and exciting menu with dishes from all over the world. For coffee and cake check out <a href="https://www.facebook.com/espressobars/?ref=page_internal&amp;mt_nav=0">Artigiano</a> and for ales and artisan gins there&#8217;s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theangelinnrealalehouseatherstone/?locale=en_GB">The Angel</a> (super dog friendly if you can&#8217;t bear to go out without your furry friend).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SHOP</h2>



<p>To keep the man in your life suited and booted there&#8217;s <a href="https://www.instagram.com/osborneandcompany/?hl=en">Osborne &amp; Co</a> and for homewares check out <a href="https://www.chalkandlinenatherstone.co.uk">Chalk and Linen</a>. For flowers you need to visit former Muddy finalist <a href="https://www.flowers-by-chris.co.uk">Flowers by Chris</a> and make sure you stop by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mastersbakey/?locale=en_GB">W C Masters</a> for cakes, pastries and some of the best samosas around. There&#8217;s a huge Dobbie&#8217;s Garden Centre, or a 15 minute drive away you&#8217;ll find Tamworth with its huge shopping park including big names like TK Maxx, Next, M&amp;S and if you&#8217;re a bargain hunter there&#8217;s a nice quiet Primark here. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<p>Kids will love <a href="https://www.luckytailsalpacafarm.co.uk">Lucky Tails Alpaca Farm</a> which has alpaca and donkey walking and chance to meet the meerkats. Also worth their while is <a href="https://twycrosszoo.org">Twycross Zoo</a> just up the road. For a walk head for Coventry Canal with its flight of 11 locks where around 60 narrowboats a day pass through during summer.&nbsp;Also nearby is&nbsp;<a href="https://countryparks.warwickshire.gov.uk/kingsburywaterpark" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kingsbury Water Park</a>, which is made up of 15 lakes over 600 acres. Head there for excellent dog walks, as well as sailing, jet bikes, horse riding, a miniature railway, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.broomeycroftfarm.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Broomey Croft Children’s Farm</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CULTURE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/09/Untitled-design-2208.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-54841" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/09/Untitled-design-2208.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/09/Untitled-design-2208-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/09/Untitled-design-2208-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/09/Untitled-design-2208-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>People come from all around for the town&#8217;s annual Shrove Tuesday football game. It&#8217;s pretty rowdy and not for the faint-hearted, but is a tradition which has survived for more than 800 years with not a snitch of health and safety in sight (one of the only rules is don&#8217;t kill anyone)! If you&#8217;re slightly less adventurous there&#8217;s creative arts festival Stonefest or Summer in the Square.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE</h2>



<p>Around £239,168 with semi-detached homes coming in at around £222,023 and terraces at £188,044.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Bloor-Atherstone-THIS-ONE-.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-57542" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Bloor-Atherstone-THIS-ONE-.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Bloor-Atherstone-THIS-ONE--800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Bloor-Atherstone-THIS-ONE--1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Bloor-Atherstone-THIS-ONE--768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://bloorhomes.com/developments/warwickshire/atherstone/atherstone-place/the-harwood/plot-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Four bedroom detached property</a> at the end of a private road, £450,000</figcaption></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">NURSERIES</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/Little-Stars-Nursery-Mancetter-100063716975457/">Little Stars Nursery</a> is rated outstanding by Ofsted as is <a href="https://www.atherstonenurseryschool.com">Atherstone Nursery School</a>. There&#8217;s also <a href="https://www.ashleighnursery.co.uk">Ashleigh Nursery School</a> and <a href="https://outwoodsprimary.com">Outwoods Primary</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p>There are a number of great state schools in Atherstone including the aforementioned <a href="https://outwoodsprimary.com">Outwoods Primary</a>, <a href="https://www.racemeadow.co.uk">Racemeadow Primary</a>, <a href="https://www.stbenedictsonline.co.uk">St Benedicts Catholic Academy</a> and <a href="https://tqea.attrust.org.uk">The Queen Elizabeth Academy.</a> Muddy’s top pick for independents is all-through day school&nbsp;<a href="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/highclare-school-sutton-coldfield/">Highclare School</a>, which is split into prep and senior premises and is about a 20 min drive away. Nearby there&#8217;s <a href="https://twycrosshouseschool.org.uk">Twycross House</a> and its pre-prep school known as The Hollies. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>The warrior Queen Boudica’s last battle was here in Mancetter, which was once the site of a large Roman fort. It is said that Queen Boudica met her fate outside the fort in the Anker Valley.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>Atherstone’s railway station is on the West Coast Main line, with an hourly service 7 days a week to both London and Crewe. You&#8217;re around 30 mins&#8217; drive out of central Birmingham, but the train will take a little longer with at least one change.</p>



<p>View the full&nbsp;<a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/">Top 260 Places to Live</a></p>


Best Places to Live: Atherstone

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