Dudley
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Dudley: The big heart of the Black Country
 There's a wealth of fascinating history to discover in Dudley… all set alongside some of the most up-to-date business and entertainment facilities in the region. If you haven't visited the town for a few years, you'll immediately see plenty of change, from the many works of art that line the recently-opened Dudley Southern Bypass, to several new hotels, sports clubs and visitor attractions.
A focal point in Dudley is the 11th century Dudley Castle, the feudal stronghold of the Earls of Dudley until partly demolished in the English Civil War. First mentioned in the Domesday Book, the hilltop location affords a breathtaking view of the town and the castle is probably the only one in the country to house a zoo in its grounds! Dudley Zoological Gardens leads the world in many international conservation and breeding programmes and has been a focal point for the town since the mid 1930s.
Dudley's medieval marketplace, with its regular market and traders, is integral to the town's character, and a touch of Italian flair can be found in the Renaissance drinking fountain, designed by James Forsyth in 1867 and at the top of the High Street, St Thomas's Church ('top church', 1815-18), one of the first buildings in the world to use cast iron and timber in the construction of its rafters.
Nearby the Black Country Living Museum brings the area's heritage alive. This unique open air museum features carefully reconstructed buildings from around the Black Country giving you a taste of life in days gone by. While you are at the Black Country Living Museum why not visit the Dudley Canal Trust and take a trip into the spectacular Singing Cavern.
The town centre has a host of shops providing goods and services at a price to suit all tastes and pockets.
Churchill Shopping Centre provides an attractive, under-cover shopping environment. For distinctive quality visit Beatties Department Store or kit out the kids for school at A Oakes specialist childrenswear shop.
This intimate undercover Fountain Arcade runs between the Market Place and Tower Street and has some of the town's most interesting specialist shops including the well known Arcade Toy Shop, Ace Models and Harpers florists.
The Trident Shopping Centre is located on the High Street towards St. Thomas's Church and has recently undergone a major £4 million modernisation programme. This refurbishment has created a bright and airy centre and reinstated the passage between upper High Street and Wolverhampton Street.
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Today,
Merry Hill is one of the region's
most successful shopping destinations
attracting over 21 million visits
every year offering a wealth
of high quality services and
facilities. Unlike other comparable
sized shopping centres, Merry
Hill is located at the heart
of a densely populated urban
conurbation, and this dramatically
affects its customer base. Whilst
Merry Hill has great regional
appeal, particularly at key
sales periods, over 70% of visits
to Merry Hill come from within
a ten mile radius of the site.
A high percentage of them shop
weekly or more frequently, using
Merry Hill as they would a traditional
town centre.
Offering
over 200 stores, including the
Midlands largest Marks &
Spencer homeware, Debenhams,
H&M, New Look and Early
Learning Centre. All under one
roof, open from Monday - Friday
9am - 9pm, Saturday 9am - 7pm
and Sunday 11am - 5pm Merry
Hill is the ideal shopping destination
for choice and convenience.
For disabled visitors courtesy
wheelchairs and scooters are
available (restrictions apply
to loan period). Two forms
of identity are required to
register for this service.
Electric wheelchairs and scooters
can be booked up to 2 days
in advance. This service is
available from the Tourist
Information Centre and Travel
Shop. Specific parking spaces
for disabled shoppers are
located in all car parks close
to Merry Hill mall entrances.