Top Barn Farm

Walkers and cyclists have no shortage of opportunities; there are way-marked trails in the Wyre Forest National Nature Reserve (25 minutes’ drive), wild hilly and moorland landscapes to admire in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (40 minutes), and the Malvern Hills AONB (25 minutes) has routes suitable for all ages and levels of ability. No doubt the kids will be keen to get to West Midlands Safari Park (25 minutes), where you can spend a fun-filled day watching Sumatran tigers in their enclosures, and taking the African Walking Trail to get up (fairly) close to elephants and hippos. Other family-friendly options include an interactive foray into the history of chocolate at Cadbury World (45 minutes) and expeditions to the Black Country Living Museum (50 minutes) to ride on stream engines and vintage red buses. If the steam engines go down well with the family, you could catch the Severn Valley Railway at Kidderminster (half an hour) and chuff through striking Worcestershire countryside to Bridgnorth (50 minutes). Once there, have a wander along the banks of the Severn, and then travel by Victorian funicular up the steep hill for spectacular views back to the river.