Charming village with foodie history loved by visitors – with a catch | UK | Travel

A charming village in the West Midlands has a fascinating history, popular cafes and beautiful architecture – but there is one catch.

Bournville in Birmingham was created in the late 1800s when the Cadbury brothers – of Cadbury chocolate fame – decided they needed somewhere to grow their business.

Richard and George found space near the city centre with a stream called the Bourn, and realised that it was the perfect place to build their chocolate empire. 

The brothers wanted staff to have a good quality of life, and so built houses near their factory for them to live. In 1983, they began to plan a model village on 120 acres of land with spacious, well-designed houses. Thus, Bournville was born. 

Perhaps the area’s biggest draw is Cadbury World, an experience where you can learn all about how chocolate is made, the history of the confectionery and the brand, and enjoy a 4D cinema experience, ride, and a chance to practice piping and tempering skills. 

With more than 3,000 five-star reviews on TripAdvisor, the attraction has been praised as being a hit with all ages. One reviewer wrote: “Myself and my family attended Cadbury World today, we did the full experience and the character afternoon tea and from start to finish it was absolutely amazing. We LOVED it! There was so much to do, we found it so interesting learning about all the history and seeing all the old classic things. The 4d cinema was also fab!”

Another said: “Took my niece to Cadbury World and we had the most wonderful time! From the moment we arrived, the staff were welcoming and everything was so well organised. The interactive exhibits kept her completely entertained, and the chocolate-making demonstrations were a big hit for both of us!”

One downside of the village is there are no pubs – and it is all to do with the Cadburys. The family were Quakers, which meant they ensured the village had no alcohol when it was built. 

There is one shop in the village that sells alcohol – sales of the drink were only approved in 2015 – but otherwise, Bournville is a “dry village”. Even the local Tesco had its alcohol licence application rejected by the council. For residents, there is a Design Guide issued by the Bournville Village Trust which explains how homeowners must maintain their homes to “conserve and enhance the special quality of the place”. 

The village also hosts Selly Manor Museum, which is based in two beautiful buildings with links to the Cadbury family. Visitors can discover how the Tudors cooked, dressed and lived, and explore the museum from the parlour to the dining hall and large kitchen. 

They can also see the bed chamber with a bed that belonged to the Welsh Archdeacon Edmund Prys, and try on replica Tudor costumes in the solar room. In the garret, guests can see a Priest Hole and dress up in armour, and the Tudor garden is lovely for a relaxing walk, or for the children to play in warmer months. 

For history lovers, or those fancying a walk around the quaint village, there is a free, self-guided heritage trail which takes you on a tour of some of Bournville’s most historic buildings. The village is also known for the Bournville Carillon, which has 48 bells and is deemed one of the finest and biggest instruments of its kind in the country. 

If you like to shop, eat, or just enjoy mooching around beautiful places, the village green is the place for you. With its bakery, florist, boutique, hairdressers, wool shop, butchers, and Bournville Community Hub, it appears a quintessential charming British village.