Over the past few years I have visited the English Midlands many times, and come to know parts quite well. Ironically, I know Redditch least well, despite the town having become my Midlands base. The Welsh Marches have been important to me for 30 years or more. When I was 10 years old, my father took my brother and me for a short walking holiday on the Offa's Dyke Footpath. Over the past few years I have revisited and explored this area many times. I feel about the Welsh Marches like many people feel about the English Lake District.
Two vegetarian cafe/restaurants with vegan food on the menu are mentioned on this page: one in Malvern and the other in Birmingham, and three cafe/restaurants where vegans can expect a sympathetic welcome (Shrewsbury, Ludlow and Ryton). I shall give more details about these in due course.
Shrewsbury: River Severn; Shrewsbury Show
Ludlow: Medieval market town, with a castle and an excellent coffee-shop, The Ego Cafe, serving Bewley's coffee, and willing to prepare a vegan lunch on request. Open market on Saturdays. Broad Bean, wholefood retailer on Broad Street, has vegetarian and vegan food.
Knighton: Offa's Dyke Footpath
The Long Mynd; Cardingmill Valley; Church Stretton
Much Wenlock: Wenlock Abbey; Wenlock Edge
Shrewsbury: River Severn; Shrewsbury Show. Jesters has vegetarian dishes on the menu, and is willing to adapt some to be suitable for vegans.
The Malvern Hills: Summer Hill, Herefordshire Beacon, British Camp, Worcestershire Beacon, St. Ann's Well Vegetarian Cafe (good vegan food, inexpensive, free spring water; rebuilt toilets, including hot water), Great Malvern.
Hereford: Cathedral
Worcester: Cathedral; River Severn
Redditch: Bordesley Abbey
Warwick: town and castle
Stratford-upon-Avon: Royal Shakespeare Company; Shakespeare's birthplace, Anne Hathaway's Cottage, River Avon
Coventry: Packwood House; Ryton Organic Gardens (Henry Doubleday Research Association), there is a cafe/restaurant with vegetarian dishes on the menu and salads suitable for vegans.
city centre: Anthony Gormley scuplture: The Iron Man; Birmingham City Art Gallery (Pre-Raphaelite paintings); Birmingham Royal Ballet; Birmingham Repertory Theatre; Birmingham Hippodrome; Gas Street Canal Basin; The Warehouse Cafe, Allinson Street, Digbeth (lots of vegan options, good quality, fair price, poor access for disabled people)
Edgbaston: University (where I teach); Barber Institute (art gallery); Botanical Gardens.
Sandwell Valley Country Park
Oxford: University colleges; Botanical Gardens
Blenheim Palace (see photo below)
Women's Peace Camp at Greenham Common near Newbury; Hungerford
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