Whenever I think about activities in Wolverhampton, Bantock Park and House are one of the very first places that come to mind – and not just because they are a five minute walk from my house.
Originally the family home and 48-acre estate of Thomas and Mary Bantock, this park is large and offers a number of points of interest, including a miniature golf course and Bantock House Museum.
There is a substantial field area for picnicking, football practices and letting your dog loose for some off-lead exploring (just keep an eye on the long grass which borders this area – I'll be the first to admit it's surprisingly easy to lose your dog here…).
The children's play area has barely changed since my sisters and I were young enough to play in it, but that's no bad thing: it appears to have remained highly popular and it is very easy for children to spend a good couple of hours here. Parents might be interested to learn that the park's café is only a couple of minutes' walk from the play area, so a quick journey to grab a drink or ice cream is very convenient. In fact, the café's central location makes it easy to get to from practically anywhere in the park.
I have previously recommended a visit to Bantock Park Café on
WeekendNotes, which you can find
here if you want to learn more.
Next to the café is the Bantock House Museum. This is definitely worth a visit, and is very child-friendly, with plenty of interactive displays. This museum has managed to balance its appeal to children with providing an interesting and informative account of some of Wolverhampton's history; I particularly enjoy the comparisons of today's well-known areas within Wolverhampton with what they were like during Bantock House's prime.

Bantock House Museum
I feel that that Bantock Park and House have a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere and genuinely offer something to anyone in the community. A gift that was given to the people of Wolverhampton in 1938, Bantock Park and House are a gift that continually gives, and I would urge anyone to explore them.

The Rose Garden

The Rose Garden

Another of Bantock Park's formal gardens