About Dudley in West Midlands

Dudley is a large town in the West Midlands of England, 6 miles (9.7 km) south-east of Wolverhampton and 10.5 miles (16.9 km) north-west of Birmingham. The town is the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley and in 2011 had a population of 79,379.

Dudley was historically a market town, and grew rapidly in the 19th century as a centre of the coal mining industry, with more than 20 collieries in its heyday. The town is home to Dudley Zoo, one of the first zoos in England and now a Grade II listed building.

Dudley Castle, which stands on a hill above the town centre, is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and has been extensively restored. The castle grounds now host an annual summer music festival and other events throughout the year.