Moseley Old Hall is an Elizabethan farmhouse on the edge of Wolverhampton that sheltered King Charles II in 1651 as he fled Cromwell's troops after the Battle of Worcester. Inside you can see the bed the King slept in and the priest hole where he hid, with the chapel attic and worn floorboards completing the story. Costumed interpreters and room guides bring the 17th century to life, and the walled garden holds a knot garden, period plants and a heritage orchard. Children can build dens, use the mud kitchen and climb the three-storey tree hide in King's Walk Wood, and a waymarked walk follows part of the Monarch's Way to Northycote Farm. Dogs are welcome on leads in the grounds but not in the house or the Orchard Tea-room, whose homemade cakes reviewers rate highly. Tips from regulars: book the free guided tour on arrival, as it adds far more than a free-flow visit, and note the single-track approach lane and stairs-only upper floors.
