10 things which make Wolverhampton a great CITY

While a leading research body does not consider Wolverhampton a city, we took a look at some of the things which make the CITY great.

The people - Wulfrunians are a fiercely patriotic bunch. Just take Black Country Day. How many other regions of the UK have a day dedicated to celebrating where they live?[figure caption="Black Country Gaz and The Empty Can perform outside Express & Star head office in the run up to Black Country Day" title="Black Country Gaz and The Empty Can perform outside Express & Star head office in the run up to Black Country Day on Monday" align="center" url="/wpmvc/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/4782300.jpg" alt="Black Country Gaz and The Empty Can perform outside Express & Star head office in the run up to Black Country Day on Monday" id="693691" size="100"]
The Civic Hall - from New Order to Marilyn Manson, Sam Smith to Jimmy Carr, anyone who's anyone has played the Civic Hall. And it's soon to get bigger and better with a £10m revamp underway.[figure caption="The final Blast Off club night in Wolverhampton was a massive success, with tickets selling out well in advance of the event." title="BLAST8DH28" align="center" url="/wpmvc/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/blast-off.jpg" id="812691" size="100"]
Our own language - when someone asks 'alright bab' we know that they're asking how we are, anyone else (well outside of the Black Country at least) may have some trouble understanding.[figure title="T-SHIRT 5 SL 23" align="center" url="/wpmvc/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/4292903.jpg" id="1131477" size="100"]
Wolves - is there anything more to say? A love of Wolverhampton Wanderers binds the whole city together.[figure title="Soccer - Sky Bet Championship - Brighton & Hove Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers" align="center" url="/wpmvc/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/AMA335842.jpg" id="1127665" size="100"]
Industrial heritage - an abundance of coal and iron ore made Wolverhampton a rich town in the Victorian era. While the city's industry has now changed, businesses such as the JLR engine plant on the i54 business park mean that the city's economy is still doing well.[figure caption="George Osborne trying to find his way around an engine with integrated manufacturing specialist Nick Boorer at JLR" title="JLR 05 TT 30.JPG" align="center" url="/wpmvc/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/16958455.jpg" id="1100815" size="100"]
Famous sons and daughters - from former Governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King, Wolves and England footballer Billy Wright, to popstars such as Beverley Knight and Liam Payne, the city has produced more than its fair share of prominent people.[figure caption="Liam Payne" title="Apple Music Festival 2015 - London" align="center" url="/wpmvc/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/15696648.jpg" alt="Liam sports a hat on stage at the Apple Music Festival in Londons Roundhouse" id="1056565" size="100"]
Parks - from the eastside to the westside, or as they're more commonly known, East Park and West Park, to name just two, and who can forget Tettenhall Pool? Wolverhampton is dotted with green spaces, the perfect places to relax on the few days of sunshine we're graced with each year.[figure caption="A snowy scene at West Park in Wolverhampton" title="SNOW24DH1" align="center" url="/wpmvc/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/west-park.jpg" id="1110507" size="100"]
Great transport links - less than two hours to London, around 20 minutes (delays pending) to Birmingham New Street, and around an hour and a quarter to Manchester, Wolverhampton's location in the centre of the country means that it's easy to get to anywhere![figure caption="Wolverhampton railway station" title="RAILWAY17DH5" align="center" url="/wpmvc/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/station.jpg" id="1118655" size="100"]
Its own beer - courtesy of Banks's.[figure title="bankssbeer" align="center" url="/wpmvc/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/bankssbeer.jpg" id="64301" size="100"]
Nice restaurants - while in London you're allegedly never more than 10 yards from a rat, in Wolverhampton you're never more than 10 yards from a Greggs bakery. While the ratio of people to Greggs' is roughly 1:1, if sit-down meals are more your cup of tea, then Wolverhampton also has a whole host of delicious eateries. From Rosso e Nero, to Catellanis, Banks Bistro, and Bilash, in Wolverhampton you're also never far from food.[figure caption="Sitab Khan the owner and chef at the Bilash in Wolverhampton who have again made it into the Michelin's 2016 guide" title="WOLVERHAMPTON ALAN EVANS COPYRIGHT EXPRESS & STAR 30/10/15 Sitab Khan the owner and chef at the Bilash in Wolverhampton who have again made it into the Michelin guide 2016.. (16203512)" align="center" url="/wpmvc/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/crop-5638970be5cf4-imgID16209726.jpg" alt="WOLVERHAMPTON ALAN EVANS COPYRIGHT EXPRESS & STAR 30/10/15 Sitab Khan the owner and chef at the Bilash in Wolverhampton who have again made it into the Michelin guide 2016.. (16203512)" id="1077677" size="100"]

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