Considered to be the capital of the Black Country, Wolverhampton, 'the high town or town on the hill', is a town of great character with over a thousand years of recorded history.

Although evidence suggests that an early settlement existed as far back as 1200BC it was during the Saxon era that the town was recorded as a community. Known before 980 as Hamton and after that as Wulfrun's Hamton, in the year 985 the first known charter of Wolverhampton was granted by King Aethelred (the Unready) to Lady Wulfruna. In 995 she gave a parcel of land for the construction of a monastery. This is now the site of St. Peter's Church.

The town became industrialised when coal and iron were mined locally and Wolverhampton came to produce wide range of metal goods, including brass, enamelled and japanned ware, aircraft parts, cars and motorcycles. Bantock House Museum has examples of these local products and the Art Gallery has a collection of early Staffordshire pottery.

The Mander and Wulfrun Centres provide an excellent choice of local and national shops. Wolverhampton's award winning market also dates back to the 13th century and non-food lines are well represented at the adjoining antiques, collectors and craft centre. Markets are held almost daily in Wolverhampton, Bilston and Wednesfield.