Sarehole Mill
A water mill where J.R.R. Tolkien played as a child, widely believed to have inspired the Shire in The Hobbit.
This 18th-century water-powered mill is one of only two water mills still standing in Birmingham. J.R.R. Tolkien lived nearby as a boy, and he later said the surrounding countryside was the model for the Shire. The mill is now a museum where visitors can watch the waterwheel turn and flour being ground, and there is an exhibition on Tolkien. Next door, Moseley Bog, a wetland, inspired the ancient woods in Tolkien's writing and is a lovely place for a stroll. Visitors following the Tolkien trail can combine the mill with Perrott's Folly and the Edgbaston Waterworks Tower. Opens seasonally, with admission around £7. From the city centre, take a bus for about 30 minutes.
Opening hours
Seasonal opening (mostly Wed–Sun)
Nearby sights
- Balti Triangle
- Edgbaston Cricket Ground
- Digbeth
- Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum
- Birmingham Back to Backs
- Bullring & Selfridges
- St Philip's Cathedral
- Frankfurt Christmas Market, Birmingham