The 'poshest areas' in West Midlands named including village near Birmingham with award-winning pubs

Five 'have it all' areas in the West Midlands have been named on a new list of Britain's poshest villages. The Telegraph has revealed its 48 most desirable villages in the country in 2024 based on their aesthetic appeal, lifestyle amenities, transport links and house prices.

Research carried out by Savills for the London paper found that search criteria for countryside homes had shifted over the past 18 months as more workers have returned to the office. Proximity to a train station, work and family has become much more important for those searching for a new home, it said, while having parks, shops and local pubs and restaurants nearby remained vital for some.

Among the five West Midlands places to make the top 48 list was a 'free-spirited' Warwickshire village that offers buyers 'a lot more bang for their buck' than the Cotswolds and a pretty Worcestershire village where the majority of homes are at least 125 years old. See below for the full list.

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The poshest village in the West Midlands

The five poshest villages in the West Midlands, according to The Telegraph, are:

• Barston, Solihull

• Dodford with Grafton, Worcestershire

• Shenstone, Staffordshire

• Whichford, Warwickshire

• Bosbury, Herefordshire

Shenstone in Staffordshire was praised as being one of only a handful of villages in the area with a direct rail link into Birmingham city centre. Despite the village being the target of several protests over the last decade, the village remains a sought-after place to live and its former famous residents include the likes of Sir William Parker and Helen Baxendale.

Barston's 'posh appeal' included its good transport links, being within a five-minute drive of the M42, its rural feel and close proximity to the River Blythe. The little village was recorded as having only 600 residents in the last census and its award-winning gastropubs, the CAMRA award-winning Bulls Head and 'gastro pub of 2023', the Malt Shovel, lie at the heart of the community.

Close to the Welsh border and just over an hour's drive from Birmingham, Bosbury hosts a monthly farmers' market and Pilates and film nights at the village hall. Whichford was described as having a more 'free-spirited vibe' than the neighbouring Cotswolds and Dodford with Grafton was praised for its historic but well-kept buildings, including Grafton Manor - once a Norman estate given to Urso d'Abitot by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, now a luxury hotel and wedding venue.