Tamworth, Staffordshire

Tamworth
Town and borough
Clockwise from top left: Tamworth Castle, Town Hall with the Robert Peel statue, Parish Church, Skyline, Æthelflæd monument and Railway Station
Tamworth shown within Staffordshire
Coordinates: 52°37′59″N 1°41′42″W / 52.633°N 1.695°W / 52.633; -1.695
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Constituent country England
RegionWest Midlands
Non-metropolitan countyStaffordshire
StatusNon-metropolitan district
Admin HQTamworth
Incorporated1 April 1974
Suburbs of the town
Government
  TypeNon-metropolitan district council
  BodyTamworth Borough Council
  Council LeaderCarol Dean (No overall control)
  MPsSarah Edwards (Labour)
Area
  Total
30.85 km2 (11.91 sq mi)
  Rank278th (of 296)
Population
  Total
78,653 (2,021)
  Rank281st (of 296)
Ethnicity (2021)
  Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
  Religion
List
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
  Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
Postcode
Post town
tamworth
Area code01827
OS grid referenceSK207040
Websitewww.tamworth.gov.uk

Tamworth (/ˈtæmwərθ/, /ˈtæməθ/) is a market town and borough in Staffordshire, England, 14 miles (23 km) north-east of Birmingham. The town borders North Warwickshire to the east and south, Lichfield to the north, south-west and west. The town takes its name from the River Tame, which flows through it. The population of Tamworth borough (2022) was 79,639. The wider urban area had a population of 81,964.

Tamworth was the principal centre of royal power of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Mercia during the 8th and 9th centuries. It hosts a simple but elevated 12th century castle, a well-preserved medieval church (the Church of St Editha) and a Moat House. Tamworth was historically divided between Warwickshire and Staffordshire until 1889, when the town was placed entirely in Staffordshire.

The town's industries include logistics, engineering, clothing, brick, tile and paper manufacture. Until 2001 one of its factories was Reliant, which produced the Reliant Robin three-wheeler car and the Reliant Scimitar sports car.

The Snowdome, a prototype real-snow indoor ski slope is in Tamworth and 1.7 miles (2.7 km) south is Drayton Manor Theme Park and one of the many marinas serving the Coventry Canal and Birmingham and Fazeley Canal which combine south of the town.