Situated 6 miles southeast of Wolverhampton and 8 miles northwest of Birmingham, Dudley is a market town situated in the West Midlands region of England. The town, which was formerly a part of Worcestershire, serves as the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley's administrative hub.

Dudley had long been referred to colloquially as the capital of the Black Country, a designation that was officially approved by the borough council in 2014.


In the 19th century, Dudley—which was once a market town—became a hub for the iron, coal, and limestone industries, contributing to the Industrial Revolution. However, these industries declined, and in the 1980s, the town's commercial center moved to the Merry Hill Shopping Center, which is located nearby.

during the 1980s. The Black Country Living Museum, the remnants of a 12th-century priory, and Dudley Zoo and Castle are all popular tourist destinations.