Lonely Planet travel guide accused of losing its way

The Black Country Living Museum has bitten back at the latest edition of the 'backpackers' bible' - The Lonely Planet's Travel Guide -— accusing the authors of getting their facts wrong and overlooking the region's other attractions.

Hackles were raised in the region when the Dudley-based attraction was the only place in the Black Country highlighted by the guide as being worth "swinging by" for a visit.

It described the attraction as "a perfect recreation of a 19th century mining village, inhabited by a cast of characters in period costume."

Now the museum, which attracts over 300,000 visitors a year, has accused the authors of failing to do their homework properly.

Museum director and chief executive Andrew Lovett said: "Whilst it's great that the museum has been recognised in this way, the book's authors have failed to do their homework, omitting a whole host of regional heritage gems from its 'must visit' hit list and by getting vital information about the museum wrong.

"The Black Country Living Museum illustrates life in the Black Country and a recreated early 20th canalside village, not a 19th century coal mining village, lies at the heart of the museum.

"On our doorstep we have many heritage gems which deserve a mention, including Dudley Zoo, which not only has hundreds of animals but has the single largest collection of modernist Tecton structures in the world.

"There's also the 11th Century Dudley Castle, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, New Art Gallery, Walsall, and sites of scientific importance including the Limestone Caverns and Wrens Nest Nature Reserve."

The recently launched 'Discover Dudley' website describes the borough as being packed full of great places to visit.

James Morris, MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis, who recently toured the Black Country Living Museum during British Tourism Week to highlight the importance of tourism to the region, said: "It's very disappointing to see all Visit Britain's good work undone in this way.

"It does make you wonder whether the book's authors have ever actually visited the Black Country."

Mr Lovett added: "The first ever Ordnance Survey maps to include 'The Black Country' rolled off the presses in 2009.

"I'd like to invite the Lonely Planet's authors to visit the region in person and help us put the Black Country firmly on the tourism map."

A spokesman said the authors of the Lonely Planet's Travel Guide did not wish to comment upon the museum's comments. He said they had visited Wolverhampton while researching the guide.