Cadbury World - when you can smell chocolate already at the train station

Cadbury chocolate is perhaps the most famous English chocolate and reminds me a bit of Milka chocolate in texture and taste. Cadbury is also wrapped in purple! 

Near Birmingham lies Bournville, the village built around the factory which, back then and even now, is home to many workers. The village has a small train station with two tracks and can be reached within 20 minutes from Birmingham. 

Bournville was founded in the late 1870s when brothers George and Richard Cadbury moved their chocolate production from the city center to the outskirts of Birmingham. 

Cadbury World is divided into two parts. One part is the World itself. A massive exhibition of the company's history, sampling chocolate, watching the production, and some other attractions, like a small 4-D cinema. Afterwards, you can explore the village of Bournville surrounding the factory within a five-minute walk. 

Everything starts on March 4, 1824. John Cadbury opens his shop in Birmingham and begins selling tea, coffee, and drinking chocolate. The business thrived, so he purchased a malting plant in 1831. Now he could produce chocolate himself. After his sons took over the business, the factory moved to Bournville and focused solely on the production and sale of chocolate. 

Today, chocolate bars can be found everywhere, but especially the chocolate bars are famous, as well as the classic Creme Egg, which must not be missed during Easter in the UK.

In the exhibition, you can see how pralines are made. The most diverse chocolate arts are displayed, and you can also get creative yourself.

Last year, Cadbury celebrated its 200th birthday. However, from the very beginning, the factory and the associated village were something special. It was referred to as the 'Factory in the garden.' The Cadbury family valued the welfare of their workers, ensuring they had good homes and plenty of green space around them. This allowed many to move out of the dirty, loud city and live with a better quality of life.

Quality of life was also improved in other ways. Schools and playgrounds for children were built. Several sports facilities were established to provide workers with sports opportunities in addition to work. 

In 1902, 30% of Cadbury's investments were used to improve employee welfare. Furthermore, Cadbury was one of the first companies to give a half-day off on Saturdays to its workers and introduced bank holidays for all.

In the 19th century, leading roles were usually held by men. Cadbury was also ahead of its time in this aspect. Women were early on placed in leadership roles as well. Moreover, women were encouraged from the start to apply for such positions. 

Thus, Cadbury World is not just a museum where you learn about chocolate production. You also learn a lot about the history of the factory itself and how Bournville became what it is still known for today. I found the trip very interesting and would recommend it to families as well. The exhibition is well made for both young and old. It is a great combination of playful discovery, information boards, and being actively involved. One can watch the production of chocolate and sample some free chocolate bars, and in the end, stroll through the still-existing Bournville, discover shops, and experience village life.