The Birmingham village that Premier League stars love and was home to a former James Bond

Aston Villa and Birmingham City have attracted some huge names over the years, with nearby clubs Wolves and West Brom also having a number of big players on their books.

The likes of Trevor Francis, Paul Merson, Peter Schmeichel, Steven Gerrard, Diego Costa, Bryan Robson and Wayne Rooney have all played or managed one of the clubs in the West Midlands - but where do, and have all of these stars lived when they have played for football teams in and around Birmingham?

Little Aston in Staffordshire, which is just next to near Sutton Coldfield has long been the home to many of the regiregion'sns wealthy sports stars. Barnt Green is another nearby village that's been popular among Premier League footballers, including Jack Grealish.

But Little Aston is regularly referred to as “millionaires row” by locals, with players such as Darren Bent, Andy Gray, Jamie O'Hara, and Peter Schmeichel all having lived in the countryside village just north of Birmingham. Former James Bond actor Roger Moore also once owned a property on Rosemary Hill in the area.

But what makes the village such an appealing area for Birmingham's rich and famous?

Why do footballers choose to live in Little Aston?

Well, it's certainly easy on the eye. The beautiful rural village is a peaceful location that is just a short 25 minute drive to Birmingham city centre.

Reputation is a big part of the appeal. Little Aston is very expensive and has several private roads, and more than 10% of the properties in the area are worth more than £1 million. According to Rightmove, properties in Little Aston had an overall average price of £699,678 over the last year (2023).

Whereas properties directly in Birmingham had an overall average price of £267,880 over the last year.

The countryside village also has over 2,400 acres of wild grasslands, forested areas, lakes and even wild ponies. It's a peaceful area in a lovely country setting, and it's also home to the renowned Little Aston Golf Club - a members club located within the Little Aston Park Private Estate.

The club has hosted a variety of leading professional and amateur tournaments, including the Schweppes PGA Close Championship and the Brabazon Trophy. Of course, Little Aston is only a short drive from Sutton Coldfield - the Birmingham constituency that is the most affluent in the city and is is home to a number of popular restaurants and cafes, including the fine dining restaurant Dubberley Delicious and popular Italian Romantica Italian Restaurant.

Little Aston Park and top schools

Located in the south of the village is Little Aston Park. The village area that is specifically referred to as "Millionaire's Row" - with Roman Road being the most expensive street in Staffordshire. It is a privately maintained estate, consisting of around 100 unique, architect-designed houses and includes Birmingham's most expensive house ever sold at £7.5 million.

There are also a number of top schools in the area. Two local schools: Bishop Vesey's Grammar School, and Boldmere Infant School and Nursey, both have an Outstanding Ofsted rating.

What properties are on the market now?

As you would expect, many of the homes for sale in Little Aston are rather plush - one of the primary reasons why it's so attractive to West Midlands based footballers. We've picked out a couple of properties that are currently on the market to give you an insight into the lives of the stars who've lived in the village.

A four-bedroom home located in Squirral Walk (pictured above) is available for £3,000,000. It also has quite a magnificent view over the lake at Little Aston Hall and its idyllic surroundings give you a good idea of why it's such a sought after area by the city's rich and famous.

Another stunning Little Aston home now on the market is a five-bedroom detached house on Walsall Road. Spanning three meticulously designed storeys, the home also comes with a pool, jacuzzi and bespoke outdoor kitchen.