Birmingham Travel Forum

I'm going to be hanging around Birmingham for a week in June while my partner attends a conference. Can I get an idea of some day trips that can be managed from here;. I've done a bit of research but some local ideas would be appreciated.

Here are a few sites to get you started.

The area around Telford is great, plenty to see and do.

http://www.bclm.co.uk

http://www.ironbridge.org.uk/our_attractions/blists_hill_victorian_town

http://www.virtual-shropshire.co.uk/tourist-information-centres/telford_tourist_information.shtml

http://www.beinbirmingham.com/exec/229738/29614/PROFILE=NDpTWURfQkhNMV8yMDA0ODg1OlNZRF9CSE0xXzExMzIwMTk6RU5HTElTSDpHQjo6MTIwNDYwMzQwMzo6Og==

http://www.visitcoventryandwarwickshire.co.uk

Good luck.

Which Birmingham ?

Assuming Birmingham West Midlands, you have lots of choice.

Cadbury World in the Birmingham suburbs http://www.cadburyworld.co.uk/en/cworld if you are into chocolate (and Victorian model villages). Get a bus there.

The Black Country Living Museum in Dudley is an absolutely brilliant day out and has the best chips (from the 1930's chippie) you will ever taste. The beer (Victorian pub) is good too. Get the Dudley bus. See:

www.bclm.co.uk and my page on http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/73696/4ca30/

Bridgenorth by bus: a pretty town, with a cliff railway leading up from the River Severn beneath it.

Warwick is easily accessible by train: for the castle, obviously, but the towm itself is pleasant and has a fascinating church (my pages have details).

Stratford-upon-Avon by train. or Leicester for a very different and vibrant multi-cultural city experience with some fascinating history (my Leicester pages have info). Or Worcester, with its lovely cathedral.

Further afield, by train, you could easily spend a day in Oxford, or Cambridge, or York, or Bath, or Shrewsbury, Manchester, Liverpool etc etc.....look at the VT pages for info

Train info on www.nationalrail.co.uk

Local buses here: http://www.travelwm.co.uk/

Coaches are slower but cheaper. You might find some destinations on www.nationalexpress.com which are feasible.

Am sure there are lots more possibilities, but my brain has stopped for the moment! Having grown up around the Birmingham area, I know that one of its main virtues is its centrality, so you'll find you have a great deal of choice.

Hi

The obvious ones are Warwick and Stratford on Avon. I would also recommend Burton on Trent for the Bass Brewery tour and perhaps take in some of the nearby historical villages such as Tutbury. Another nice trip is Lichfield.

Yes, Lichfield is one I'd forgotten!

And assuming you don't want to spend all of your time on day trips out of the city, then Birmingham City Art Gallery is excellent, with a superb collection of Pre-Raphaellite paintings. Also Birmingham Cathedral is worth a visit. Then there is the Barbour Collection at Birmingham Uni - actually, the buildings themselves at the uni are interesting.

Forget Cadbury World - we went there a few years back - its dated and seen better days.

Don't forget Birmingham itself - the bull ring, and there are some nice open areas around Colemore Row - the Victorian town hall - otherwise known locally as the flusi and the jacquisi!

Tewkesbury, Worcester, Hereford, Pershore and you might see the start of blossom time in Evesham, which itself is a very pretty town

All good.
Thanks for the input.
Anymore?
And it was the UK Birmingham

Hi there, Birmingham City Centre is much more sophisticated these days and there are loads of things to do quite close to the city centre (I'm assuming your partner is at ICC).
* Blakesley Hall, Yardley (Timbered building, smashing)
* Aston Hall, Aston (Being refurbished but should be done by Summer)
* St Chad's Cathedral, St Philip's Cathedral
* BMAG, City Centre (Museum and art gallery with the finest painting collections in Europe)
* Back to Back Houses & Museum, City Centre (preserved heritage maintaining a house from each decade in 20th century)
* National Sea Life Centre, City Centre
* Millenium Point, City Centre (Science Museum, THINKTANK and IMAX cinema)
* Jewellery Quarter, Hockley (Museum and LOADS of shops selling jewellery at wholesale prices to public - some good bargains)
* Cadbury World, Bournville (The area itself was established by the Cadbury Family to house their workers)
* Sarehole Mill, Hall Gren (Inspired Tolkein when he lived in Birmingham and was compiling ideas for Lord of the Rings - Middle Earth setting)
* Mailbox, City Centre (Great shopping, eating and drinking with some great canal side views)
* Bull Ring, City Centre (shops, food and bars)
* Gas Street Basin, City Centre (canal boats, bars and food)
* Broad Street, City Centre (eating and drinking with a range of nightclubs, cinema and an entertainment site at Five Ways island with bowling etc)
* Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston (just what it says on the tin!)
* Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Selly Oak (at the university)
* Soho House, Handswoth (Home of Matthew Boulton)

* Warwick, Coventry and Stratford are all in easy reach by main spine roads leading out of Birmingham and trains from New Street, Moor Street or Snow Hill Stations
* Worcester is less than 45 minutes away on the M5 and is gorgeous for lunch by the river and a smashing Cathedral

Have a great visit to Birmingham and VT mail me if you need any help while you are here. Enjoy :o)

aston hall is great but unfortunately it is closed until summer 2009.

birmingham aquarium
villa park stadium tour
could be an interesting show or exhibition on at the nec

Oxford is a bit further away but still easily manageable in one day. By train, it is just over one hour from Birmingham New Street station.