Anyone familiar with Birmingham?

[stridesy]

My son and oh have tickets to see insomnia at the NEC. My mum has paid for all the family to stay in Chester so before me and my 6 year old were going to stay at home now we are staying overnight in Birmingham and then travelling up north. I now I need to find things to entertain ourselves in Birmingham plus we won’t have transport from the NEC which I believe is near the airport so was hoping for some suggestions as well as letting me know what transport is like. We are from Suffolk so our buses seem to run hourly! Otherwise it’s paying another £60 for tickets neither of us are interested in going to for a couple of hours.

There are frequent trains from NEC to the city centre or other parts of Birmingham, that's not a problem. Not sure what I'd do there with a 6 year old though. Cadbury World?

Think Tank!

Birmingham has absolutely loads for kids. ThinkTank for definite. Cadbury World too - you’d need to look up the transport there from NEC but I’m sure it’s possible. There’s a Lego place, the Aquarium etc. You won’t be bored and transport is easy.

CadburyWorld is on the cross city line from Birmingham New Street station, and about 15 minutes walk from Bournville Station (which is painted Cadbury purple!). It's about 10 minutes from International Station at the NEC to New Street station on a fast train.

I'd second Think Tank too. Birmingham city centre is walkable from New Street for Think Tank and the Sea World centre, although they are not in the same direction if you want to do both.

Same as other posters, the think tank is a great option. 20 minutes on the train from bham international train station (by the Nec and airport) into new street and then maybe a ten min walk through town to the museum. There's the sea life centre and Lego discovery centre in bham city centre too. Next to the nec is resorts world which has a bowling alley and cinema along with lots of shops and restaurants.

Think tank

In terms of transport into Birmingham city centre, Birmingham has 3 train stations in the centre, they are Snow Hill, Moor Street and New Street, all within walking distance of each other. New street is near to the big bullring shopping centre, as is Moor Street. Snow Hill is a little way out but most trains stopping at Snow Hill also go to Moor Street.

Birmingham international train station is by the NEC and the airport, and is very easy to access by car. International to New Street is either a 10 minute or 18 minute trip, depending if it's a fast or slow train. They run every 15-20 minutes during the day, more frequent at peak times.

From New Street you can walk to the Aquarium, and to the lego centre, which are both in the Brindley Place area. Lots of nice places to eat as well around there. If you want to go to Think Tank, you would follow the signs from New Street to Moor Street Station, and then Think Tank is sign posted from there, it's about 15 mins walk from New Street. If you want to go to Cadbury world, change at New Street for a train going towards Redditch, it's about 15 minutes to get to Bournville.

I wouldn’t bother with Cadbury world, it would be another train out of Birmingham and it’s not that good. Think tank is good, there is also the Lego centre. Possibly sealife centre although it’s expensive for what it is. My 7 year old loves going to the massive Primark and choosing stuff. There is also a Lego shop in the Bullring if they are in to that kind of thing and the big waterstones has a great children’s section. Lots of food choices in Grand Central or go out towards the library and stop at Albert Schloss, they do kids food and have a disco toilet. In fact if you are near the library go up to the roof garden and look at the view.

Lego discovery centre?

Just to add if you're thinking abut going to the sealife centre, you can quite often find 2for1 ticket vouchers if you have a bit of a google, or use Tesco clubcard vouchers to pay.

Definitely Think Tank. You can spend hours in there. The Lego Discovery centre is fun too and perfect for 6 year old

You can easily get train into city centre or I thinknthe 900 bus runs into.the city from there too.

Have fun

Thank you for your replies I will look up think tank and resort world. Feel a little less like I’m trapped in the middle of nowhere!

Im sure a few weeks ago someone on here said Think-tank was partially closed, so check beforehand if it is fully open.

There are some National Trust properties within walking distance of New St station.

Albert Schloss, they do kids food and have a disco toilet.

They do, but make sure you're in a kids slot. They also do some quite adult entertainment.