Visiting Bourneville village

[JodyMitchell]

I am going to be at a conference in Birmingham (Aston uni) soon and will have a free day. If you know Bourneville, do you think this is doable in half a day:?

Walk from Aston to Bourneville and have a walk around Bourneville (I am happy to walk quite a long way and prefer that to trying to find the right bus stop or pay for a taxi )

Visit the chocolate factory (Cadburyworld?) I will be there on my own without children. The website gives the impression it’s like a Disneyworld type of experience with people dressed as characters. I don’t really want that. I’d just like to see a real chocolate factory in action. Is that possible?

I don't know about the logistics of visiting Bourneville, but Cadbury World is definitely not what you are after, it is much more a family attraction than a factory tour, you don't see anything in terms of an actual working factory.

Bournville is nice but there isn't a huge amount to see so an hour or two walking round will be sufficient. Cadbury World is very much about children and not about manufacturing.

Thanks for the replies. I’m disappointed ☹️

You can catch a train from the city centre to Bournville quite easily.

That’s a shame, it’s been years since I went to Cadbury World but it used to be a good exhibition and you could see chocolate being made.

I visited Thornton's in Derbyshire, that was a real choc & sweet factory, working, had long tour.
They may still offer tours.
Highly recommended.
My second fave visit (winner is veolia recycling centre / waste tip...)

You could consider going to see the Back to Back Houses instead. They're central so you could walk there from Aston Uni. You have to book though!

@Helpwhatwouldyoudonext you can visit a veolia recycling centre?! I would love to do that. Was it the one in SE London? I have seen a video of the recycling sorting machine there and thought what a great school trip it would make. Sorry to derail my own thread but would love to know more!

@Lint6 good tip about the back to back houses.

Brummie here!

No, Aston University to Bournville is not walk-able.
You could catch a train from New Street (straight walk from the University down Corporation Street) to Bournville really easily though. They're very regular.

Avoid Cadbury World because its just a Disney-fied tour experience.

If you're after a 'thing' to do, I'd recommend Selly Manor which is just off the village green: https://sellymanormuseum.org.uk/ But check the opening times. Sometimes they have volunteers doing tours.

Outside of this, Bournville is a nice place to bimble around but there's not much there. The houses are beautiful and the green is stunning. There's also a lovely duck pond about five minutes from the green down Woodbroke Road. But it's not a half-day experience.

For something in the City Centre, absolutel agree that the back-to-backs are brilliant and easily walkable from Aston University.

The museumy bits of cadbury are good but you don’t see the factory in action anymore.
you do get to see some chocolate makers and decorators but it is a family experience really.

The walk is way too far but the train is a 10 minute walk away.

How about a visit to the lapworth museum of geology instead? It’s free.
get a Beryl Bike and ride down the Bristol road.

Or a visit to Aston Hall - jump on the number 7 bus and walk up.

Or museum of the jewellery quarter- on certain days you can see how jewellery is made.

Sorry, I posted too soon.

There are a few small, quirky museums in Birmingham if you're after that kind of experience (in lieu of Cadbury). A lot are in the Jewellery Quarter which is a stones throw from Aston University:

There's the pen museum, which sounds shit but is actually really fascinating: https://penmuseum.org.uk/

There's also the Coffin Works: https://www.coffinworks.org/

And the Jewellery Quarter museum itself which I've been to about six times and loved it every time: https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/museum-of-the-jewellery-quarter

If you're heading to the Jewellery Quarter, you could take a wander around St Paul's Square. There's not much to do but its very beautiful.

Like PP, I was just about to suggest Aston Hall: https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/aston-hall

Most of the attractions in Birmingham are centred around industry and factories. This is fine but Aston Hall (and Selly Manor which I've suggested above) gives a nice flavour of pre-industrial revolution Brum.

So do Sarehole Mill and Blakesley House but they're slightly outside of the city centre so not as easy to get to.

Thanks so much for all these ideas!

The best thing about Cadbury world is the gift shop because the chocolate in it is fresh.

The rest of Cadbury world is a bit rubbish if you are over primary school age (sorry).

Hi OP,
It was INDEED a school trip, to one in the Midlands. If I remember, Veolia paid for the coach. Was brilliantly stinky and nerdy, from trucks tipping up, through magnets, water and then conveyor with actual people picking through for non-recyclable things, etc etc.
Half-day with 20-30 min travel time.

Other people keen ~to help~ on green washing are quarries, such as Tarmac Quarries if you have those anywhere near you. They all seem similar good publicity (and have cash for coaches too).

@Helpwhatwouldyoudonext brilliant tips for great outings!