Advice on visiting QE hospital, Birmingham

[Strugglingandtired]

i wonder if someone can help me regarding visiting QE hospital in Birmingham from Solihull. Is parking a nightmare? I can see that it costs a fortune although I could get a weekly concession (I’m likely to be visiting every day for about a week).

Or am I better getting the train? And does anyone know if I can get a weekly train pass (struggling to make sense of the website).

Thank you

It really depends on what time of day you are intending to visit. Mornings and early afternoons are busy with outpatients' appointments so between 9am and 4pm , Monday to Friday, are best avoided as parking is a nightmare. Late afternoon and evening is quieter.

The QE is right opposite Birmingham University train station, and a short journey from New St (5-10 mins). I would opt for train. Check Trainline app for tickets. It's quite stressful driving around the QE site at peak times, let alone parking.

Thanks both. You’ve cemented my decision that I will get the train! Looks like I can get a weekly pass so that will probably be more affordable than petrol
and parking.

I would park at Selly Oak train station (there's a car park on site) and get the train to Birmingham University as the above poster said. It's just a 2 min train ride and the service is pretty regular.

Thanks home seeker. That’s another option

The 76 bus goes from Solihull to the QE

Ooh thank you.

Im from a totally different part of the country so trying to find all this out. Really helpful

I was coming to say I would drive to Selly Oak Station too.

Personally, I'd walk to the QE from there, but, as a pp says, you can also hop on the train for the single stop if you need to.

Train from Solihull takes you into Moor Street doesn't it ?
So you'd have to get to Solihull Station, train into town, walk across town to New Street, then train out to the QE (University Station). I think driving to Selly Oak makes a lot more sense.

It's busy but just allow time. I've queued for 30mins before but managed to get in and had allowed tome for it. It's so big, there will always be people leaving.

When I’m visiting family in the midlands I get a network daytripper which is unlimited buses trains and trams across the area, it’s £8.90 and not well publicised at all. The only snag is it’s a paper ticket and doesn’t work on automatic train barriers. You can only get it from a bus driver or staffed train office.

Yes, the train would be a faff. Using public transport I would get the 76 bus from Solihull town centre which goes to the QE. Not sure how long it takes though.

@fetchaclothi think it’s around an hour on the 76 bus

I’ve never had a problem parking on the top floor of Car Park A I think it is, on your left as you arrive at the hospital. A lift takes you right down to near the entrance.
I think there’s a courtesy bus from the train station. I’ve heard it’s about a ten min walk.
The cafe is nice at the QE, or there’s a retail park about half a mile away with Sainsbury’s, M&S, McDonald’s etc. Don’t park there all day though as I think it’s two hours maximum.

If you get the bus it's £21 for a weekly saver or £5.50 for a day. You would need to download the app if you wanted to get the weekly ticket . The fares have just gone up yesterday. The buses literally go to the main entrance. It's a really busy hospital .

It costs a fortune to use the hospital car park though.

You don't need a bus from the University station - there is a path that goes directly to the entrance. You will probably have further to walk once you are inside the hospital.... the corridors are long.

It’s literally a 2min walk from the station, it’s much easier although try and avoid the station at peak times as it is crazy busy with hospital visitors, staff and uni students. The station is 2 stops or 10mins from New Street station and are very frequent.

car park A is busy, you need to give lots of time to get in and park plus a bit more time! Parking is much easier late afternoon, evenings and weekends.

Thanks all. I’ll get train or bus today and suss out the parking. I may be visiting every day for 10 days.