At ask Birmingham locals

[Pikaso]

How long would it to take to drive from Hilton garden inn (Brindley Place) to NEC at 8am on a Thursday morning?

I’ve cocked up with my hotel, panicking! Need to be at NEC for 8:30 on a Thursday morning (when Crufts is on). Map is saying 25 minute drive but during rush hour?

I would say 30 minutes without traffic, I would leave myself 45 minutes to be safe with traffic at that time in the morning.

I’m thinking we should just set off at 7:30am or is that going to be too early?

I'd say that would be better as thinking about it more, you can't just park at the door at the NEC there's usually car parks a good 15 minute walk away from the actual exhibitions. So door to door, I'd say an hour

Even an hour 15 if you want to be absolutely certain you won't be at all late. If five or ten mins late isn't the end of the world then an hour should be fine

There’s loads of road works in Brum atm especially as they get ready for the sprint route on the coventry road. Deffo at least an hour at that time

During Crufts I'd allow 90 minutes. Do you need to take the car or could you leave it at the hotel and take the train to the NEC instead? So much easier and no long walk from the car parks at the NEC either

Go on the train from New Street to NEC and then use the shuttle mono rail.

60 mins minimum. Personally I’d get train as suggested by a pp

Yep train would be much easier, very frequent and an easy journey from New Street. Brindley Place is nice for bars/restaurants

Thanks everyone, had many recommendations for the train so we’ll probably do that. The station is a 20 minute walk from the hotel though but I suppose it’s worth it. Is it like London where you need some kind of special pass? Oyster thing? Or do you just pay at the station? Also what time is the last train? I don’t think we’ll be leaving until 8pm. And is the walk from New Street back to Brindley place safe at night? I’ve never been to Birmingham before. Thank you!

Pay at the station, will definitely be trains at that time, check the website for exact times. Yes that walk should be safe enough, it's a busy route.

As others have said it’ll be better getting the train as the city centre is a nightmare with roadworks atm.
In reality it’s only a 20 minute walk if you walk extremely slowly, you could do it in about 10-15 minutes.
You can buy e-tickets on the Trainline, or there’s ticket machines on the concourse in New Street and the walk back, the last trains are usually about 11pm but there’s a few cancellations because of Covid staff shortages.
You should be fine to walk back as there will still be people about as there’s bars/restaurants on your way back, but a taxi would only be about £5-£10 back if you didn’t want to.

I used to work at the ICC near Brindley Place and the NEC.

In rush hour to park up on a public or exhibitor car park I would allow at least an hour and that was before all the roadworks there at the moment. The train would be much easier.

I’d also say go with the train. The traffic at that time can be awful so I’d be leaving at 7/7:15 if I were you, to allow time for parking as well. But the train would be quicker.

is it like London where you need some kind of special pass? Oyster thing?
Off topic but you don't need an Oyster in London any more - can pay by ordinary contactless cards now.

Do you know that central Birmingham has a clean air zone? link

@Pikaso

Thanks everyone, had many recommendations for the train so we’ll probably do that. The station is a 20 minute walk from the hotel though but I suppose it’s worth it. Is it like London where you need some kind of special pass? Oyster thing? Or do you just pay at the station? Also what time is the last train? I don’t think we’ll be leaving until 8pm. And is the walk from New Street back to Brindley place safe at night? I’ve never been to Birmingham before. Thank you!

No offence, but Birmingham is neither a semi-rural village with no trains past 8pm or a no-go ghetto where you can’t walk at night. It’s a walk through the centre of the second biggest city in the country!

No offence intended regarding the safety of Birmingham - I live in Hull and wouldn’t walk around my own city at night 😂

Agree with everyone else. Take the train, its far simpler and if you'd also be paying for parking much cheaper not to add the clean air zone charge of £8 if you're car does not qualify for an exemption. Birmingham traffic can be torturous at that time in the morning, be kind to yourself OP and try to avoid it :)

The route back to Brindley Place from New Street is busy and well lit so you should be fine OP