Do you prefer Birmingham or Manchester

[Clarro]

DH and I are moving out of London.

We are considering both cities. Which city itself do you prefer?

Manchester was fantastic 10/15 years ago when I lived there.
So modest.

No you’re right – I grew up there and it is characterless and lacking a strong sense of identity. Same for much of the midlands, it’s a real vacuum.

Saying that, Stewart Lee wrote a funny piece recently comparing humble, unassuming, self-deprecating Brum with pleased-with-itself-for-no-reason Manchester

Same 👆👆

it’s Birmingham week here at the Observer, but the Midlander’s innate modesty means it’s rarely even Birmingham week in Birmingham itself.…

But for many Brummies, Birmingham’s fear of getting above itself is one of the region’s most endearing traits. The alternative, of course, is being Manchester, the city equivalent of an endlessly farting dog that expects nauseated passersby to applaud.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/14/i-value-brummie-art-but-who-else-does-king-kong-stewart-lee-joe-lycett-birmingham

That's complete and utter rubbish. Apart from the council being bankrupt.

I think this is the answer; find somewhere which only takes and hour to get back into London. Nowhere has the museums and theatres that London has

I was born near Birmingham so I maybe biased but it has probably changed.

Solihull has a good shopping centre but I seem to remember getting out the carparks could be problematic/queues, this may have been addressed

Towns/villages that I remember as being lovely

Dorridge, Knowle, Lapworth, Balsall Common, Rowington, Hampton in Arden, Henley in Arden. Railway stations at Dorridge and Hampton in Arden.

Used to drink in Warwick and Stratford - lovely and obvious the RSC is at Stratford. Leamington had a good shopping centre.

Not sure if this helps at all or is just more confusing

@Purplebunnie unfortunately, last time I was in the shopping centre in Leamington, loads of shops had closed.

That's a shame I used to love going there. It's been a very long time

@Purplebunnie Leamington is definitely not what it is, but Solihull is absolutely thriving.

Solihull was a good shopping centre when I left 40 years ago but I believe it has got better.

I've not been back for a very long time.

Birmingham is great, loads of amazing places to eat and things to do. If you want to be close to the city and like those areas, check out Bournville / Harborne and Edgbaston which are closer to the city x