Good place to stay with kids in Birmingham

[bedknobsandstickbrooms]

Hello,

Thinking of taking the kids (7 and 3) to Harry Potter Studios.

We will be driving from near Edinburgh so thinking of staying in Birmingham for around 3 days and getting the train to HP world at Watford Junction from Birmingham New Street, which would take around an hour.

Can anybody suggest anywhere good in or around Birmingham for us to stay, with quick / easy access for New Street, and things that we can do / things that are worth seeing etc?

Thinking of visiting early April.

The Clayton Hotel is one of the best family-friendly hotels if you’re not on a strict budget. It’s 10 mins from New Street and just a few minutes from the ThinkTank which is excellent.

@Forgottenmyphone thanks, I'll look it up.

Haven't thought about budget yet. Dont want to spend loads but also don't want to scrimp and miss out on stuff.

Anything nearby you can recommend doing / seeing / visiting?

Think Tank as mentioned above is great and ideal for ages of your DC.

You could get a train to Bournville and visit Cadbury World.

Get a bus to Cannon Hill Park for some fresh air plus Wildlife Park https://g.co/kgs/SvZPFd

Thanks both, looked up the think tank, it sounds great.

The Clayton Hotel also looks good....but would be £550 for 2 nights...possibly a bit steep but it's a possibility. Something cheaper would be good though.

Lots of Premier Inn's and Travelodge places in Birmingham. Just be aware that there is a coach from Watford that takes you to HP Studios so factor in the extra time,

@Turmerictolly yes, thank you. Haven't worked out the logistics exactly yet but will hopefully book an afternoon slot and leave in plenty of time so won't be rushing.

Is that a coach from Watford junction train station? Do I book in advance or do you just turn up and get on?

Stuff to do:

Agree Cadbury world (train to bournville station from platform 12 at new street every 15 mins).

See Ozzy the commonwealth games bull as you walk through New Street station (free)

Have a look at what is on at the MAC in Canon Hill Park (short bus ride down Pershore Road from city centre very frequent, often free for kids or cheap)
https://macbirmingham.co.uk/

The Botanical Gardens, have a cafe and kids play areas. Taxi or on site parking.
https://www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk/

Visit the industrial past with costumed people at the Black Country Living Museum (not sure about how to get there)
https://bclm.com/

Warwick Castle for a day trip on the way south. Its more like an amusement park than just an old building so takes a full day (often need to book in advance around school holidays, not cheap, they do have accomodation too)
https://www.warwick-castle.com/

Just processed you said getting the train down - warwick castle might be tricky to get to but it is a bit magical if you can work it out 🙂

I think the transfers from Watford to HO Studios run every half an hour and take about 15 minutes.

Hourly trains from Moor St to Warwick

Black Country Living Museum is fabulous and not too difficult to get to on the train. Definitely worth a visit. Need a whole day to make the most of it.

Think Tank is bloody brilliant. Legoland and sea life centre are also good value for money. Botanical gardens are lovely on a good weather day.

Drayton Manor is in Tamworth which is about 30 mins away, or 15 mins on the train and a 10 car ride. There's a zoo there as well (a bit crap but a zoo!)

Library in Birmingham city centre is fantastic too.

Cadburys world is NOT worth it.

We stay at aloft Eastside with the kids, big double rooms.

You could stay outside the City Centre ?

This hotel is a 5 min walk from Bournville Train Station and about 3min walk from Cadbury World.

Bournville as an area to wander around is lovely, and you are then on the train directly into the City Centre if you want to.

The Nature Centre is lovely, on the edge of Cannon Hill Park (which is lovely in itself)

The City Centre is well worth a wander round. As said above - well worth a visit to the Library (unlikely as it sounds). Wander around the canal area. There are 2 Cathedrals and St Martin's in the Bull Ring is a historic church in the centre.

Worth going into the Art Gallery which is free and my kids used to be astounded at the sheer size of some of the paintings. They have an Egyptian Gallery which the kids like.

The Think Tank is somewhere you could spend a whole day. Not cheap, but lots to see and do.

Stay around the mailbox or gas street /broad street to be within 10 mins walking distance of New Street station. The mailbox has some shopping and lot's of restaurants. Cafes and a small tescos. Can walk to the main shopping area.

The penta - slightly dodge area but very near the mailbox and has adjoining rooms. Nice hotel

The spires serviced apartments are right at the mailbox maybe best with kids - good value if a little soulless

AC by Marriott is nice but may be £££

Possibly the Novotel but is a little further out.

There are plenty of options in that area.

I can't recommend parking but it's worth looking into as it can be expensive.

Horse fair car park or the mailbox may be well located but £££

Enjoy

I would stay in a hotel that is pretty central and make the most of the city centre activities: Think Tank, library, may be something on at The Rep, Symphony Hall etc. the museum and art gallery is free if open, Everyman or Electric cinema are great, indoor golf at the bullring, the back to backs national trust. All within walking distance of city centre

Thanks so much everyone.

Lots of places to think about. Going to look them all up tomorrow.

Warwick castle - I'm sure I've been there when I was younger and loved it.

I was thinking of a 2 night trip but now thinking may need to consider 3 or 4....

@Turmerictolly great, thank you

h

hi again,

Still on the process of planning this

Could anybody please help me with the trains?

It says on Harry Potter world website that train from Birmingham new street takes 1 hour.

I've looked on Avanti, National Rail, Virgin and the trainline and it takes 3.5 hours!!!

It's a 2 hour drive so maybe we should just do that?

But I'd be keen to take the train if possible....but not 3.5 hours

I've just looked on trainline and there is (for example) the 0921 from Birmingham New St to Watford Junction and that says 1hr 17 direct.

Phew, ok. Maybe we need to get the train earlier in the day then? I was looking at 9:30/10.

I was looking at weekends though, maybe the fast train is only weekdays? Hopefully not as we can't go on a weekday

@winesolveseverything ok, I can see the one you're talking about.

But I can't see anything for the dates I'm looking for. Either Saturday or sunday 30 / 31 March.

Does anybody know why this would be?

I wonder if Avanti haven’t released all the train times yet as I would definitely expect there to be some of the fast trains

Sun 31st is Easter Sunday... So that might explain the lack of trains then.

And the Saturday might just be because it's part of the b/h weekend.

I suspect the Friday and Monday either side will be as bad.

Can you change your dates at all?