Thanks TAH-M, I had a look at those, but I am being persuaded into staying in the city.

Looking at somewhere near the BullRing - cinema and pizza hut sounds good to me!! Am still after good train links for getting to NEC and so on, but I think that won't be a problem.

I am looking at Crowne Plaza (city centre) as my first choice, followed by Holiday Inn City Centre.

Are these hotels any good? Anywhere else I should look at?

(The Nite Nite looked a nice hotel but they only have windowless rooms available! Doesn't sound too appealing!)

Thanks!

Gemma, hi

I have stayed in both (with work travelin to NEC each day) Crown plaza is the better of the two, a bit more upmarket, close to both the bull ring and broad street where ll the pubs are. The Holiday inn can be quite noisy so ask for a room at the back.

Lots of hotels in broad street, Jurys Inn, Novatel and a travelodge, all within walking distance of railway station and bullring.

Cheers

G

gutted!! This morning they had availability at the Crowne, by the time I had booked my flights it had gone!!!!!!! I was looking forward to the swimming pool they had as well!!

I'm not sure I like the look of Broad Street - it sounds a little loud. Is there anywhere else near by?

The Hyatt Regency also has a pool but i'm not sure what sort of price you'll pay (that's just off Broad St and quieter) also in the same area is City Inn - no pool but bright, modern hotel with nice restaurant and bar.
There's also Malmaison at the Mailbox and a friend of mine always raves about Hotel Du Vin.

Thanks everyone. I have booked the Holiday Inn city centre and will request a back room.

Guess everyone is making an early start on Crufts - Jurys Inn, Novotel, Hyatt and several others were all booked for my dates!

Oh well, all booked now so I can relax (phew! I hate making decisions!)

Ta, -G.

Just spent a couple of nights in Birmingham , went to a concert at the NEC and stayed at the Holiday Inn near the Bullring the hotel was fine a little bit dated but excellent service and reasonable costs, had a good walk round the place (in the rain) which was a shame as Brindley Place was really impressive, obviously the shops are something else theres over 1000 within 20mins walk.
I was really impressed with what i saw of Birmingham it was clean free of litter and felt very safe , also found the travel to and from New Street easy and smooth , clean station and clean trains, i would def. visit Birmingham again

Hello

My OH and I are off to Birmingham travelling from central Scotland in a couple of weeks to see Take That. I have left it a bit late to organise and need advice on the following:

1. would folk recommend flying or driving?
2. could someone recommend a nice hotel, ideally near to the airport, NEC and quite central?
3. what is there worth seeing and doing in Birmingham?
4. if we fly, any advice on getting cheap flights? or should we go for a package deal?

I am out of practise with this so any help would be appreciated, thanks a million!

OK - I'm local to the NEC, so will do what I can to help.

There are several large chain hotels at the NEC itself, smart, serviceable, standard is fine but basically a bit impersonal - these include the Hilton Hotel (on site), Crown Plaza (on-site) and then the Express Holiday Inn, Premier Travel Inn and Arden Hotel which are technically on site (but the site is enormous and therefore shuttle buses needed!!) The NEC is joined to birmingham airport by a free Maglev (overhead tram) service - so the Novotel at the Airport is also easily accessible.

You do have to remember however that the NEC and airport are basically one large big complex within Solihull (ish) rather than Birmingham. Birmingham International Railway Station is the NEC/Airport Rail link, and trains pass directly through on the local lines (Birmingham-Coventry every half hour, taking approx 20 mins from the NEC to either of these cities - think from memory its' about 5 stops to Birmingham New St costing a couple of quid.) Several virgin services also call directly at Birmingham International - and it may be worth checking out scottish services direct.

An alternative to staying in a sprawling airport/conference centre complex which is very isolated, is to look at one of the local villages on the direct train line to the NEC. These will include Marston Green, Hampton-In-Arden and Berkswell (which despite it's name, serves mostly Balsall Common). For a short walk to the train station and one stop or two up the line, you will at least have the facility to go out and about! The White Lion PH in Hampton in Arden is about 5 mins walk from Hampton Rail, has a great restaurant and B & B facilities. In Balsall Common, you might want to check out Haigs Hotel and G & G B&B http://www.gillyandgrant.co.uk/, there is also a Travel Inn next to a beefeater pub and other small B&B's. The first two mentioned are about a 10 min walk from Berkswell Station and Balsall common has three decent Indians, a Beefeater, McKees Brasserie at Haigs hotel etc etc for eating.

Things to do in Birmingham - numerous. Sea Life Centre, Canal Basin (nice walks), Art Galleries, the Bullring Shopping Centre with the infamous Selfridges, the Mailbox, Jewellery quarter, Botanical Gardens at Edgbaston. It's a nicer city than most people think it is!!!

Let me know if you need any further info.

Echoing from the above...there's really nothing to do in the NEC area apart from going to the exhibitions....so if you don't mind a short train journey to the NEC (Birmingham International station....take care not all trains stop there we found ourselves on one, first stop Rugby, next stop Euston and spent an hour on Rugby station platform waiting for the train back )....then it might be better to stay in the centre of Birmingham.

We earmarked the Travel Inns at Broad Street or Brindley Place as being within easy reach of the centre....shops, canals, Symphony Hall, station (of course)....

Hi

We are off to Birmingham for the Take That concert soon. I have booked flights which will get us there at 3ish on the Sat and we leave at 3ish on the Sunday. I am quite keen to have a brief look around Birmingham in the time we have (OH is too lazy for this) but someone told me that the NEC is outwith the town centre...so if we stay in a central hotel, is it easy enough for us to get to and from the NEC on the Sat night? Are there late trains or could we get a taxi?

Also, could someone recommend a cheap and central hotel which would allow us to have a quick mosey around on the Sat avo/Sun morning? We are not fussed about shopping really, somewhere we could easily have a walk, a drink and a meal would be great.

I haven't a clue about Birmingham so any advice would be great..I am running out of time to book a hotel!

many thanks
Ms H

see replies to your previous post above ...................

MsH the NEC is way out of the city centre but v easy to reach by train. The location of nitenite Hotel might suit you as you can have a wander beside the canal to Brindley Place where you'll find a good choice of bars and restaurants (some waterside) or in the opposite direction to The Mailbox (shopping centre but several nice places to stop for a meal).

Nitenite has absolutely tiny, pod like rooms but for one night they're fine and prices are pretty good given the central location. http://www.nitenite.com

Hi

Thanks for all the advice, I have booked the nitenite hotel which looks really funky, just the kind of place I like and shouldn't be too hard to find from the train station - I think!

Now I have my flight and hotel booked, I wonder if someone could tell me if the rail link into the city centre is right at the airport (I assume it is).

Also because we are only there for 24 hours, we will need to be v selective about where we eat and drink! Could someone recommend what they reckon to be the best eating and drinking places near to the canal and Broad Street?

Thanks again!

Ms H

Hi

The railink is at Birmingham international train station, there is a little monorail that links the station with the airport and plenty of trains into Birmingham New Street station - look for the Virgin intercity ones for quick journey time.

As for places to eat, I only know a few as Im vegan! Broad Street is a good location for eating out there are places like Pizza Express and Chinease, Indian, La Tasca near to your hotel some nice places on Brindley place by the canal. Some of the pubs get a little 'loud' after 11pm on Broad Street but there are quieter bars by the canal area I think.

You can walk or taxi it to China town for a meal or for a few pounds by taxi there is the balti belt in Sparkhill - Ladywood Road but you would need to taxi it there and back, depends on your food tastes?

This guide might help?

http://www.toptable.co.uk/search_results.cfm?locid=2313&refid=msn

Dont know when your in Brum but the German market starts next weekend which is a nice atmosphere, that is by the town hall/art gallery on the walk down into the city area.

My friends are pretty boring food wise so the only places i've tried have been Pizza Express and Cafe Rouge.
There's a list of Brindley Place restaurants here http://www.brindleyplace.com/restaurants

Hi again

Thanks so much to everyone who has helped me organise my Birmingham weekend. My Take That tickets finally arrived and I am really excited! I only wish we were going for more of the weekend. We will be eating an early dinner on Sat and then a brunch on Sun before catching our early afternoon flight home.

Can anyone recommend somewhere near the canal area for either of these meals? Also, are the pubs open after 11 in B'ham? I am just thinking we could go out for a few drinks after the concert!

Finally, are there late trains back into town from the NEC or are we likely to need a taxi? Presume the concert will finish around 10.30 to 11ish.

Thanks again for all the help so far, I am just being pernickety now but HolTruths readers are fab!

Is anyone else going to see Take That?!

Love
MsH

I think the trains run pretty late, plenty late enough to catch one after the concert anyway.

Bars on Broad Street and Brindley Place are open till at least 2 on a Sat night as i remember and it's only a few minutes walk away so you may as well make the most of it

All Bar one had a pretty nice brunch menu last time i stayed.

Here's a challenge.

anyone know any romantic little hideaways within about 15 miles of Birmingham, preferably South or East side of the city? Looking for an "intimate" weekend away

South is Stratford, Henley-in-Arden, Warwick etc. Plenty of hotels around there.

East is Coventry next question?