Birmingham or Preston
Oct 30, 2017, 8:49 am
#1
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Join Date: Oct 2017
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Birmingham or Preston
I am looking at adding North Birmingham or Preston onto my London trip. I am thinking North Birmingham since it is closer but would like any opinions from those who have been to either of these cities. I will be traveling with my husband and two girls, 10 & 11.
Oct 30, 2017, 8:55 am
#2
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Birmingham itself (don't know Northern Birmingham) is quite pleasant with some beautiful restored historic buildings, canals, and good food. You can spend a pleasant half day following a self guided walking tour route, although exploring all the museums would take more time. The university campus, several miles away, has some interesting buildings too, including a couple that seem to be almost Moorish in style. IIRC the train station/shopping center/car park is an icon of modern architecture.
Oct 30, 2017, 9:58 am
#3
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Any reason why you specifically chose Preston? I've visited many times over the years usually when visiting family in the area. It's not a tourist destination, okay for a base to make day trips from but that's about it.
Oct 30, 2017, 10:08 am
#4
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Neither are tourist destinations in their own rights, really. Central Birmingham has some fine industrial heritage, coupled with some interesting modern architecture, and some additional quirks (like Bournville if you're into your Cadbury's). Some good canal walks too, if you know where to go, and some fascinating inner city life if you're into that kind of thing. Preston is rather more provincial.
But as bases...
North Birmingham has you up near the Welsh borders: Ironbridge, Ludlow, the Wye Valley, Shrewsbury, the Shropshire Hills.
Preston is further north. It's not a million miles from the South Lakes: Grange-over-Sands, Cartmel, Ulverston, Lakes Windermere and Coniston.
But as bases...
North Birmingham has you up near the Welsh borders: Ironbridge, Ludlow, the Wye Valley, Shrewsbury, the Shropshire Hills.
Preston is further north. It's not a million miles from the South Lakes: Grange-over-Sands, Cartmel, Ulverston, Lakes Windermere and Coniston.
Oct 31, 2017, 3:42 am
#7
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Is that the HI in Cannock? That's the only one labelled Birmingham North that I can see.
It's basically a motorway stopover location, but that does mean you have easy access to the surrounding areas. This is an area of industrial heritage, with heavy coking and steelworks to the south, potteries and mining to the north, but then very rural areas to the west. The industrial revolution started here. There's some great open-air museums to help you understand the place, starting with Ironbridge:
https://www.ironbridge.org.uk/
and the excellent Black Country Living Museum:
https://www.bclm.co.uk/
If you're into your military aircraft (this is Flyertalk after all), the RAF have a museum nearby at Cosford:
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/
On your doorstep is an Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty, Cannock Chase:
http://www.enjoystaffordshire.com/gr...ock-Chase.aspx
Then just up the M54 you have Shropshire and all its more rural attractions:
https://www.shropshiretourism.co.uk/
This is also canal country, and a trip on a narrowboat is very worthwhile, particularly if you can get up the nerve to man it yourself (there are plenty trips you can go on too). And then there's Birmingham itself just to the south... Lots to keep you occupied round here!
It's basically a motorway stopover location, but that does mean you have easy access to the surrounding areas. This is an area of industrial heritage, with heavy coking and steelworks to the south, potteries and mining to the north, but then very rural areas to the west. The industrial revolution started here. There's some great open-air museums to help you understand the place, starting with Ironbridge:
https://www.ironbridge.org.uk/
and the excellent Black Country Living Museum:
https://www.bclm.co.uk/
If you're into your military aircraft (this is Flyertalk after all), the RAF have a museum nearby at Cosford:
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/
On your doorstep is an Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty, Cannock Chase:
http://www.enjoystaffordshire.com/gr...ock-Chase.aspx
Then just up the M54 you have Shropshire and all its more rural attractions:
https://www.shropshiretourism.co.uk/
This is also canal country, and a trip on a narrowboat is very worthwhile, particularly if you can get up the nerve to man it yourself (there are plenty trips you can go on too). And then there's Birmingham itself just to the south... Lots to keep you occupied round here!
Oct 31, 2017, 5:06 am
#8
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Piedmont, Italy; Cheshire, UK
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Is that the HI in Cannock? That's the only one labelled Birmingham North that I can see.
It's basically a motorway stopover location, but that does mean you have easy access to the surrounding areas. This is an area of industrial heritage, with heavy coking and steelworks to the south, potteries and mining to the north, but then very rural areas to the west. The industrial revolution started here. There's some great open-air museums to help you understand the place, starting with Ironbridge:
https://www.ironbridge.org.uk/
and the excellent Black Country Living Museum:
https://www.bclm.co.uk/
If you're into your military aircraft (this is Flyertalk after all), the RAF have a museum nearby at Cosford:
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/
On your doorstep is an Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty, Cannock Chase:
http://www.enjoystaffordshire.com/gr...ock-Chase.aspx
Then just up the M54 you have Shropshire and all its more rural attractions:
https://www.shropshiretourism.co.uk/
This is also canal country, and a trip on a narrowboat is very worthwhile, particularly if you can get up the nerve to man it yourself (there are plenty trips you can go on too). And then there's Birmingham itself just to the south... Lots to keep you occupied round here!
It's basically a motorway stopover location, but that does mean you have easy access to the surrounding areas. This is an area of industrial heritage, with heavy coking and steelworks to the south, potteries and mining to the north, but then very rural areas to the west. The industrial revolution started here. There's some great open-air museums to help you understand the place, starting with Ironbridge:
https://www.ironbridge.org.uk/
and the excellent Black Country Living Museum:
https://www.bclm.co.uk/
If you're into your military aircraft (this is Flyertalk after all), the RAF have a museum nearby at Cosford:
https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/
On your doorstep is an Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty, Cannock Chase:
http://www.enjoystaffordshire.com/gr...ock-Chase.aspx
Then just up the M54 you have Shropshire and all its more rural attractions:
https://www.shropshiretourism.co.uk/
This is also canal country, and a trip on a narrowboat is very worthwhile, particularly if you can get up the nerve to man it yourself (there are plenty trips you can go on too). And then there's Birmingham itself just to the south... Lots to keep you occupied round here!
The Holiday Inn on the A5 is less than an hour from the Peak District http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
As has been mentioned already, you might be interested in visiting a chocolate factory: https://www.cadburyworld.co.uk/en (Tip: Take lots of water with you.)
Try to use the M6 Toll when you can. The M6 / M5 junction just north of Birmingham is a nightmare at the moment.
Oct 31, 2017, 11:02 am
#9
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It's something we've done before when touring England by car. We've ended up in some strange places usually in business/retail parks on the edge of towns but they've been great for their quick/easy access to/from motorways as well as for free parking. The Preston HI isn't one of the best right enough.
Nov 2, 2017, 8:27 am
#10
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Having been brought up in Worcestershire we were always a bit sniffy about Brum, but I have actually really grown to like the city. The canals are great for walking about, some nice bars and restaurants, sea life center, really quite a lot to do.
I also can recommend Cadbury world and also the Severn valley railway is nearby which is a beautiful trip to Bridgenorth and great if you are going with children. Stop in Bewdley to have lunch in a local pub.
Ludlow is also a charming town and a great foodie destination these days. There are some excellent restaurants and they will do superb game dishes this time of year.
I also can recommend Cadbury world and also the Severn valley railway is nearby which is a beautiful trip to Bridgenorth and great if you are going with children. Stop in Bewdley to have lunch in a local pub.
Ludlow is also a charming town and a great foodie destination these days. There are some excellent restaurants and they will do superb game dishes this time of year.
Nov 2, 2017, 3:24 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 10
And Chasewater Country park and heritage steam railway less than 5 miles down the road...
http://www.chasewaterrailway.co.uk/
http://www.chasewaterrailway.co.uk/