Things to do in the Midlands?

[bitchstewie]

I feel like a bit of spanner asking tbh as I'm sure a thousand things should leap to mind but does anyone have any recommendations on decent things to see or do in the Midlands area?

Shopping gets a bit samey, Zoos and Theme Parks don't really appeal much, I'm not tight but I'm not paying £30 each for something like Warwick Castle and it's Christmas so a lot of places appear to simply be closed (I don't blame them).

Something that doesn't require any planning/booking would be useful.

Nottingham/Coventry/Birmingham/Leicester are pretty near.

And yes I know I could just Google but when we have six pages on "Do you wear slippers" I won't feel too bad asking

[Sixpackpert]

Grand Prix collection at Donington?

[craste]

Coventry transport museum is ok if open.

[yooffullchav]

The Glyn Arms in Dudley is worth a visit, make sure you are sober though

[jonnyb]

Motor museum in Gaydon

[Pothole]

Leicester: National Space Centre, Snibston Discovery Museum

Coventry: Museum of Transport

Rutland: Rutland Water

There's loads in the Midlands.

Brimingham: Cadbury World

Solihull: National Motorcycle Museum

[oldbanger]

craste said:

Coventry transport museum is ok if open.

and free ...

(and yes it's open: http://www.transport-museum.com/ )

There's also Baddesley Clinton and Kenilworth Castle fairly close by
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/baddesley-clinton/
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/propert...

[Fishtigua]

A bit further out is the Black Country Living Museum, I had a great day out there. 'Tis the birthplace of civilisation. (They even have a Westfield in the motor collection).

http://www.bclm.co.uk/map.htm

[Pothole]

Crich is closed till 8th Jan, sadly...http://www.tramway.co.uk/winter-opening

[roogi]

Severn Valley Railway is good and Brignorth is nice as well. I bet the River Severn (which runs through Brignorth) will be high which is quite impressive.

http://www.svr.co.uk/

[Pothole]

The Great Central Railways is in full steam across the holiday period...http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/christmas-holiday-trains/

[Shaw Tarse]

yooffullchav said:

The Glyn Arms in Dudley is worth a visit, make sure you are sober though

Aka "The Crooked House"

[DrTre]

Go to Bicester Shopping village, it'll be really quiet this time of year.

[bitchstewie]

DrTre said:

Go to Bicester Shopping village, it'll be really quiet this time of year.

I made that mistake a couple of years back. It was like visiting the biggest Blue Peter Bring & Buy Sale you could imagine

Luckily I got there early enough to avoid too much mayhem though I still parked in Bicester and walked a mile or so to the village. Coming back they were queued back to the motorway which was just fking crazy.

[DrTre]

A bit of a victim of its own success (although it takes the piss that some brands actually up their prices there, compared to other outlets)
A less pleasant place to be twixt Xmas and NYE I couldn't imagine.

I know you said no to zoos but The Chestnut Centre in the Peaks is worth a mooch if you're taking your OH (and can be arsed to drive that far North)....scenery to and fro is nice, some brilliant roads...with Castleton just down the road so take the boat trips into the Blue John Caverns etc.


http://www.bluejohn-cavern.co.uk/


ETA "Please note this scene does not depict what is in the Blue John Cavern." ...

Edited by DrTre on Thursday 27th December 12:43

[mrtwisty]

Hoke & Cookers?

[bitchstewie]

Thinking about it I may head up to Nottingham Used to live there so Wollaton Hall and the town centre will kill a little while and Matlock isn't too far away.

I'm sure I've gone to the Cavern some years back but I can't remember how big/small it was? Essentially I don't want to drive miles to get to somewhere and find that after 30 minutes we're done.

[DrTre]

bhstewie said:

Thinking about it I may head up to Nottingham Used to live there so Wollaton Hall and the town centre will kill a little while and Matlock isn't too far away.

I'm sure I've gone to the Cavern some years back but I can't remember how big/small it was? Essentially I don't want to drive miles to get to somewhere and find that after 30 minutes we're done.

Matlock to Chatsworth House to Ladybower, to Castleton.

Take your point though, it's a bit of a drive.

[Mr MXT]

Go for a walk in the lickey hills

[bitchstewie]

Don't suppose this could be moved back to The Lounge could it? On the hopefully sensible presumption that people who aren't from the Midlands might have visited the Midlands so may have ideas on places to go but might not look in the Midlands forum...