I used to be a regular poster here, but I was grounded by rheumatoid arthritis in 2017, and a test trip in 2018 didn't go all that well. Then there was Covid, and a move to a retirement community. Now I'm really out of practice, but I need to visit my family in England, and I can't resist adding some sightseeing. Since I've seen the major tourist sights, mostly more than once, I'm looking at some new places, and could use some help. I'm no fan of AI, but in addition to guidebooks I did ask Gemini for input, and it was a bit better than I expected, especially after I told it I liked house museums and spicy food. I'd rather have your opinions, though.

I'll fly into Heathrow, then I'm thinking Birmingham, with day trips to Lichfield (cathedral) and Worcester (revisit the Commandery), moving on to Cheltenham, with a side trip to Cirencester, and then Bristol. After that I'll go to Cornwall, but that will be a separate thread. I'm a solo female traveler in my late seventies, I prefer decorative arts to fine arts, aside from the Dutch masters, the Pre-Raphaelites and the Impressionists (definitely nothing after the Surrealists) and I'm a big fan of Art Nouveau and Art Deco. I used to stay in B&Bs (not AirBnB) but I think I should plan on elevators for this trip.

Getting to Birmingham – I was thinking of taking the direct National Express coach, which would mean no transfers. If the bus station is in a really bad location, the Air-Rail link to Reading and then the train. Gemini suggested the Elizabeth line to Paddington, but that would be two transfers and a major station. (I give it credit for not suggesting I drive on this trip, just trains.)

Sleeping and eating in Birmingham – I was pleasantly surprised on my last trip, when I had to switch to hotels, by the Premier Inn chain, so I was thinking of using them on this trip, unless there is some really interesting alternative not over 130 GBP/night. (Preferably less, or is that unrealistic these days?) Gemini suggested eating at Asha's, Dishoom, the Ivy Temple Row.

Sightseeing in Birmingham – B'ham Museum and Art Gallery, Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Back to Backs, Library, Canal tour, Cathedral, Jewelry Museum, Bournville (not Cadbury World). Gemini suggests Wightwick Manor and Winterbourne. Day trip to Lichfield for the Cathedral and Worcester for the Commandery. I thought of staying in Worcester again, but I really just need more time in the Commandery. This seems to add up to five or six full days.

Sleeping and eating in Cheltenham – guidebooks and Gemini seem agreed on the Queen's Hotel. Eating at Brasserie Blanc, the Ivy Montpellier, KIBOU Japanese, Mowgli Street Food.

Sightseeing in Cheltenham and Cirencester – Georgian architecture (walking tour?), Wilson Art Gallery and Museum, Corinium Museum, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway. Two days – three nights.

Sleeping and eating in Bristol – Premier Inn again? Gemini suggests the Bristol Harbourside, but that's only just within my budget. Lonely Planet suggest the YHA, Greenhouse or Mercure. Eating St. Nicholas market, Nadu, Las Iguanas, Box-E.

Sightseeing Bristol – SS Great Britain, M Shed, Street art, Clifton, Georgian House, Red Lodge Museum, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. Maybe three days – four nights.

Thanks for any help.

I can't help too much with Birmingham -- its been ages since I regularly visited for shopping and such and it has changed a LOT. I've not visited at all since pre-covid. The coach station isn't in a terrible location but isn't all that great -- but there is a taxi rank right there so I wouldn't worry about taking the LHR coach. And as for Worcester/the Commandery - I just thought back and its been almost 30 years since I visited the Commandery.

I think you can be comfortable with Premier Inns and Mercure's almost anywhere. Especially the newer properties which are pretty modern.

Re Ivy's - they are literally in almost every city now - always pretty reliable but not cheap. In B'ham both Dishoom and the Ivy are not far from the Cathedral (especially the Ivy which is across the street)

Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway is great fun -- especially on a day when the timetable allows you to get off at multiple stops -- especially Hayles Abbey Halt (for the beautiful Hailes Abbey and the wonderful Hailes Church) and Broadway.

Thanks, Janis. I haven't used taxis much in the past, but it may be time to update that policy.

The Premier Inns were fine in 2018, I was particularly impressed by the size of my room in the St. Pancras branch - plus it had a good view of the gorgeous St. Pancras Renaissance.

When I visited the Commandery in 2015 it had an audio guide with six time tracks, and I really only had time for one. I liked Worcester, but it's so close to Birmingham it doesn't make sense as a second base. Back in 2015 Lonely Planet liked Worcester and told me not to stay in Gloucester. Now it likes Gloucester and leaves Worcester out altogether. Gemini suggested visiting Worcester on the way to Cheltenham, but didn't suggest what to do with my luggage. Thanks for the suggestion to study the railway timetable!

My knowledge of these areas is not great but I have some recommendations. For spicy food, if you can afford it, Opheem in Birmingham is not be missed. A Michelin star and it’s potato dish is outstanding.
For art deco Wightwick Manor (pronounced Wittick) will be a highlight. A bit awkward to get to as you will need a train to Wolverhampton and then a bus or taxi to the edge of the city.

It sounds like we like the same sort of sightseeing and I found a Royal Oak Foundation membership a money saver, with free entry to National Trust properties, Wightwick Manor & the Back to Backs among them.

You might consider joining: www.royal-oak.org

All the places included at national trust dot org dot uk

(Sorry for that last link, website was balking at it.)

PS: Nice to see you back!

Thanks MmePerdue, nice to see you. I've been a Royal Oak member for years, even when I'm not traveling. I've done some of their on-line talks, although no substitute to being there.

Also thanks to John for the warning. I have enough sights on the list I may pass on the ones that are hard to reach. Will have to check the menu for Opheem, Michelin stars tend to be above my budget, but since I haven't been anywhere since 2018 I figure I can spend a bit more this trip.

Hello thursdaysd, I've sent you a private message,
from an older female solo traveller with health issues

Birmingham bus station is in Digbeth. Close to the city centre I am pretty sure you would need a taxi to any hotel. Premier Inns are great. I just stayed at the LHR T5 property and it was a bargain at £60 . Service, food a roms are generally excellent. However there are lots of that type of hotel in Birmingham CC. I would look at somewhere like Brindleplace or The Mailbox. Indian Food in Birmingham is excellent from Michelin * to cheap balti. Opheem is high end (IMO over rated) Dishoom is a solid choice for mid range. my fav place is Rajdoot.

All those things you list for sightseeing ain Birmingham are good choices. I would also make a point of heading to Grand Central Station (formerly known as New Street ) and the Selfridges building.

https://visitbirmingham.com/listing/...ham/132155101/ big Shakespere collection

Hi Kay, I answered your message, but I'm not sure how much help I can be. My issue was my knees, which is why I am staying in hotels this time. You might try asking on the Travel Tips forum. I haven't used taxis much in the past - would welcome advice on the current tipping practice in the UK.

Thanks, bilbo - the guidebooks (yes, I'm old) recommend the library for the view from one of the terraces, glad to know there is more to see. Interesting building...

Thanks, catch23. After looking at the menus, Dishoom and Rajdoot look much more my style.

Appreciate the warning about the coach station. Google doesn't recognize the change to the train station name, but it does tell me I could get a bus from the coach station to the Premier Inn City Center, which is near the former New Street. I was thinking of staying in that area as I will use the train several times. Is it a good (safe, plenty of restaurants) area?

Most taxis have card readers in the passenger compartment and you can add a tip or not. For me mostly not when using a card unless maybe the driver helps with bags or something. Its just a quick tap and jump out of the cab. When paying with cash I generally do round up so I don't end up with so many extra coins. (I've seen a few where the card reader just displays the fare and there's no tip option)

Thanks Janis, I can handle that. I'm looking forward to not having to do mental arithmetic after every meal...

Restaurant tipping varies a bit across the UK, so in cities you will see higher expectations and higher end especially, in the countryside less so. But you will also see a line in the menu and on the bill which says something like " we stick 10% extra on for the staff but if you don't like it take it off" or just "we stick 10% extra on, suck it up". So I never pay a tip in a cafe, but will in a pub for a meal or in a restaurant. Janisj goes to some super special places and can advise what happens in that part of the economy far better than I can. If no such line appears then round up to £5 in a normal place or go 10% if it has ironed cloth napkins is the only advice I can offer.

Taxi, round it up to the £5, unless the guy has slogged your bags across 200 metres of deep snow at which point make it £10.

Hair cut, round it up to the £5

that's it, I don't tip the pilot ;-)

You may like to visit the Jewelry quarter (when I lived there it was called the Jewish quarter) where there are a lot of small designer shops, no need to buy.

The PI is in a decent location for sightseeing and the station but New Street can get very, very busy at weekends with shoppers and at weekends nights with revellers. Some v nice restaurants in and around the station. Selfridges have a great deli counter if you fancy a room picnic.
make sure to book the NEW ST property as the other city centre properties are no so good locations. Have messaged you separately with some other stuff

In Birmingham 2019, I stayed at the Premier Inn Birmingham City Centre (New Street Station) hotel, which was very convenient to the rail station and the tram--which I wish I'd ridden more. A novelty for me. The area was bustling but fine. Did not feel unsafe to me at that time. Very quick to and from station if you choose the right station exit. I enjoyed the Birmingham Museum, the Home Pen Museum (in Jewelry Quarter), and definitely the Back-to-Backs.

In Cheltanham, I stayed at the Strozzi Palace Suites--which was very nice--but these have stairs so you likely won't want that. Near the Wilson Art Museum and the lovely Cheltenham Minster (which always seemed to have kids and other loiterers in the churchyard). The Queen's Hotel would be a great choice. Or the PI on High Street wouldn't be bad either, as there are lots of little breakfast places on High Street toward the John Lewis. Years and years back, I stayed at the George Hotel near the Royal Well area and loved the room and breakfast. But that was well over a decade back. Reviews are still good, though.

Incredible Regency-era architecture everywhere you look. Walking the Promenade and a Montpelier walking tour is the right idea. I enjoyed a little shopping at jigsaw on the Promenade and John Lewis on the High Street. (It's a small one and nothing special, but I found a few gifts.)

Found myself returning to Cornish Bakery on the High Street for breakfast and snacks. I liked the bright atmosphere. https://thecornishbakery.com/ . I can't help much with dining recommendations. It's not usually a focus of mine on vacation.

Bilbo - thanks for the tipping info. As someone used to percentages, rounding up seems a bit unfair. If the bill is 31, I round up to 35, but if it's 34 I also round up to 35?

i was planning to visit the Jewelry Museum, will check out the quarter at the same time.

Thanks for the warning about which PI to book, catch23. I suppose I can always eat in the PI Saturday night. I guess I don't need to worry about places being closed Sunday? I don't want to travel on a Sunday, and I don't plan anything the day I arrive, so looks like I will stay in Birmingham Tuesday through Sunday.

Thanks for all the info, ChgoGal, especially hotels in Cheltenham. I'm thinking three nights for Cheltenham, but need to check to see what's closed on a Monday. I'm not a shopper - occasionally textiles or jewelry but I switched to photos for souvenirs years ago. Will check out the bakery.