England - Birmingham and Solihull

It is with a certain amount of sadness that I write this post. It is, you see, the last 'real' travel post from our honeymoon. There will be one more food catch-up post at some stage, but Birmingham was our last stop for the month we were away.

Birmingham museum and city council

We drove to Birmingham from Durham, and in so doing transitioned from the north of England where I was born to the Midlands where Mr Bite grew up. His childhood was spent in Solihull, which is just south of Birmingham and has been mentioned previously for the Giraffe restaurant and sushi salad that characterised our final lunchtime.

Birmingham town hall

I had never been to Birmingham and didn't know what to expect from the city. I knew it was big, the second largest city in England (after London), and that it had an industrial history. Mr Bite did his best to keep my hopes low. As it turns out, the city has undergone one of the regenerative experiences that can be found all over Britain. The central district was clean and attractive, and modern buildings and shopping centres were integrated seamlessly into older areas. It was a lovely city to walk around.

Bullring shopping centre precinct

The weather was grey and rainy while we were there, but I found a coffee shop selling chilli chai latte about 10 minutes into our first outing. I don't think there could be a better drink for cold days, and it went a long way to warming both my hands and my impression of Birmingham!

The Birmingham canals are a new focus for the city, and one that Mr Bite was keen to investigate. The canal system has been in place since the 18th century but wasn't easily accessible, or widely known about, until the canals were redeveloped and made a feature from the mid-1990s. The result is a waterway system that is enjoyable to walk along, and which forms an attractive part of the central city area.

Canals by night

We had one day in Birmingham itself and a second day in Solihull and surrounds, which I touched on previously. I had imagined Solihull as a suburb of Birmingham and to find that it was a stand alone town, attractive and pleasant, was a very pleasant surprise.

Solihull town centre

Our day in Solihull also incorporated a visit to Baddesly Clinton manor house, a National Trust property dating back to the 15th century.

Baddesly Clinton

I think I'd like a house with a moat. In fact, I think I'd like it very much indeed.

The house and gardens provided a nice final 'attraction' for our trip. We toured the property on the final afternoon of our final day, which made for a slightly surreal experience ("this time tomorrow..."), especially as  the woman who sold us our tickets asked (a) if we were interested in an annual National Trust membership, and on hearing why we weren't, (b) how one coped on such a terribly long flight as the one from England to Australia.

Putting aside the impending terribly long flight, that final afternoon also saw us squeeze in a brief stop at Kenilworth Castle. This is one of Mr Bite's favourite ruined castles, which allows for independent exploring and climbing on the walls. We only saw the outside on this trip but it was an attractive sight against the late afternoon sunshine.

In all, Birmingham and surrounds provided a wonderful end to a wonderful month. It is hard to believe that it is not quite two months since we were there, but I am certainly grateful for the trip and the many memories (and photos, so many photos) we have from it.

What is your favourite way to warm up when walking in the cold?
And have you been to Birmingham?

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