Local Knowledge Required

[MidlandDan84]

Hi all,

I’m considering moving back to the Midlands, could anyone recommend a nice rural village or small town location roughly 30 minutes drive from south Birmingham (Edgbaston area).

Any ideas?

[Babu 01]

Clent / Romsley maybe?

[perdu]

Wythall maybe, bit of a sod to commute in though

Alcester Rd way...

Or Barnt Green

if its good enough for Big Fat Ron, it's good enough for...

The Lickey Hills area is lovely too

[MidlandDan84]

Must admit hadnt really thought of those areas, what about Henley-in-Arden or the surrounding area? bad commute in?

[ali_kat]

How will you be commuting in? 30 minutes by train will get you a lot further away than 30 minutes by car!

Edgbaston is not the easiest place to get to

Here is a train map that may help you - the station you want is Five Ways; it is a 3 minute walk from there to the Island. it depends how far you are from there I guess.

From the South

The A435 is a complete nightmare once you hit Balsall Heath; and not fantastic through Kings Heath either, trying to get onto the A4540 is best from this direction though!

The A41 & A34 are crap from the time they merge in Sparkbrook, then you have to get onto the A4540.

From the West

The A38 & A441 are a nightmare from Selly Park onwards - worse when the Cricket is on!

The A456 is just a nightmare


It could take me upto an hour to get into Edgbaston from Solihull/Shirley - and that was knowing all the back streets (that now are either lined with speed humps/one way streets!)

As you can see I tried all variations The quickest I found was A34 to Sparkhill, then cut across the A435 and through Balsall Heath down all the backstreets (which now have speed humps etc ), down the A441 the wrong way and right onto B4127, the wiggling through the one way streets again coming out at the island opposite Bath Row.

Edited by ali_kat on Wednesday 14th April 20:10

[wossy]

what about Sutton Coldfield? it's roughly about 25 minutes away from edgbaston.

[Babu 01]

wossy said:

what about Sutton Coldfield? it's roughly about 25 minutes away from edgbaston.

By helicopter maybe

[MidlandDan84]

Cheers for the info guys, i will be driving into work as i get a car allowance with the job.

Ive basically been offered a transfer to either Edgbaston or Altrincham, im still keeping my options open.

I thought the traffic into Brum would be a nightmare, i would be getting into work for 7:30am most days though.

[wossy]

Babu 01 said:

wossy said:

what about Sutton Coldfield? it's roughly about 25 minutes away from edgbaston.

By helicopter maybe

Doesn't take me long from here to edgbaston I usually stick to speed limits too. Usually there in 25-30 minutes or sometimes longer depending on traffic.

[MidlandDan84]

Whats Sutton Coldfield like these days? I havent been for probably 10 years, i remember it being a reasonable sort of place.

The mrs wants a village location, like where we are now though.

[ali_kat]

MidlandDan84 said:

I thought the traffic into Brum would be a nightmare, i would be getting into work for 7:30am most days though.

Anywhere you like at that time of day - not a lot of traffic at that time

[MidlandDan84]

Really? Im living in Surrey at the moment and tend to get in to work for about 7:30/45 and there is a fair bit of traffic around.

[ali_kat]

From my commuting days, there is traffic, but not a lot. Most traffic there is between 8-10am.

[Babu 01]

wossy said:

depending on traffic.

Which was my point really.

I think the OP would be better off being south of the city rather than north to access Edgbaston.

[wossy]

Babu 01 said:

wossy said:

depending on traffic.

Which was my point really.

I think the OP would be better off being south of the city rather than north to access Edgbaston.

Hmm I guess but its only like 10-15 minutes extra, although I still think its a option for the OP obviously its not the cheapest area but its worth looking at. its a great place to live and Wishaw which comes under Sutton is a great village, has barn conversion houses and well known hotels nearby..again just a thought/option, Cheers.

Edited by wossy on Thursday 15th April 15:43

[cheeky_chops]

i think you would be pushed to get from outside the M42 to Edgbaston in 30 mins at any time of the day, let alone rush hour.

eg solihull to Jewellery quarter 25mins with zero traffic. Normal morning 1hr+

[tim2100]

I would agree with Shirley / Earlswood.

I'm in Dickens Heath, which is lovely and quiet, with a nice centre. Some of the houses are very tightly packed (to tightly IMO) but it is easy to get into birmingham.

like Ali Kat when I go into Birmingham I do cut through the back roads and up to the A435, but prefer to get a train into Birmingham. 15-20 mins no hassle.

[marcosal]

I live in Ullenhall. 2 miles from the Henley. My commute up the A 435 to Wythall and then back roads to Five Ways (between Edgaston and Birmingham city centre) is usually 45 mins leaving at 7:45 in the morning. Run home from 5 ways leaving about 6:45 to 7:00 takes 30 to 35 mins.

If you are leaving at 7:30 you should do Edgbaston sub 40 mins.

Choice of rail service (as an alternative option)from Either Henley into Moorstreet or Snowhill (not much use for Edgbaston)or from Redditch which is pretty handy for Edgabston.

Good luck with your hunt