HappyToBe

Thank you all for the information about the trip from London to see a Saturday matinee. I really am going to have to see that bull too! I’d never considered what impact a football game has on the trains. From what I can tell the only team playing the day I am going (November 18th) is Solihull Moors, at home at 3:00pm. I know nothing about football, or sports -- in any country. I’d heard vaguely of Aston Martin (and know they are popular) but not the Solihull Moors… so I really have no idea what sort of crowds, or problems there might be. If it will be horribly crowded, how much more of a time buffer between theatre and station would be reasonable? Thank you also for the suggestion about leaving from Marylebone and going into the Moor Street station. And, there doesn’t seem to be any work planned for that line on that day either. Thank you again! I really appreciate your advice. If anyone is also going on to the matinee on the 18th, it would be lovely to say hello! - Carolyn

Somewhat unexpectedly I will be in England in November (I am from Toronto) and I’ve booked a matinee of the Birmingham Nutcracker (2:30pm), along with afternoon tea at the theatre, which starts at 1:00pm. I will be coming up from London that day by train, and returning there the same day -- it will be a Saturday. In the normal circumstances, would arriving at the Birmingham station at 12noon be reasonable? I see from google maps the station and theatre are only 10-minutes walking apart, but I want to be sure I have a buffer for “usual delays” (strikes aside) to be at the theatre for 1:00pm afternoon tea. Also, I am guessing that a train departing for London at 6:00pm would give me ample time walk back to the station and find the platform, but if your sense is otherwise, I would be very grateful to know. It’s been years (17!) since I’ve been in England, and I am very much out of “travel practice”. I really appreciate any advice on this Birmingham trip.