S Widdowson
Four train trips to try from Birmingham
27 July 2022
To celebrate Birmingham hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games this month, we're highlighting four picturesque trips to take by train, in the nearby area. Each route is within easy access to Birmingham and can be enjoyed for a day trip or consider extending your visit and stay overnight. There's plenty to keep you busy!
If you are travelling during the Commonwealth Games, public transport services are expected to be busier than usual. Please check your journey for disruptions and planned strike days before you travel using National Rail's website here.
Nuckle Line
Nuneaton to Royal Leamington Spa
Birmingham New Street to Nuneaton – less than 30 minutes
Less than 30 minutes from Birmingham New Street, you'll reach Nuneaton where you can join the Nuckle Line. This route will take you through the Heart of England, travelling 23 miles from Nuneaton to Royal Leamington Spa. Before you set off on the train, look out for the latest exhibition at Art Alert at Nuneaton Station. Onwards to Coventry, explore the vibrant, eclectic mix of unique boutiques and tasty restaurants at Fargo Village. Leave the train at Kenilworth and visit the impressive Kenilworth Castle & Elizabethan Garden or take the train all the way to Leamington Spa for a relaxing stroll around Jephson Gardens.
Wyre Valley Line
Hagley to Hartlebury
Birmingham Moor Street to Hagley – 35 minutes
You'll start your journey at the historic Hagley Sation, be sure to admire the Grade II listed footbridge that dates back to 1884 – it's one of the few surviving ornamental ironwork bridges on the rail network. From Hagley, the train will take you south from the boundary of West Midlands, into the rolling Worcestershire countryside. Leave the train at Kidderminster to discover the fascinating world of carpet weaving. You can also join the Severn Valley Railway, a historic railway stretching 16 miles between Kidderminster to Bridgnorth. The final stop along the Wyre Valley Line is Hartlebury. A 20 minute walk from the station is the Grade I listed Hartlebury Castle, a Palace that was once home to the Bishops of Worcester for over 1000 years.
Saltway Line
Barnt Green to Droitwich Spa
Birmingham New Street to Barnt Green – less than 30 minutes
Leaving the quaint village of Barnt Green behind you'll travel through lush countryside as you travel the Saltway Line to the historic Droitwich Spa. One of the highlights of the route is at Bromsgrove, a traditional market town surrounded by beautiful rolling countryside and also home to Avoncroft Museum, a fascinating open-air museum. Droitwich Spa is a busy town that boasts a refreshing salt water lido only 15 minutes from the railway station and learn more about the area's salt connections at the Heritage Centre.
Arrow Valley Line
Barnt Green to Redditch
Birmingham New Street to Barnt Green – less than 30 minutes
At only five miles long, the Arrow Valley Line is a great excuse to head out of the city and enjoy a day out, off the beaten track. Explore the woodlands, heathland and grassland at Lickey Hills Country Park, or stop off further down the line and visit the small historic village of Alvechurch. Here you can walk along the Worcester and Birmingham Canal to reach the longest flight of narrow boat locks in the UK, Tardebigge Locks. Redditch is the final stop on the Arrow Valley Line where you can celebrate the area's unusual heritage at the Forge Mill Needle Museum. Nearby you'll also find the ruins of Bordesley Abbey, a medieval Cistercian Abbey which has been extensively excavated.
Have you explored any of these railway lines? We'd love to hear from you (and see your photographs!) through our Twitter, Facebook or Instagram pages.
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