An Aston Villa Fan Visitor’s Guide – 2016 Rev PA7 – 16th of January, 2016
This compilation was made by Villa Sweden fans for any Aston Villa fans, as a help for all those that are travelling to Birmingham (aka Brum), and perhaps need some tips’n’tricks on what to do, where to go and what to see… apart from visiting Villa Park of course .
Villa Sweden Fan Club makes one trip per year to Birmingham. The trip normally attracts some 50-70 members.
Any comments, and new information you would like to add, can be seen to [email protected]. Pls state “Travel Guide” in the subject line/heading.
Aston Villa related things to do and see in Birmingham, in no particular order.
1. Go to Villa Park – obviously….. How do I get to Villa Park?: http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/GettingToVillaPark/0,,10265,00.html If you’ll be taking the train, a piece of advice is to buy a return ticket. Or have very many coins for the ticket machines in the Witton/Aston unmanned train stations.
2. Take a Villa Park tour… you should if you can….. http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/StadiumTours
3. Visit the McGregor Statue outside Villa Park. He’s not the founder, but a true Villa hero…. http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/HistoryMcGregor http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/mobile/uk_news/england/west_midlands/8377219.stm “In 2008, the Aston Villa Supporters' Trust announced plans to further honour him with a bronze statue outside the stadium. The statue, by sculptor Sam Holland, is displayed outside the Directors' Entrance of the Trinity Road Stand, and was unveiled on 28 November 2009.”
4. Visit the William McGregor grave - St Mary's Church in Handsworth http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-16247593 Some 20 minutes easy walk from Villa Park. Why not put a flower on his and his wife’s grave, as a suggestion!?
Map: https://www.google.se/maps/place/Saint+Mary's+Anglican+Parish+Church/@52.5107517,- 1.9261956,16z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x4870bccdd95d366f:0xc86542cc6ab1755b
The grave is found where the ”X” is marked on the below map:
5. Find any of the two bricks below, and admire the brick foundation around the McGregor statue The bricks have been bought by private persons, fan-clubs etc. to support the club. Here are two examples… can you find them?
6. Look for the Villa-82 star on 36-37 Broad Street: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Walk_of_Stars If you have a gps….. 52.47810°N 1.91054°W
7. Go to Bodymore Heath Training Ground - North Tamworth, Warwickshire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodymoor_Heath_Training_Ground Not sure if you can get in without an official invite or tour though. 23 km NorthEast of New Street.
8. Visit the copy of the lamp-post below which Aston Villa is said to have been founded, in 1874 http://www.myoldmansaid.com/aston-villa-celebrate-140th-anniversary-supporter-villa-park-lamp-post/ http://avillafan.com/site/16384/140-years-of-aston-villa/ http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/new-giant-lamp-shed-light-8151417
“Legend has it that on November 21, 1874, four members of the Wesleyan Chapel male adult bible class met under a gas lamp in Heathfield Road to form Aston Villa.”
Now placed at the entrance of the Holte End, thus not the exact original place - which is not known, although it’s supposed to have been on the “top” of Heathfield Road.
9. Walk along Heathfield Road, where Aston Villa is said to have decided to take up association football rules – the true beginning of the club. Then look for Westminster Road where the first training session was held.
10. Go to Wilson Road, where the first Aston Villa game ever took place. The match took place on the 13th of March 1875 on “land belonging to a Mr Wilson in Birchfield, where Wilson Road now stands”. It was the only game that season.
Here is a brief map which gives you some directions to items 4 and 8-11:
Here’s a short summary of the historic events: http://www.lerwill-life.org.uk/astonvilla/av_edwards.htm
11. Try to find the place/spot where the Wesleyan Chapel was located, in Villa Cross, Handsworth http://billdargue.jimdo.com/placenames-gazetteer-a-to-y/places-v/villa-cross/ “On the corner of George Street and Lozells Road a Wesleyan Methodist chapel was built in 1865. Aston Villa football club was formed by members of the Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel cricket team, who were looking for a sport to play during the winter months. In 1962 the church building was bought by the New Testament Church of God, a Christian church of Caribbean origin. The building was demolished in 2007 to make way for a new church centre with extensive community facilities.”
12. Support our Villa ladies!!! http://ladies.avfc.co.uk/index.html#KZR5oWSPHxZMv4Rc.97 Aston Villa Ladies Football Club was formed in 1973 as Solihull FC. When Aston Villa asked for help in forming a ladies team in 1989, Solihull responded.
They play at Sutton Coldfield Central Ground. 8 km NorthEast of New Street
13. A walk in the Park… well to Villa Park, from e.g. New Street along the canals. It’s approximately only a one hour walk: Perhaps not always scenic and sometimes a bit dirty … but a great walk.
14. Look for the home ground of Aston Villa from 1876 until 1897 - Wellington Road (Perry Bar). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington_Road_(Perry_Barr) It was a football ground in the Perry Barr area. No part of the ground remains today.
15. Visit the Villa shops, one in the centre of town (very near Bullring) and the other at Villa Park:
City Centre - New Street A natural city centre stop for the Villa supporter is of course a visit to the official merchandise shop! It is smaller than the Villa Village (at VP) shop, but the two-storey shop has a wide selection anyhow.
Opening hours in the city: Monday-Saturday 09:30 - 18:00, Sunday 11.00 - 15.00 (pls check the link below). http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/CityCentre
Villa Park: Opening hours at Villa Park (Villa Village): Monday - Saturday 09:00 - 17:00, Sunday 10:00 -14:00 (pls check the link below). http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/VillaStores
Pubs & Restaurants at Villa Park:
http://www.avfc.co.uk/staticFiles/7d/3f/0,,10265~147325,00.pdf
It is important to know that the member clubs at Villa Park get crowded rather quick so you must be there on time to get in. There is an entrance fee also. Normally there is some food served as well, not only drinks.
You support the club by attending their pubs.
Important: Do not forget to bring your membership card to the Lions Club pubs!
Pubs near Villa Park:
Apart from the obvious pubs in the Villa Park arena there are a few nearby… but not so many as you would think….. Also follow this link: http://188.65.112.140/~daftscou/steve/gwentvilla3.htm
The Aston Tavern - Aston Hall Rd http://www.astontavern.co.uk/ Entrance fee.
The Manor Tavern - 6 Portland Street Aston A quiet pub with a mature crowd who have seen Villa games all their lives….
The Bartons Arms - 144 High Street, Aston http://thebartonsarms.com/
A well-known Villa pub approximately half way to Villa Park from the City Centre. Often has live music and beer tasting. Good Thai menu in the dining area.
A few years ago the regulars formed a human chain around the pub to protect it during some riots.
The New Adventurers - Queens Row Always busy on match days, so arrive early to get in. Entrance fee.
Witton Arms (The “away” team pub?) – 458 Witton Road (at the train station). https://www.facebook.com/witton.arms.3/?rf=111154672279994 http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/villa-fans-fury-witton-arms-10063346
The Clements - 97 New Town Row If you make the canal walk to VP…. This is a water hole along the way. One fairly true comment on the internet is: “Probably looked exactly the same in 60s”.
Other Brummie pubs and places worth a visit, just a short list (please see our additional pub compilation file also):
The Old Crown – 188 High Street http://www.theoldcrown.com One of the oldest pubs in Britain, built in 1368. On the way there you pass through the Custard Factory, an old custard cream factory, now a culture centre.
The Wellington – 37 Bennetts Hill http://www.thewellingtonrealale.co.uk A real Real ale pub. Here you won’t find any lager. So it’s the place to go if you would like to try a variety of ales.
The Mailbox - 7 Commercial Street http://www.mailboxlife.com Shopping, food and pubs, here you have it all. A somewhat ”trendy” place south of Broad Street, often crowded.
Two Tower Brewery – 51 Mott Street (?) http://twotowersbrewery.co.uk A Micro Brewery which many Villa Sweden members have visited during their stay in Brum.
The Jam house - St Paul’s Square http://www.thejamhouse.com/birmingham/ Nice place with live music, dancing and something to drink. Popular, so be early or join the queue.
What more is there to do in the Birmingham area? Here’s some information we’ve gathered, hopefully with something for all… But don’t forget to ask previous visitors if they have any ideas/suggestions.
Here’s a general “official” tourist guide we recommend: http://visitbirmingham.com/what-to-do/attractions/ And a more “unofficial”: http://www.balti-birmingham.co.uk/visit/other-things-to-do
Jewellery Quarter - Frederick Street http://visitbirmingham.com/what-to-do/shopping/jewellery-quarter http://www.jewelleryquarter.net/visit/ http://www.jewelleryquarter.net/visit/museums/museum-of-the-jewellery-quarter/ Close to the City Centre you find the Jewellery Quarter (7 minutes’ walk). At the beginning of the 20th century this was the largest area in the world producing jewellery. Almost 40000 persons worked here. At the ”Museum of the Jewellery Quarter” you get a “guide tour around a real jewellery factory where little has changed since the early part of the last century”.
If you want to buy jewellery there are plenty of shops in the area with 100 specialist jewellery retailers, designers and craftspeople.
The whole are is being refurbished and more and more restaurants and boutiques open there.
ThinkTank - Millennium Point, Curzon Street Good for families or grown-ups with an interest in technique. http://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank “Birmingham's award winning science museum, offers an enlightening and fun packed day out for the family. From steam engines and talking robots through to gurgling guts and a chocolate wrapping machine, Thinktank has over 200 hands-on displays on science and technology.” A science museum with a vehicle museum on the bottom floor. Equivalence to the Tom Tits experiment, in Södertälje, or Kreativum in Karlshamn, Sweden. 2 km NorthEast of New Street.
Cadburys Chocolate factory - Linden Road, Bournville. http://www.cadburyworld.co.uk
England’s famous chocolate factory is located in Bournville, some few train stops from New Street. A dream for those who love the Cadbury-chocolate and for those, at least for a day, who wants to see the production of chocolate. The factory is located in a gigantic factory complex in Bournville, right outside the city. It’s said to be the origin of Roal Dahls “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. A small community has been built around the factory. 8 km South(West) of New Street.
The Canal boats – Birmingham Canal http://visitbirmingham.com/what-to-do/tours-sightseeing/canal-boat-tours/ There are more kilometres of canals in Birmingham than in Venice. Take a short (one hour?) tour on one of the two “ferry” lines along the quay. Maybe it’s not as beautiful as Venice, but they do have drinks on the boats to ensure a nice ride.
The whole area in the city around the canals is very nice with a wide variety of cafés, restaurants, pubs and night life (e.g. Broad Street) One place with good food is the Malt House, and many Villa Sweden fans have enjoyed a hamburger at “Handmade Burgers”.
Zoo / Animals
Dudley Zoo - Castle Hill, Dudley www.dudleyzoo.org.uk This zoo is fairly close to Birmingham. By train you go to Dudley Port Station 3 miles / Sandwell & Dudley Station 5 miles. From there you take the bus to the zoo. 15 km West of Birmingham.
Sea Life - The Waters Edge, Brindleyplace www.sealife.co.uk https://www.visitsealife.com/birmingham/ An aquarium, filled with sharks, sea turtles and colourful fish etc. Activities for all ages. It’s close to Broad Street, and you can find it on the map of the canal boats above, in the upper left corner. In the City Centre (0 km).
Amusement Parks
Alton Towers – Alton, Staffordshire www.altontowers.com This is England's second largest amusement park. Lavish gardens are mixed with “whirling” rides. The park is built in different sections, each with its own theme. It’s a bit outside of Birmingham, but easy to reach anyhow. 80 km North of Birmingham.
Drayton Manor Theme Park – Near Tamworth, Drayton Manor Drive Tamworth, Staffordshire www.draytonmanor.co.uk “Everyone’s favourite theme park, packed with a host of great rides and attractions set in 280 acres of lakes and parkland. Drayton Manor features some of the biggest, wettest and scariest rides around! Apocalypse is the world’s first stand up tower drop. Shockwave is Europe’s only stand up rollercoaster. Stormforce 10 is ‘the best water ride in the country’ (Daily Express). Maelstrom is the only gyro swing to make you face outwards! Pandemonium turns your world upside down!”
Has been given several awards for best attractions. 30 km NorthEast of Birmingham.
Museums http://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/ There are a number of museums in Birmingham.
Please find a selection:
Back-to-Backs – Very close to the New Street station, just 5 minutes “south” of it. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/birmingham-back-to-backs Please note that you need to book a visit!!! But it is a truly recommended tour. “Moving from the 1840s through to the 1970s, discover the lives of some of the former residents who crammed into these small houses to live and work. With fires alight in the grates, and sounds and smells from the past, experience an evocative and intimate insight into life at the Back to Backs.” In the City Centre (0 km).
Royal Air force museum Cosford - Shifnal, Shropshire http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford One of the more visited museums. 47 km NorthWest of Birmingham.
Motorcycle Museum - Coventry Road, Bickenhill, Solihull http://www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk/ 13 km SouthEast of Birmingham.
Aston Hall - In Aston Park (also see next section) http://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/aston “Explore the splendour of one of the last great houses built in the Jacobean style”. 0 km from Villa Park
Parks and gardens
Aston Park – just beside Villa Park We recommend a visit to Aston Park, just next door to Villa Park. www.birmingham.gov.uk/astonpark “Bordered by the Aston expressway and Aston Villa football club, Aston Hall and Park offers an oasis of calm and tranquillity that can be freely enjoyed by everyone. This magnificent park forms an idyllic setting for the Jacobean mansion. The park provides a backdrop of mature trees and shrubs, sweeping avenues and constantly changing planting schemes”. 0 km from Villa Park
Birmingham Botanical Gardens - Westbourne Road, Edgbaston http://www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk/ ”The Birmingham Botanical Gardens offer something for everyone. The four spectacular glasshouses span from tropical rainforest to arid desert climates. A lively birdhouse, wildlife trails and a seasonal butterfly house also sit attractively amongst our fifteen acres of flourishing gardens and foliage. It is a massive 15 hectare nature reserve with some of the most beautiful flowers and landscaping seen everywhere in United Kingdom. The gardens are rich with natural heritage as the gates were first opened almost 200 years ago“.
3 km SouthWest from New Street.
Winterbourne House and Garden - University of Birmingham, 58 Edgbaston Park Road http://www.winterbourne.org.uk/ “Restored to its Edwardian Arts and Craft splendour, Winterbourne House is a unique heritage attraction – set within seven acres of beautiful botanic gardens. Only minutes from Birmingham city centre, Winterbourne is a hidden gem – home to beautiful antiques and over 6,000 plant species from around the world. Wander along the woodland walk, stroll through the hazelnut tunnel, cross the 1930’s Japanese Bridge or simply soak up the tranquillity of this perfectly English Edwardian home.” 5 km South from New Street.
Shopping http://visitbirmingham.com/morebirmingham/15-facts-about-shopping-in-birmingham/ http://www.bullring.co.uk
The Bullring is no 1 when it comes to shopping. It is one of Northern Europe's largest shopping centres. Here you find everything. If you want to buy cheap workout clothes, go to Sports Direct at the bottom floor.
Outside the Bullring there is usually a market, more like a flea market.
Restaurants, cafés, etc… Remember that this can change from year to year… it’s just personal favourites suggested by fans… it might not be to your liking… or it might be the best….
The lost and found - 8 Bennett's Hill http://the-lostandfound.co.uk/
Barajee - Indian Food - Broad Street http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186402-d917289-Reviews-Barajee- Birmingham_West_Midlands_England.html
Rodrizio – Brazilian restaurant – Wharfside Street – the Cube. http://www.rodiziorico.com/ https://www.facebook.com/rodizioricobirmingham/?fref=ts VillaSweden has had several dinners there. You can even get a “triple” Carpirinha…
Hand Made Burger – Waters Edge | Brindleyplace Close to Sea Life, by the canal. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186402-d1382190-Reviews-Handmade_Burger_Co- Birmingham_West_Midlands_England.html
Balti Triangle – several restaurants with a “Balti” touch http://www.balti-birmingham.co.uk/ Balti isn't an Indian dish but a Pakistani one - invented in Birmingham!
Several restaurants are BYO (Bring Your Own drinks/wine/beer) http://www.balti-birmingham.co.uk/directory/bring-your-own?catid=5
Around Birmingham there are several other interesting places to visit if you have the time to spare….
Black Country living museum - Tipton Road, Dudley http://www.bclm.co.uk/ ”The story of the Black Country is distinctive because of the scale, drama, intensity and multiplicity of the industrial might that was unleashed. It first emerged in the 1830s, creating the first industrial landscape anywhere in the world. It is this that we rejoice in and want to share with you.”
Truly something you would not regret to visit… e.g. the mines where 5-year olds had to work…. 17 km (North)West of Birmingham.
Stratford-upon-Avon http://www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk/
“Welcome to Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, steeped in culture and history. Set in the beautiful rural Warwickshire countryside, on the banks of the river Avon, it is one of the most important tourist destinations in the UK. Visit the five houses in or near Stratford-upon-Avon connected with William Shakespeare and his family. The Shakespearian properties offer a unique experience of the Stratford world in which the famous dramatist and poet was born, lived and died.“ 50 km South of Birmingham.
Warwick Castle https://www.warwick-castle.com/ “Experience a full day out with more than 1,100 years of jaw-dropping history, magic, myth and adventure at Warwick “ 45 km SouthEast of Birmingham.
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Links that might be useful…or just interesting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aston_Villa_F.C http://www.lerwill-life.org.uk/astonvilla/a_villan0.htm http://www.lerwill-life.org.uk/astonvilla/index.htm https://thebeautifulhistory.wordpress.com/clubs/aston-villa/ http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/birmingham-eng-wm-brum.htm http://visitbirmingham.com/ http://historicalkits.co.uk/Aston_Villa/Aston_Villa.htm
Gwent Lions travelguide: http://188.65.112.140/~daftscou/steve/gwentvilla3.htm
Darlington Lions travelguide: http://188.65.112.140/~daftscou/steve/Villa.htm