Day Trip from London to Birmingham - recs please!

Plenty to occupy you. Some suggestions from me.

The marvellous library. The National Trust’s Back to Back houses. The Jewellery Quarter. A cruise on the canals.

Are you planning to have a look at where your mother grew up?

Oh, and Cadbury World if you like chocolate.

There is the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery on Chamberlain Square. (Free but donations appreciated. Open Wewdnesday-Subday 10-5). You might be interested in the Made in Birmingham Gallery .

Most of the art collection at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery was inaccessible as of June, but the historical-museum section was well done, and it's a pretty building. From the website, it appears the art spaces other than the Round Room are still closed.

I liked the Burne-Jones windows in the cathedral.

You will go from London (Euston) to Birmingham (New Street) - which is the main train station in the centre of the city. As well as shops, you will see impressive Victorian Buildings and on the west side of the centre is an area where canals meet. (Canals were important for shifting goods before the Brits invented the railways). The Cathedral is worth seeing but is not as impressive as others in the UK.

Birmingham's Anglican cathedral was built as a parish church in the 18th Century, so is classical rather than gothic. But it has stained glass windows by the Pre-Raphaelite artist Burne Jones, that are the finest I have ever seen.

You wouldn't necessarily be going from London Euston to Birmingham New Street.
You could equally travel on Chiltern Railways from London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street. In the middle of the day they are often the cheapest option, cheaper even than the London North Western semi fast trains out of Euston. Arguably the more scenic route.
Moor Street is a much nicer station than New Street (although that's not difficult) , easy to find your way round and a very nice refreshment rooms.
One time last year, with a railcard, I got it for £4.50. I chose my train carefully getting one which is loco hauled coaches (not a multiple unit) and was in the declassified first class car. Usually the front car towards London, and the rear car from London.
And Marylebone is also a rather attractive small terminal station.
And yes the stained glass in the (Anglican) Cathedral is stunning. I saw that as the city also has a Roman Catholic Cathedral.

The LIbrary is a must see, especially the secret garden for great views across the city, on the 7th floor IIRC. There are also great views from the top floor outside the room dedicated to Shakespear.
I also like the area around Brindley Place and Gas St basin, where the canals meet.

do you know the part of Brum or near Brum your mother was from?

I'd suggest the St Martins in the Bullring over the cathedral. Lovely atmosphere, very close to the markets and both New Street and Moor Street stations (I used to work at New Street and worked trains through both).

Birmingham Botanic Gardens is in Edgbaston, just a few stops away on the Cross City train line.

And if you want to ride trains such as she would have done up to the 1950s a short train trip to Kidderminster (from Moor Street or Snow Hill) will put you on the excellent Severn Valley Railway who run steam trains 16 miles into Shropshire. One of the very best in England and therefore the world.

I know that part of the world like the back of my hand - lived nearby for nearly 20 years and worked there for nearly as long - so ask away...

I know you only want a day trip but we can keep you busy for days on end!

I agree with Stuart that the Chiltern line is more scenic than the West Coast Main Line but with only a single day and lots to cram in, I suggest that speed (Avanti West Coast with only 3 or 4 stops is by far the faster) is more important than looking out the windows. From Watford to Coventry the West Coast is pretty scenic too.

Many thanks to all for these wonderful suggestions. I think I'll have to stay over for a night or two at least, plus I know I'll be back in the future. I've made careful note of every suggestion. I appreciate everyone's thoughtful replies! P.S. I've just started working with a British genealogist to find more family information to guide locations that I'll visit. I'm so excited about this adventure of discovery in Birmingham!