Hello,
We will be traveling back to England in the summer. I am hoping to find a walkable, cute town in the Birmingham area that is similar to Glastonbury. Not necessarily the hippiness of Glastonbury, but a town that we can wake up, walk down the street for breakfast and a few shops.
Can anyone please advise? We are not sold on the near Birmingham area, so more northern or eastern suggestions are welcome.
Thank you!
Winchcombe or Broadway.
Church Stretton
Ludlow. Bakewell. Ashbourne, Leek. Market Harborough. Hereford. Ledbury. Hay-on-Wye. Kington. Knighton. Presteigne.
As well as those mentioned, there are places like Bridgenorth and Bewdley which are quite close to Birmingham.
A bit further, t here are lots of small and pretty places along the Welsh borders - think Bishop's Castle, Clun, Leominster, Kington, Knighton...
Wowzers...thank you all so much for the suggestions!!
I've been researching each town, and now I fear trying to make a decision is going to be difficult! They are also so perfect. I guess that's not a terrible problem to have. LOL
To help you narrow things down I would concentrate on the borders with Wales as wasleys suggested. Mind you that still leaves half of the recommended towns!
Hereford or Ludlow would be my picks. Hereford would edge it because of the lovely cathedral.
Much depends on whether or not you are hiring a car or using public transport.
You might wish to consider Shrewsbury. See this You Tube video.
The same person has also done Ludlow.
Both Shrewsbury and Ludlow are on the railway making day trips north to Chester as well as south to Cardiff possible. Shrewsbury also has a line going west to the Cambrian Coast. Aberdovey / Barmouth are possibilities from Shrewsbury.
A bit closer towards Birmingham you have Stourbridge. Apart from it's other more obvious delights the first steam locomotive operated in the United States was built there!
Rather more famous for it's canal- built in part for the glass making industry. You can visit a glass cone, where they made the glass, while in Stourbridge. Also walk all or part of the canal.
We will be hiring a car, so no need for a rail guide. However, depending on the itinerary we end up with, we may take day rail trips to several places.
Thank you all for your suggestions! This has been so fun researching the multitude of towns and stop suggestions.
I'm a bit late to the party, but I'll suggest Stratford-Upon-Avon.
In Ludlow we loved St. Lawrence’s Church! And the castle was fun to visit.
St Laurence Ludlow is a large parish church, not a cathedral. A fine building, but definitely not a cathedral.
