How likely am I to be able to "turn up and go"?

[DeeGee]

So, I'm planning on taking a trip from Grimsby to Birmingham with my 11 year old son next weekend, the first weekend of our "freedom". It's also the first weekend of the summer holidays.

I figured I might have a go on the train seeing as how I haven't been on one since this nonsense began.

So, the route would normally be TPE-Sheffield, XC to Birmingham.

Going on the XC website, they're telling me I need to reserve a seat and that I can't travel on a full train if I haven't booked.

I've got two issues that are making me rethink the choice of rail:

1. I can't be 100% certain what time my son will finish school. It's his last day of primary school, I don't know if they'll hang about to say goodbye to one another;
2. My son needs to eat properly some time around 5.30/6.30 in the evening, and around midday at lunchtime or he'll get ill.

I've found a nice itinerary which takes us from Grimsby at 15.34 and arrives in Sheffield in enough time to have almost an hour to find and eat food before carrying on. Under normal circumstances this is the itinerary I would take, certainly the one I'd be booking, but because I don't know when the boy will be ready to set off, I can't be sure of making it.

On the return, I'd like to be able to find something to eat in or around New Street and then return when we're good and ready.

Obvs, buying tickets online I'll be getting reservations anyway, but do you reckon I might be able to be a bit flexible?

 

[Ianno87]

Going on the XC website, they're telling me I need to reserve a seat and that I can't travel on a full train if I haven't booked.

The website says that, but it's not actually true or being enforced in practice. It's just being encouraged to spread demand a bit.

Booking is only necessary if you want an absolutely cast-iron guarantee of getting the intended train in the unlikely event it is completely full. But 99% of the time that isn't a problem anyway.

 

[the sniper]

Good god, first weekend of freedom and you choose to go to Birmingham?! That'd seem to be the biggest issue.

 

[option]

On the return, I'd like to be able to find something to eat in or around New Street and then return when we're good and ready.

Obvs, buying tickets online I'll be getting reservations anyway, but do you reckon I might be able to be a bit flexible?

Return being the Sunday?

There's loads of places to eat by New Street, both in Grand Central & surroundings.
Any train after 2, with you going for lunch from 12ish, will leave loads of time.
Any particular foods liked/disliked?

 

[30907]

1. I can't be 100% certain what time my son will finish school. It's his last day of primary school, I don't know if they'll hang about to say goodbye to one another;

Very likely. But are they finishing early as well?

 

[Factotum]

Good god, first weekend of freedom and you choose to go to Birmingham?! That'd seem to be the biggest issue.

But do remember that he is starting from Grimmsby

 

[the sniper]

But do remember that he is starting from Grimmsby

I didn't like to add that, I thought I was being cheeky enough...

 

[SynthD]

I’ve turned up, then bought tickets on my phone, and gone. That gets you a seat reservation.
11 might be old enough for him to look at a grand central map and see what he likes.

 

[Surreytraveller]

The virus is spreading again, and being the Summer Holidays, there will be a lot of staff unavailability for overtime.
Bear in mind there will be a lot of ad-hoc cancellations

 

[DeeGee]

The website says that, but it's not actually true or being enforced in practice. It's just being encouraged to spread demand a bit.

Booking is only necessary if you want an absolutely cast-iron guarantee of getting the intended train in the unlikely event it is completely full. But 99% of the time that isn't a problem anyway.

Thanks for this, this is reassuring.

Good god, first weekend of freedom and you choose to go to Birmingham?! That'd seem to be the biggest issue.

The boy wants to do something at the Bear Grylls Experience at Birmingham NEC, so we're staying at the only hotel at the airport that's not being used as a quarantine facility. I'm hoping, with no tourists and no exhibitions, the restaurants at Resorts World might still be open, but not too busy. Part of it was supposed to be a "mattress run" stay at a Hilton to earn me Gold status for next year, but that's not happening now as they're all quarantine facilities.

Return being the Sunday?

There's loads of places to eat by New Street, both in Grand Central & surroundings.
Any train after 2, with you going for lunch from 12ish, will leave loads of time.
Any particular foods liked/disliked?

Yes, Sunday, we'll come out of BHI after breakfast and amble back slowly via New Street. I've found a 13.50 ish itinerary via Nottingham and Lincoln to make the journey a bit different, but if I can be flexible I've got more options. I have a feeling the boy might try to choose Five Guys for lunch, but frankly he'll eat anything.

Very likely. But are they finishing early as well?

Yes, but they're having a "prom" day so there's definitely going to be faffage and he'll now want to get changed before we go out.

But do remember that he is starting from Grimmsby

Oi!

The virus is spreading again, and being the Summer Holidays, there will be a lot of staff unavailability for overtime.
Bear in mind there will be a lot of ad-hoc cancellations

Thanks, happy to think on my feet if I need to, but I like to have the bare bones of a plan to work form if I have to busk it.

 

[the sniper]

The boy wants to do something at the Bear Grylls Experience at Birmingham NEC, so we're staying at the only hotel at the airport that's not being used as a quarantine facility. I'm hoping, with no tourists and no exhibitions, the restaurants at Resorts World might still be open, but not too busy. Part of it was supposed to be a "mattress run" stay at a Hilton to earn me Gold status for next year, but that's not happening now as they're all quarantine facilities.

Gotcha, sounds a lot more sensible now!

 

[Techniquest]

Which hotel are you booked into, if you don't mind my asking? Fingers crossed it's a decent one, and not the Travelodge!

I also ask as I could recommend easyHotel in Birmingham itself. Not at all far from New Street station, and it would of course be cheaper. That being said, if you were originally planning to stay in a Hilton then you might not think much of easyHotel! I've never stayed in a Hilton, only been inside the one at Paddington briefly for a reason I fail to remember, but I was blown away by how stunning even that small experience was. It remains on my wishlist to stay there one day, although when I'll be able to afford it is another matter!

As for your journey to the Midlands, I would recommend reservations if you can get them, but from my own experience a few weeks ago they aren't mandatory. Indeed, on the 170s the reservations aren't even displayed so you'd probably find people in the seats you reserved anyway. I would recommend getting them where you can, just for that peace of mind.

Eating wise, I see you're going to the NEC. No idea on that as I haven't been for years, but at Birmingham International you've WHSmith, Ritazza and Subway. I don't know what will be open out of those, it has been a while since I passed through, but I would guess WHSmith and Subway will be open as a minimum. The tiny outlets that Starbucks and WHSmith have in the underpass at Bristol Temple Meads are back open, so I'd be surprised if those at Birmingham International aren't.

New Street station itself, the majority of those outlets are open again. Not at all far from the station you've got alternatives, depending on what you want. Outside (at the trams side of things) you've got Caffè Nero, Costa, Urban Feast (hot food takeaway, could be worth a look, not been in years due to personal food choices), Tesco Metro, Tim Hortons, Pret (those three are within approximately 90 seconds walk) and plenty more.

On the station itself, amongst other options are Leon, The Pasty Shop, Five Guys, Pret, a sushi place, Greggs, WHSmith, Starbucks, M&S, Upper Crust, Costa and no doubt one or two other places I'm forgetting the names of. Pret especially deserves a mention if you like cheap coffee, as they do filter coffee for 99p. Take a reusable cup with you and they take 50p off the cost. I'm sure you can imagine, as a bit of a self-confessed coffee addict, I take advantage of that when I can! Of course upstairs you have the huge shopping centre too, but to be honest since it first opened I haven't been up there, so I can't provide any recent advice.

Finally for now, I hope your lad has a great end-of-school experience and that your trip goes smoothly!

 

[DeeGee]

Which hotel are you booked into, if you don't mind my asking? Fingers crossed it's a decent one, and not the Travelodge!

I was originally booked into the Hilton Garden Court, and they offered to rebook me to the Novotel, but I checked with the boy and, because I couldn't be sure that the people mover would be open he's decided to go to the ibis Styles the other side of the tracks, which is much closer to what we want and not much of a step down!

I also ask as I could recommend easyHotel in Birmingham itself. Not at all far from New Street station, and it would of course be cheaper. That being said, if you were originally planning to stay in a Hilton then you might not think much of easyHotel! I've never stayed in a Hilton, only been inside the one at Paddington briefly for a reason I fail to remember, but I was blown away by how stunning even that small experience was. It remains on my wishlist to stay there one day, although when I'll be able to afford it is another matter!

I do a couple of solo overseas weekends away every year to run marathons and see a bit of the world. I usually try to stay at local hotels, but I like a certain level of service and size of hotel when I'm staying somewhere i don't know or speak the language well, so occasionally Hiltons fit the mark and they're quite affordable at Eastern European prices. Added to this is the fact that the airport at Humberside airport is a Hampton by Hilton and I've amassed a good few loyalty points for very little outlay.

I also took the boy for three nights in New York which was a serious splurge, actually the Millennium Hilton at that time offered the best balance of location, service and price and I used a credit card sign-up and loyalty status match to save serious money on breakfast, which also piled up the loyalty points. I've been saving them for the best part of 20 years, only staying a few days a year.

Having a look this year I realised I was about four stays away from being able to take the family to Egypt for five days for free on points, hotels booked in April/May have never been so cheap, so I've been staying more and at a higher level of luxury than I would usually, especially as I've been really lucky and worked on full pay throughout the pandemic without having much in the way of excess expense.

Ironically, at Birmingham Airport I usually stay at the Arden because it has a pool, but it's just too far away for coming and going as we please, as its about 20 mins walk from the stuff that side of the lines, even though you can see it. there's a footbridge which would be brilliant and cut the journey by half, but it's only open on nights when there's something on at the Arena.

As for your journey to the Midlands, I would recommend reservations if you can get them, but from my own experience a few weeks ago they aren't mandatory. Indeed, on the 170s the reservations aren't even displayed so you'd probably find people in the seats you reserved anyway. I would recommend getting them where you can, just for that peace of mind.

I'll book on line so I'll get the reservations anyway. Which routes have the 170s? Those aren't the voyagers, are they? Are the 170s the Cardiff/Nottingham/Stansted trains?

Eating wise, I see you're going to the NEC. No idea on that as I haven't been for years, but at Birmingham International you've WHSmith, Ritazza and Subway. I don't know what will be open out of those, it has been a while since I passed through, but I would guess WHSmith and Subway will be open as a minimum. The tiny outlets that Starbucks and WHSmith have in the underpass at Bristol Temple Meads are back open, so I'd be surprised if those at Birmingham International aren't.

Thanks, we're hoping a combination of Hotel and Resorts World might do the trick there.

New Street station itself, the majority of those outlets are open again. Not at all far from the station you've got alternatives, depending on what you want. Outside (at the trams side of things) you've got Caffè Nero, Costa, Urban Feast (hot food takeaway, could be worth a look, not been in years due to personal food choices), Tesco Metro, Tim Hortons, Pret (those three are within approximately 90 seconds walk) and plenty more.

On the station itself, amongst other options are Leon, The Pasty Shop, Five Guys, Pret, a sushi place, Greggs, WHSmith, Starbucks, M&S, Upper Crust, Costa and no doubt one or two other places I'm forgetting the names of. Pret especially deserves a mention if you like cheap coffee, as they do filter coffee for 99p. Take a reusable cup with you and they take 50p off the cost. I'm sure you can imagine, as a bit of a self-confessed coffee addict, I take advantage of that when I can! Of course upstairs you have the huge shopping centre too, but to be honest since it first opened I haven't been up there, so I can't provide any recent advice.

I have a feeling there's a Yo! Sushi somewhere. The boy's been keen to try that for a while, he's allergic to fish though! We'll sort something for him. If that doesn't work he's a massive fan of Five Guys.

Finally for now, I hope your lad has a great end-of-school experience and that your trip goes smoothly!

Thanks

 

[option]

I have a feeling there's a Yo! Sushi somewhere. The boy's been keen to try that for a while, he's allergic to fish though! We'll sort something for him. If that doesn't work he's a massive fan of Five Guys.

There's Yo in Grand Central & Selfridges (Bullring)
Five Guys in Bullring, Pizza Hut on New St by the Odeon, Pieminister on Waterloo St by the Council House (other end of New St)

 

[Alfonso]

If you've enough time in Sheffield you could dash to the Hampton for your mattress run. it's normally a bargain on points if you just need the stay to get gold.

 

[DeeGee]

If you've enough time in Sheffield you could dash to the Hampton for your mattress run. it's normally a bargain on points if you just need the stay to get gold.

Thanks for that; great minds think alike, I managed to get out to Sheffield for a quick overnight with the missus last weekend which has secured my gold! Dinner in Wagamamas and a morning in Meadowhell!

 

[DeeGee]

There's Yo in Grand Central & Selfridges (Bullring)
Five Guys in Bullring, Pizza Hut on New St by the Odeon, Pieminister on Waterloo St by the Council House (other end of New St)

This is the first time I've heard of Pieminister. That's a definite option, the lad loves a pie.

 

[D6130]

I have a feeling there's a Yo! Sushi somewhere. The boy's been keen to try that for a while, he's allergic to fish though!

The Yo! Sushi on New Street concourse has a decent selection of vegetarian and beef dishes.

 

[ValleyLines142]

I was originally booked into the Hilton Garden Court, and they offered to rebook me to the Novotel, but I checked with the boy and, because I couldn't be sure that the people mover would be open he's decided to go to the ibis Styles the other side of the tracks, which is much closer to what we want and not much of a step down!



I do a couple of solo overseas weekends away every year to run marathons and see a bit of the world. I usually try to stay at local hotels, but I like a certain level of service and size of hotel when I'm staying somewhere i don't know or speak the language well, so occasionally Hiltons fit the mark and they're quite affordable at Eastern European prices. Added to this is the fact that the airport at Humberside airport is a Hampton by Hilton and I've amassed a good few loyalty points for very little outlay.

I also took the boy for three nights in New York which was a serious splurge, actually the Millennium Hilton at that time offered the best balance of location, service and price and I used a credit card sign-up and loyalty status match to save serious money on breakfast, which also piled up the loyalty points. I've been saving them for the best part of 20 years, only staying a few days a year.

Having a look this year I realised I was about four stays away from being able to take the family to Egypt for five days for free on points, hotels booked in April/May have never been so cheap, so I've been staying more and at a higher level of luxury than I would usually, especially as I've been really lucky and worked on full pay throughout the pandemic without having much in the way of excess expense.

Ironically, at Birmingham Airport I usually stay at the Arden because it has a pool, but it's just too far away for coming and going as we please, as its about 20 mins walk from the stuff that side of the lines, even though you can see it. there's a footbridge which would be brilliant and cut the journey by half, but it's only open on nights when there's something on at the Arena.



I'll book on line so I'll get the reservations anyway. Which routes have the 170s? Those aren't the voyagers, are they? Are the 170s the Cardiff/Nottingham/Stansted trains?



Thanks, we're hoping a combination of Hotel and Resorts World might do the trick there.



I have a feeling there's a Yo! Sushi somewhere. The boy's been keen to try that for a while, he's allergic to fish though! We'll sort something for him. If that doesn't work he's a massive fan of Five Guys.



Thanks

The 170s are the Cardiff to Nottingham and Birmingham to Stansted trains (Turbostars), although one or two Cardiff to Nottingham diagrams do produce a single Voyager at the moment.