[Raven]

I am lucky enough that I will be traveling to the UK on business in mid-April. I will be flying into Heathrow and staying just south of the Birmingham area for a few days.

I won't have much free time but I am wondering if my UK cousins have any suggestions of sights, shops, or experiences that I might try to take in if I can get away. Any diecast shops in the area? Museums? Pubs? Please feel free to share!

Ideally, I'd also like to pick up a limited edition diecast plane as a souvenir and save myself the shipping and VAT - any suggestions?

[Canucklehead]

Once upon a time I almost made a trip to that part of the world Raven. The RAF Museum at Cosford might be within striking distance for you. It was one of the things I wanted to check out. Hope you have a great trip!

[johnnyboy]

Originally Posted by Canucklehead

Once upon a time I almost made a trip to that part of the world Raven. The RAF Museum at Cosford might be within striking distance for you. It was one of the things I wanted to check out. Hope you have a great trip!

If you have time at Heathrow you might want to check out this store. Its not cheap but you will have a huge selection to choose from:
Collector's Aircraft Models
HEATHROW AIRPORT
Sheraton Skyline Hotel
Bath Road,
Hayes
Middlesex
collectorsaircraft.com

[Nimrod48]

Originally Posted by Raven

I am lucky enough that I will be traveling to the UK on business in mid-April. I will be flying into Heathrow and staying just south of the Birmingham area for a few days.

I won't have much free time but I am wondering if my UK cousins have any suggestions of sights, shops, or experiences that I might try to take in if I can get away. Any diecast shops in the area? Museums? Pubs? Please feel free to share!

Ideally, I'd also like to pick up a limited edition diecast plane as a souvenir and save myself the shipping and VAT - any suggestions?

A visit to RAF Cosford is a good way to spend an afternoon & it does have easy access by train from Birmingham New Street station, the station at Cosford is right alongside the airfield.
The science museum in Birmingham is worth a look too, as for diecast check out Modelenium in Warwick they do have a web site.
If you want a pint of real ale at a fair price try the Figure of Eight @ 236 Broad Street in Birmingham city centre, if you have an entire free day then the Black Country Living Museum is a must.
http://www.bclm.co.uk enjoy your visit to the UK

[timbo]

Originally Posted by Raven

I am lucky enough that I will be traveling to the UK on business in mid-April. I will be flying into Heathrow and staying just south of the Birmingham area for a few days.

I won't have much free time but I am wondering if my UK cousins have any suggestions of sights, shops, or experiences that I might try to take in if I can get away. Any diecast shops in the area? Museums? Pubs? Please feel free to share!

Ideally, I'd also like to pick up a limited edition diecast plane as a souvenir and save myself the shipping and VAT - any suggestions?

If you will be going to Gaydon, then stop in at the British Motor Industry Heritage Collection next door. It's great. Mainly BL and the companies that made that up, but gives a great history of British motoring. If you are in Solihull then it's a long time since I've been there, but there are some v.nice pubs that area, but the one thing you must try is a Balti curry. Best restaurants for this are further in Birmingham (Mosley/Kings Heath/etc)

I grew up just down the the road from there in a small village called Warmington. The pub there (The plough) is good - or used to be when I last visited. There are masses of great pubs there in all the villages though.

Stratford has "Much ado about Toys" which I believe sells Diecast. Not sure if Banbury has anything. If you do buy any, then get a VAT claim back form, which you will have to get certified by Customs when you leave. Give yourself some extra time to do this as they may want to see the items, and I believe you will need to do this before you go though security. You then send this back to the dealer and they will then refund the VAT amount to your credit card.

If you like history and have the time then go and visit Warwick Castle. Stratford also has the Royal Shakespeare theater and Shakespeare's birth place.

Bit of history on gaydon. It used to be a V-Bomber airfield till the early 70's. Then BL bought it and turned it into a test track. Not sure how much of the RAF history still remains there as it's very hard to see form the road, and hangers that were near the road were demolished years ago.

[Raven]

Thanks for the responses - there is way more to do than I have time for! Looks like the only time I will have "free" is the first day (considered a travel day) after my flight across the pond - I arrive at 12 AM my time. Don't know how interested I will be in exploring...

I will actually be staying in Stratford and will have meetings in Solihull, Gaydon and Eastnor Castle (a Land Rover tour de force) - hopefully I will be able to get to a few of the pubs mentioned. I will also have to formulate a diecast plane of attack - I'd like to pick up some sort of UK exclusive for a souvenir.

[timbo]

Stratford is a lovely place. I go there a lot when I go home and always try and stay a night there with the Wife (leaving the kids with grandma). It has some great restaurants and pubs.

if you are into theatre, the RSC is unbeatable. You should be able to check it out on the web. Also the local Stratford model shop "Much Ado about Toys" has a web store. I have bought from them in the past personally and they are a very friendly bunch - Well worth a visit.

If you can stay an extra day at the weekend then I would thoroughly recommend it. There is just so much to do and see round there, the extra day would pay you back 10-fold.

[timbo]

Originally Posted by Raven

Thanks for the responses - there is way more to do than I have time for! Looks like the only time I will have "free" is the first day (considered a travel day) after my flight across the pond - I arrive at 12 AM my time. Don't know how interested I will be in exploring...

I will actually be staying in Stratford and will have meetings in Solihull, Gaydon and Eastnor Castle (a Land Rover tour de force) - hopefully I will be able to get to a few of the pubs mentioned. I will also have to formulate a diecast plane of attack - I'd like to pick up some sort of UK exclusive for a souvenir.

I would recomend that you stay up a LATE as possible the first night so that you can get your body to adjust to the time quicker. DO NOT go to bed a at 3 in the afternoon otherwise you will be up and have plenty of time to explore at 3am!!!.

This works for me every time, and I can then usually pretty much adjust within that first night.

Comming back to the US is going to be a complete SOB, and I have never really found a good pattern to adjust to that time difference. Not sure why, but it always feels much worse.

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by Raven

I am lucky enough that I will be traveling to the UK on business in mid-April. I will be flying into Heathrow and staying just south of the Birmingham area for a few days.

I won't have much free time but I am wondering if my UK cousins have any suggestions of sights, shops, or experiences that I might try to take in if I can get away. Any diecast shops in the area? Please feel free to share!

Ideally, I'd also like to pick up a limited edition diecast plane as a souvenir and save myself the shipping and VAT - any suggestions?

Oh Lordy, Raven.

You just stuck your 'neck in the noose' guy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You may have noticed (how can you fail ?) to see I've highlighted your quote (above).


There is a 'Modelzone' store (just) West of Birmingham


That puts you IN-LINE to pick up the current 'Holy-Grail' of 1/72nd Diecast a/c = "Phantom of the Ruhr"


(also (now) known by her abbreviated form..... 'POTR' )

[timbo]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

Oh Lordy, Raven.

You just stuck your 'neck in the noose' guy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You may have noticed (how can you fail ?) to see I've highlighted your quote (above).


There is a 'Modelzone' store (just) West of Birmingham


That puts you IN-LINE to pick up the current 'Holy-Grail' of 1/72nd Diecast a/c = "Phantom of the Ruhr"


(also (now) known by her abbreviated form..... 'POTR' )

Dudly's quite a way-away from Stratford. Might work if you get it sent to your hotel, or a contact at work, but then you cannot get the VAT deduction, as for this you have to buy it in person.