Beautiful Birmingham

 Yes, Beautiful.

my room had GWR coat hooks

  

 and GWR toilet roll holder

Checked out of the Great Western hotel this morning then a long wait at the station as the checkout deadline was 10:30 and my train 11:21 on the furthest platform from my room: about 4 minutes walk.

I wasn't offered a drink and my ticket wasn't checked until after Bristol, about 45 minutes later because they hadn't seen anyone get on the first class carriage at Taunton. 

After Cheltenham Spa there were a few holdups so we arrived BHM 17 minutes late. 

I've never walked around central Birmingham before. Driven through it in the '60s, round it on M5, M6 etc. once they were built and changed trains here a few times but never ventured outside New Street station before today. 

Last week the news was that the bin strike could last until December with pictures of mountains of rubbish. I haven't seen any evidence of that. The streets are very clean and tidy.

 New Street is a lovely station, busy but easy to navigate. I left it on the North side an was at my hotel in a few minutes.

The room is spacious, about twice the size of the Taunton room. 

No wonder Which? recently rated Wetherspoons the 4th best of all 29 UK hotel chains. Ventured down to the bar for a late lunch.

 Searched online to see if there was a classical concert, opera or ballet nearby on one of three nights I'm here but alas no.

So there we have it. Tomorrow it's York and the Railway Museum.