Venue, travel and hotels | Brass Bands England

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Venue, travel and hotels

Birmingham is a city at the heart of british culture. Located centrally in England, Birmingham is a hub for air, rail, road and boat travel, and even boasts more miles of canals than Venice or Amsterdam! 

Travelling to Birmingham

By Air

Birmingham Airport is a global travel hub - yet only ten minutes from the city centre. With great transport links it's the perfect way to arrive for the European Brass Band Festival as well as link to other travel around the UK.

Birmingham Airport serves more than 400 destinations globally through 50 airlines and is the UK’s fifth largest airport.

Just 10km from the centre of Birmingham, the Airport is connected by rail, road and bus. In just ten minutes, you can find yourself right in the centre of things and be ready to start exploring the city.

The quickest way to the city centre is by train from Birmingham International Station. The Airport’s terminal is connected by a free and rapid monorail link..

Alternatively, you can jump aboard a local bus which will take you into the heart of Birmingham. Average journey times are 30 minutes from the Airport to the city centre..

By Road

Set at the heart of the UK motorway network, Birmingham is linked by the M5, M6, M40 and M42, while the A34 and A38 further add to your options and the M1 is less than 30 minutes away. The M6 Toll Road adds another choice (while also helping to keep through-traffic away from the city centre at peak times).

Follow signs to Birmingham City Centre and then follow the brown tourist signs to the International Convention Centre (ICC) and Arena Birmingham. Symphony Hall and Town Hall are not featured on road signage.

Birmingham City Council operates a Clean Air Zone across the city, restricting free access for certain types of vehicle. The Charges are £8 per day for cars, taxi and LGVs and £50 a day for coaches, buses and HGVs. For information visit www.brumbreathes.co.uk

Parking

For Town Hall Birmingham: the most convenient car park is the Q-Park Mailbox (Royal Mail Street, B1 1RD).

The Holliday Street (B1 1TQ) and Town Hall (B1 1TA) multi-storey car parks are also within walking distance.

For Symphony Hall Birmingham: the most convenient car park is the Q-Park Brindley Place (1 Brunswick Street, B1 2JF). Become a THSH Member and enjoy a discount on parking here.

Additional spaces are available in the main pay and display car park underneath the Barclaycard Arena (B1 2AA); the Paradise Circus multi-storey car park (B1 2NB); and the Cambridge Street car park.

For those who require assistance or have a blue badge, please see The Symphony Hall website for more information about the additional parking provided.

By Rail

There are three city centre rail stations providing fast and frequent connections to both local and national destinations. Birmingham is one of the key stations on the Avanti West Coast Line, making it easy to get to from wherever you are in the UK.

Birmingham New Street Station is at the hub of the National Rail network with fast and frequent services to London’s Euston Station and many other major towns and cities across the UK. Services to London Marylebone are served by Birmingham Moor Street (next to the Bullring) and Birmingham Snow Hill. All three stations are well served by bus and parking facilities.

Birmingham New Street and Snow Hill stations are within easy walking distance of Town Hall and Symphony Hall. Moor Street and Five Ways are slightly further away but still within walking distance.

Staying in Birmingham

Birmingham has a wealth of hotels suitable for all budgets and tastes. Rooms4groups are proud to be the official supporting partner of accommodation for EBBF 2022. To enquire and book contact them on bookings@rooms4groups.co.uk or find further information here.

The Venue

Symphony Hall is not only one of the finest Concert Halls in the world, but also stands as an architectural triumph. It’s built in the traditional ‘shoebox’ shape of the great 19th century halls but, with innovations developed by renowned acoustic consultant Russell Johnson, it now boasts world-beating acoustics.

As well as being home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) the Symphony Hall hosts a range of genre performances including jazz, world music, folk, rock, pop, stand-up comedy and brass bands!
For more information about the Symphony Hall and Town Hall venues, including information for disabled visitors, please visit the B:Music website.

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