Next week, Black Sabbath will perform for the final time in Birmingham in their farewell gig at Villa Park.
But you’re going to need to get around, least of all, if you have tickets to the Back To The Beginning Gig.
Black Sabbath Bridge and Bench, Broad Street, Birmingham
Villa Park/Villa Ground?
Villa Park or The Villa Ground is home to Aston Villa Football Club (AVFC) – the venue where Black Sabbath will play their last gig. It’s a short hop from the City Centre (and if you’re coming into the city on the A38M, look to your right, you cannot miss it).
The Villa Ground, as shot from the A38(M) on a bus.
Normally, it’s the home of the football team, but for the summer, it’s hosting several concerts.
Trains
Local services are operated by West Midlands Railway. These operate from Birmingham New Street Station and you’ll need to catch one that stops at Witton or Aston stations (Witton is a shorter walk from Villa Park, whilst Aston is served a little more frequently).
There will be additional services to and from Witton and Aston stations on concert days, with four extra outbound services, eight extra return services.
The last train from Witton is at 23.48 to Rugeley Trent Valley and from Aston station at 23:52 to Birmingham New Street for the City Centre.
An Off-Peak Day Return is £3.20. Anytime Single tickets are £3.20 each way (so, get a return ticket…). If you want the flexibility of buses and trains, bus and metro, you might want to consider a nNetwork DayTripper ticket at £8.80.
Book your train tickets using your favourite booking engine (especially if there are points and/or cashback, given Amex and Monzo normally have cashback offers), or buy on the day at New Street Station. Day Tickets can be bought at Train stations, Metro stops or buses.
Shuttle Coaches between the City and Villa Park
Aston Villa Football Club are laying on coaches for those who have parked in the city centre. They will pick up on Dudley Street in the City Centre (a short walk from New Street Station) and drop off at Aston Manor Hall, for the short walk to Villa Park.
Shuttles run to Villa Park between 08:00 and 13:00 and return to the city between 20:00 and Midnight. Prices are £7.50 one way, £15 return.
You can book online at https://astonvillaparking.co.uk/music/events/jul-25/back-to-the-beginning-the-final-show or pay on the day.
Local Buses
For those who live on the wilder side, Bus 7 (operated by National Express West Midlands) will take you to Villa Park from Snow Hill Station/Colmore Row.
. Bus 65/67 will get you to Aston Railway Station for the walk over to Villa Park. These depart from Priory Queensway.
For those who live locally, the 11A/C also operates in the area
Be warned, buses 7/11A/11C will be diverted when the show ends to help people leave Villa Park. Follow the signs if there are any.
It costs £3 for a single fare, or £5.20 for a DaySaver all-day bus ticket (either cash, contactless or tap and cap).
Taxis
There will be a taxi rank near the venue. Expect them to be full of TOA Taxis and other licensed holders with Hackney Carriage Licences. These will be metered rides, with payment expected in cash (although you’ll find the more than odd driver with a credit card terminal these days).
In terms of ride sharing, Uber and Veezu are well supported in the city. Expect them to have price surges at the end of the show.
Private Hire (Mini-Cab) companies are numerous in the city too. You can book some of them online, or ring them up (although most of the drivers who work for those companies will probably be on Uber/Veezu at the end of the gig).
Just be wary of taxi touts in the area (as private hire cars must be booked before travel to ensure you’re insured in case the worst does happen and the high chance they’ll rip you off).
Hotels
Birmingham is busy with other events on that weekend, with a lot of the hotel stock in the city sold out. You might need to look beyond the city to hotels in the wider area (eg Solihull, Wolverhampton, Tamworth, Dudley) for a room if you haven’t got a room, or prepare to pay sky-high prices.
And no, you can’t kip on my couch.
Hotel stock in the area is well represented by Accor, IHG, Marriott, Hilton, Travelodge and Premier Inn, as well as independents all over the place. There are also numerous Airbnb places locally. Again, expect these to be priced highly.
Parking near Villa Park
Don’t bother. Seriously, Don’t Waste Your Time.
There is no parking at the ground itself, and local roads will be subject to parking restrictions for residents. I’ve noticed some parking on the Aston Villa site, but it is expensive, charging up to £100.
Your best bet is to park in the city centre (or nearby), then take a train/bus/shuttle coach to Villa Park.
In terms of local roads, the following will be closed Friday evening, lifting after midnight after the concert.
- Trinity Road – between the junctions with Witton Lane and Nelson Road
- Witton Lane – from Witton Island to Trinity Road
The junction of Birchfield Road and Aston Lane leading towards Perry Barr and A38M may be congested before and after the concert.
Enjoy Birmingham and Beyond
Ozzy the Bull welcomes you to Birmingham.
If you’re here just for the concert, there’s a lot more than that. If you’re in a pilgrimage mood, head to The Crown, where they had their first gig, then Birmingham Art Gallery and Museum, which has an “Ozzy Osbourne – Working Class Hero” exhibit running.
And on the way, spot the art and of course, Black Sabbath Bridge.
Beyond Black Sabbath, there’s lots to explore – be it Cadbury’s World if you need sugar after that concert, shopping in the city centre, Cannon Hill Park, through to Tolikin Country (bear in mind J.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy was a Birmingham local), through to the Licky Hills or even the Custard Factory if you need some more alternative activities.
Not far away is the Black Country – near Dudley, there’s a Zoo and the Black Country Living Museum (for those who want to go by Order of the Peaky Blinders). And as you head out, there’s more to explore, be it the Severn Valley Railway in Kidderminster or Shakespeare County in Stratford-upon-Avon.
It’s going to be busy as we all celebrate Black Sabbath’s last gig (and yes, you can stream it too at https://backtothebeginning.com/).
Enjoy the Metal Experience, and welcome to Birmingham!
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