THE HEART OF ENGLAND - England 2012 and the Best of Wales - page 476

the small rooms really are tiny. The location is perfect for exploring the city and
enjoying the nightlife.
150 New St., Birmingham B2 4PA. www.stayingcool.com. & 0121/643-0815. 15 units. £99-£200 dou-
ble. AE, MC, V. Parking £18. In room: A/C, TV, hair dryer, kitchen, Wi-Fi (free).
INEXPENSIVE
Elmdon Lodge One of the most comfortable—and affordable—guest-
houses lies in south Birmingham, in the suburb of Acocks Green, which is linked by
public transportation to the center of the city. The guesthouse is only a 5-minute walk
from the Acocks Green rail station. A welcoming family-run hotel, Elmdon is filled
with bedrooms that are comfortably furnished in a homelike style. Rooms come in
various sizes and configurations, from single to family rooms and triples, each with a
small private bathroom with shower. Guests meet fellow guests in the breakfast
lounge. The hotel stands in a landscaped garden, which also has a private parking lot.
20-24 Elmdon Rd., Acocks Green, Birmingham B27 6LH. www.elmdonlodge.co.uk. & 0121/706-6968.
Fax [phone] units. £59-£90 double. Rates include English breakfast. AE, MC, V. Free parking.
In room: TV, Wi-Fi (free, in some).
Nite Nite This novel hotel certainly wins the prize for most original accom-
modation, perfect for short stays and for guests who spend most of their time out on
the town. Rooms are tiny cubes, a bit like a luxury cabin on a yacht, dominated by a
huge TV and a bed that takes up most of the space. There are no windows; this is a
Japanese-style “capsule hotel” experience, though the bathrooms are great and every-
thing is spotlessly clean.
18 Holliday St., Birmingham B1 1T. www.nitenite.com. & 08458/909099. Fax [phone] units.
£56-£72 double. AE, DC, MC, V. Parking £14 per 24 hr. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; ironing rooms
located on each floor. In room: A/C, TV, hair dryer, Wi-Fi (free).
Premier Inn Birmingham Central (East) Lying between the M6 motorway
and the city center, this is a modern, well-kept, and well-run chain hotel. It offers
substantially comfortable, though rather standard, bedrooms. For the motorist just
passing through Birmingham or spending only a night, it should be ideal. The hotel
also has an affordable on-site restaurant, so you don't have to drive into the center of
Birmingham at night.
Richard St., Waterlinks, Birmingham B7 4AA. www.premierinn.com. & 0870/238-3312. Fax [phone]-
6490. 60 units. £70 double. AE, MC, V. Free parking. Amenities: Restaurant; bar. In room: A/C, TV, hair
dryer, Wi-Fi (free).

12

WORCESTER & THE MALVERNS
The ancient town of Worcester has been an important trading center since Neo-
lithic times thanks to its strategic location on the River Severn. Royal Worcester
Porcelain was established here in 1751, while the town's most celebrated product,
Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce, goes back to 1838. Royal Worcester closed in
2009, but the sauce factory is still there, and just as secretive as ever. The cathedral
provides the obvious focus for most visitors, surrounded by a hodgepodge of Tudor,
Georgian, and modern streets.
The beautiful and historic Malvern hills lie just west of Worcester, rising suddenly
from the Severn Valley and stretching for 9 miles. The genteel Victorian spa town of
Great Malvern itself is still the home of legendary Morgan Cars, though the town's