Trip to Sutton Colfield / Great Barr 13-06-2026

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3805	Sutton Coldfield, Stop SD	Erdington, Stop EH	110	Arriva Midlands
1788	Erdington, Stop EG	Great Barr, Stop GD	28	NX West Midlands
1826	Great Barr, Stop GD	Erdington, Stop EQ	28	NX West Midlands
E298	Erdington, Stop EQ	Sutton , Stop SJ	X3	NX West Midlands

Today was the first full day of our weekend away. The plan was to go on a short bus trip and then to go to a party later on. Reaearch for the trip consisted of looking up places to park in Sutton Coldfield and to check the weather. The weather was forecast for dry weather with some sunshine. Matthew was alredy awake by 08:00 and he had his medication. Matthew got dressed and we headed to the bar to get fed. Matthew had a full English breakfast. After we had finisehd eating we returned to the room to get ready to go out. Around 09:30 we set off out of the hotel car park onto the B5404. We ram Westwards to Mile Oak and we turned left onto the Southbound A453. We ran though Bangley and past the HS2 building site. We crossed over the A38 at Bassett's Pole roundabout and we ran into Sutton Coldfield. We turned left onto the A5127 and we ran to the edge of town. We turned left into the car park and we parked up. Once out of the car, we said goodbye to mum and we headed down Mill Street where we saw National Express West Midlands E179 on a X3 to Lichfield.

NX West Midlands E179 in Sutton Coldfield

We continued left onto Victoria Road. We crossed over the road and we went around the corner onto Lower Parade. We saw an Arriva bus at the far end of the street. As we got closer we saw it was Arriva Midlands 3805 on a #110 to Birmingham.

Arriva Midlands 3805 in Sutton Coldfield

We got on the bus and we purchased a nBus family day ticket at £9.20 before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off dowm Lower Parade and we continued onto South Parade. We turned right onto the A5127 and we ran past Aldi. We followed the road to the left and we headed Southwards. We continued through Wylde Green and into Erdington where we decided to get up and get off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew got another picture of Arriva Midlands 3805 as it continued towards Birmingham.

Arriva Midlands 3805 in Erdington

We decided to catch a #28 next, as we had seen on Bustimes that there were quite a few old Scania on the service, A quick look at the bus stop and we saw there was a bus due in 5 minutes. Whilst we waited we saw National Express West Midlands 1816 on a #66 to Birmingham. Almost immediately behind this bus was our bus. As it got closer we saw it was National Express West Midlands 1788 on a #28 to Great Barr.

NX West Midlands 1788 in Erdington

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus family day tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off down the A5127 and we turned right onto Summer Road. We veered right onto Graelly Lane and we turned left onto Station Road. We turned rigth onto Short Heath Road and we headed Westwards. We ran through Perry Common and continued onto Perry Common Road. We crossed over the A453 and we ran forwards onto Hawtorn Road. We crossed over the B4138 and we ran forwards onto Dyas Road. We turned left onto Aldridge Road and right onto Beeches Road. We turned left onto Hassop Road and we went under the M6. We turned right onto Thornbridge Avenue and we turned left onto Beeches Road. We turned right onto the A34. We headed Nortwards and just short of the A4041 we did a u-turn and stopped at the terminus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of National Express West Midlands 1788 before it worked the next #28 to Alum Rock.

NX West Midlands 1788 in Great Barr

We set off up the A34 and we stopped at Poundland to buy some drinks for later on. After buying the drinks we crossed over the A34 and we headed into the pub. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we went into the lounge and we had drinks. Matthew had a small glass of Coke. When we had finishd our drinks we went outside and we met up with uncle Dave. We battled over the difficult to cross A34 and back to th same bus stop. There was alredy a bus at the stop. As we got closer we saw it was National Express West Midlands 1826 on a #28 to Alum Rock.

NX West Midlands 1826 in Great Barr

We got on the bus and we flashed the nBus family day tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off down the A34 and we turned left onto Beeches Road. We turned right onto Thornbridge Road and we turned left onto Hassop Road. We went under the M6 and we re-joined Beeches Road. We turned left onto Aldridge Road and right onto Dyas Road. We crossed the B413 and we ran forwards onto Hawthorn Road. We crossed the A453 and we ran forwards onto Perry Common Road. We ran into Perry Common and we went forwards onto Short Heath Road. We turned left onto Station Road and right onto We turned right onto Gravelly Lane and we ran forwards onto Summer Road. We turned sharp left onto the A5127 and we ran to the North End of Erdington and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus, we waited for a bus to Stton Coldfield. Whilst we waited we saw National Express West Midlands 805 on a #77A to Walsall.

NX West Midlands 805 in Erdington

A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was National Express West Midlands E298 on a X3 to Lichfield.

NX West Midlands E298 in Erdington

We got on the bus and we placed flashed the nBus group ticket to the driver for the final time today before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus off Northwards up Sutton New Road. We ran through Wylde Green and into Sutton Coldfield. We followed the A5127 to the right past Aldi and we turned left onto South Parade. We turned right onto Lower Parade and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of National Express West Midlands E298 as it continued towards Lichfield.

NX West Midlands E298 in Sutton Colfield

Once off the bus we took a few more pictures before we went to find mum. We saw National Express West Midlands 4748 on a #5 to West Bromwich.

NX West Midlands 4748 in Sutton Colfield

We walked into the town cente and we spotted mum in Boots. As we walked back towards the car we spotted National Express West Midlands 2237 on a #5 to West Bromwich.

NX West Midlands 2237 in Sutton Colfield

We continued up Lower Parade onto Mill Street and we returned to the car in the car park. We got in the car and we set off up Mill Street. We headed North up the A5127 and we turned right onto the A453. We headed out of town and over the A38 at Bassetts Pole roundabout. We continued past Bangley and into Mile Oak. We turned right onto the B5404 and we ran to Fazeley. We stopped at the petrol station and we topped up with petrol before going into the hotel car park. We headed into the rooms and we got ready for the party. Around 14:30 we set off for the party. We got in the car and we turned right onto the B5404. We turned right onto the A4091 and we headed Southwards. I stopped in a layby to get my satnav up and it appeared I missed the turning. We headed back up the A4091 and we turned right onto Bodymoor Heath Road. We turned right onto Dog Lane and we parked up at the pub. In the pub car park we saw grey minibus YJ15 ENM.

YJ15 ENM in Bodymoor Heath

At the party there was a band and a barberque. Matthew had some chicken, ribs, burger and sausage. Matthew also had a couple of glasses of Coke. We had a quick walk along the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and we went into the pub to go to the toilet. After the barberque had been taken away there was a rodeo bull and Matthew had a go! After the party we went to a Co-op to get some afters. We set off onto Dog Lane and we turned right onto Bodymoor Heath Road. We turned left onto the A4097 and at the next roundabout we turned left onto the A51. We ran Northwars into Kingsbury and we stopped at the co-op. We bought some cakes and a big bottle of orange fanta to share. We got back in the car and we continued Northwards. We turned left onto the B5404 and we ran into Fazeley. We stopped at the hotel and we returned to the rooms. Matthew had a luncheon meat sandwich and a piece of cake. He had a cup of Fanta and a Crunchie. We did the Blog and wrote an e-mail. Matthew chilled out on the computer until bedtime around 00:00... Mark.