Overview

This is a 3 star hotel near Birmingham International Airport.  It’s got plus points for holidaymakers – kids can stay for free in their parents’ room – and there are also facilities for business travellers.  The hotel gets good guest ratings – about 4 out of 5 on average (April 2010).

Address: Bickenhill Parkway Birmingham NEC, Birmingham, B40 1QA.
Phone: 44-121-7823222
Compare Express by Holiday Inn Birmingham NEC prices and make reservations at Airport Hotels.com

Location

The Express by Holiday Inn is 5-10 minutes away from the airport. It’s in the grounds of the National Exhibition Centre.

Parking

There are 280 parking spaces at the hotel’s on-site and it costs £7 to park for 24 hours.  You can book long term airport parking along with a night’s accommodation.

Check-in/out and breakfast

Check-in is from 3 pm and check-out is at noon.  A continental buffet breakfast is laid on in the morning, as well as a limited hot option of sausages and scrambled eggs.  It’s available from 6.30 am to 9.30 am during the week and 7 am until 11 am at weekends.

Shuttle bus

There is a shuttle bus to Birmingham International Train Station, where you can get on the free 90 second sky-rail to the airport.  The bus runs from 7.30 to 10.30 am and from 4 to 8 pm.  It’s free.  A taxi to the terminal costs about £5.

Hotel facilities

There is a business centre in the hotel with copying and fax services.  There’s wireless internet access in the public parts of the building, but there is a charge of £17.20 for this (April 2010).  There are 7 meeting rooms available which have audio-visual equipment.  The largest room can hold 80 delegates.  If you’re here to relax rather than do business, you can take a drink in the lobby bar, which shows all the latest games on Sky TV and Setanta Sports.  There isn’t a restaurant in the hotel but there’s a traditional pub next door which serves food.

Guest rooms

The Holiday Inn Express has 179 guest rooms.  Twin rooms have 2 single beds and can sleep up to 2 adults.  Double rooms have one double bed and one sofa bed and they are suitable for up to 2 adults and 2 children.  Children under 18 can stay for free in their parents’ room, which is great if you’re trying to keep down the cost of a family holiday. There is WiFi internet access in the bedrooms but you have to pay £15 to use it (April 2010).  You can make yourself a nice cup of tea or coffee and watch the cable TV or listen to the stereo.  The rooms also have telephones and hairdryers.

Accessibility

There are accessible parking spaces in the car park, but blue badge holders still have to pay for parking.  Guide dogs are welcome in the Express by Holiday Inn. There are 10 accessible rooms with lower fixtures and fittings, adapted bathrooms and vibrating pillows.  The pub next door is also wheelchair accessible.

Directions

If you’re coming by car on the M42, exit at junction 6. Follow the signs to the NEC and the north car park. Continue straight ahead, following signs for Lichfield and Brownhills. Go straight through the next three roundabouts. The Express by Holiday Inn can be found on the far side of the third roundabout. If you’re coming on the M6, exit at junction 4. Follow the signs for Birmingham Business Park and at the roundabout take the second exit. You will see the hotel on your right hand side.  The nearest train station is Birmingham International Airport.

Airport views

You can’t see the runways from this hotel, which is off-site.