Travel by Car
How to get to public car parks near Carrs Lane
Wait! Have you thought of parking at a suburban railway station? Moor Street Station is across the road from the Church Centre, and New Street or Snow Hill Stations are an easy walk. Some stations on the lines into Birmingham have free parking - you may be able to find out which by searching for 'Birmingham station parking' on the internet.
Note: The small car park at the Church Centre is restricted to use, by prior arrangement, by those with limited mobility, and by others for unloading only.
There are three public car parks close by - they are shown by [P] on our location map:
Albert Street surface level public car park is just the other side of Moor Street.
Vehicle access is from Park Street (one way south-bound), turning right into Freeman Street.
Or the far entrance can be reached by turning right opposite Fazeley Street, or by approaching up Fazeley Street and carefully crossing over Park Street. (This is also the only vehicle exit.)
Pedestrian access is to Moor Street opposite the Church Centre.
It always fills up quickly in the Christmas shopping period!
Run by Excel Parking Services Limited, 'Pay and Display' charges are (as at October 2010):
Monday - Saturday (including bank holidays):
From before 9.30am: 1 hour £1.20, 2 hours £2.50, 5 hours £4.00, 6 hours £6.00, 24 hours £12.50.
After 9.30am: Up to 5 hours £4.00
Sunday: All day £3.00
No change given. Be careful to keep to times and rules - penalty charge £60, if paid within 14 days!
Two multi-storey car parks are approached via Dale End (the much larger one just after turning into Albert Street). They are more expensive (see the Parkopedia website for details).
Here are instructions for reaching them (local roads as at April 2004):
Approach from North, East or South East via M6 & A38M (Aston Expressway)
Leaving the M6, stay in the centre lane of A38M (Aston Expressway).
At ‘End of Motorway’ sign gantry - exit left, signed to Aston University and Shoppers Car Park.
This brings you to Lancaster Circus, a large roundabout with a flyover running above.
Take the first exit, which is at about 11 o’clock.
* You need to be in the right-hand lane, signed to Children’s Hospital and Londonderry House.
Keep in the right-hand lane, and turn right at the first traffic lights.
** After 50 yards - turn left and then continue in that direction along Dale End, under a low bridge, for Albert Street and Dale End multi-story car parks, which are then on the left and right respectively.
After parking, walk in the same direction from Dale End along High Street and turn left down Carrs Lane (beside Marks & Spencer) – the Church Centre is on the left. If you get lost, just ask for Marks & Spencer!
Approach from South, South West or West via the M5 and A38 (Bristol Rd)
Leave M5 at Junction 4 - A38 - signed to Birmingham.
Follow the A38 towards Birmingham for approximately 10 miles
- ignore any turnings signed City Centre, but follow signs for M6.
Near the city centre after the circular St. Catherine's RC church on your left, keep to the right to go through an underpass and two tunnels, the second of which is short with tight bends.
Immediately after the second tunnel, exit left to Lancaster Circus.
Exit the roundabout at 3 o’clock and follow the first route at * above.
Approach from South or SE via M40, M42 & A45, A41, or A34, and up Deritend (Street)
You will approach the city centre via a gyratory system, which will bring you alongside the new Selfridges store (covered in hundreds of silver disks).
Avoid the separate left-hand bus lane which starts here. Then keep to the nearside lane as the road turns left up the hill beside Moor Street Station, and then right at the top of the hill.
You pass the Church Centre on your left, but you cannot get into Carrs Lane from there.
At the second set of cross-roads traffic lights turn left - signed to Children’s Hospital.
Then follow the first route at ** above.
On leaving your car park later:
Turn back into Dale End – going back under the low bridge.
At the end, fork right, and follow the direction signs for your destination route.