Old Rose & Crown Hotel

Birmingham's Southern Edge: A Countryside Feel Within the City Boundary

The Old Rose & Crown sits in a part of Birmingham that surprises most visitors. This is the south-west fringe of the city, just beyond Longbridge, where the suburban streets give way to tree lines, parkland, and the kind of air quality that makes you momentarily forget where you are. Rose Hill connects this quiet corner to Bromsgrove to the south and Birmingham city centre to the north, and the hotel sits along it in a cluster of old red brick buildings that give the whole area a characterful, unhurried quality.

There is green space directly outside the hotel. Across the road, woodland with footpaths begins almost immediately. The on-site golf course runs alongside the property. The Lickey Hills Country Park is very close by. For guests who want to wake up, pull on walking boots, and be surrounded by nature within two minutes of leaving the front door, this location is genuinely exceptional. It does not feel like Birmingham. That is the point.

Street Character

The hotel building reads as Victorian heritage, with the kind of warm red brick and ornate detailing that the era produced across the Midlands. From the outside it is clean, polished, and inviting. The approach smells of fresh air and cut grass. The only sounds are light traffic on Rose Hill and birdsong. There are trees on both sides of the entrance. After dark, the street lighting is adequate and the area feels safe, but there is no night economy here. The streets become deserted by early evening, and that is entirely consistent with the neighbourhood character.

This is outer-residential Birmingham at its most pastoral. The nearest grocery run requires an 11-minute walk. Pubs and restaurants are between 7 and 11 minutes on foot. Anyone expecting urban convenience within a few steps will need to recalibrate their expectations, but anyone who specifically wanted to escape that will feel immediately at home.

Getting There: The Logistics

By Taxi

The hotel entrance is unmissable from the road and taxis can drop directly outside. The approach is flat, smooth, and short. This is the most straightforward arrival method for guests who have come into Birmingham by train and then need onward transport. Budget for a taxi rather than expecting to walk from any rail station. The hotel's distance from Birmingham city centre and from Longbridge station means that taxis are not optional for anyone without a car.

By Car

This is the natural arrival method for this hotel, and the one the location is clearly designed around. The entrance off Rose Hill is wide enough for two cars, though vehicles waiting to exit can create a brief bottleneck. On arrival, stop at reception first before driving to park. The car park is shared with the on-site golf club, which means competition for spaces is real, particularly at weekends. It has been seen looking nearly full. There is no signage distinguishing hotel guest spaces from golf member parking. Once you are parked, the walk to the hotel is a short one. EV charging was not observed on site. The hotel has confirmed free parking is available, shared with the golf club, with approximately 150 spaces in total.

On Foot from the Train Station

Not a realistic option. The hotel's outer-residential location and the absence of a nearby station make walking from any train arrival impractical for most guests. If you are arriving by rail into Birmingham city centre, plan for a taxi or arrange to be collected.

By Coach or Bus

The area is served by local bus routes along Rose Hill connecting to Longbridge and onward into Birmingham, but this hotel is not positioned for guests relying on coach or bus travel. A car is the assumed mode of transport for the overwhelming majority of guests staying here, and the location rewards those who have one.

Who Is This Hotel Actually For?

Golfers

An obvious winner. The golf course is on site. You can play, return to the hotel, eat, and sleep without touching a car. No other combination of location, convenience, and heritage charm matches this in Birmingham's south-west corridor. If golf is the reason for the visit, stop searching.

Romantic Weekends

The countryside feel, the Victorian heritage building, the green space on the doorstep, and the absence of urban noise and crowds create the conditions for a genuinely restorative weekend. This is what a countryside hotel feels like, delivered within Birmingham's city boundary. Joe Joe Jim's for a music night, a walk through the woodland across the road, and dinner at The Old Hare and Hounds eleven minutes away makes for a relaxed, unhurried evening that city-centre hotels cannot replicate.

Dog Owners

Another clear winner. Green space sits directly outside the hotel. Woodland with footpaths begins across the road, reachable in under two minutes. The Lickey Hills Country Park is very close by. The area is dog-friendly, the terrain is manageable, and there are no significant road-crossing hazards between the hotel and the nearest walking routes. For guests travelling with dogs, this location is among the best available on Birmingham's southern fringe.

Visitors to the South Side of Birmingham

If your reason for visiting Birmingham involves Longbridge, Bromsgrove, or anywhere along the Rose Hill corridor, this hotel positions you well. The M5 is accessible without a long drive through the city, and the location sits just outside the southern edge of Birmingham in a way that makes it genuinely practical for anyone with business or family in this part of the region.

Quiet Seekers

The street is quiet, the surroundings are green, there is no night economy, and the hotel's heritage character reinforces the calm. If you need to decompress, this environment delivers. The only caveat is the shared car park with the golf club, which introduces some daytime activity and competition for spaces.

Families with Children

The green space and country park nearby are genuine positives for families. The absence of urban traffic and the safe, leafy surroundings work in the hotel's favour. However, the limited nearby food and entertainment options within easy walking distance, and the need for a car to reach most of Birmingham's family attractions, keep this from being a first choice for families expecting convenience.

Who Should Not Book This Hotel

Business travellers arriving by train. There is no practical walking route to a rail station and the city centre is not accessible without transport. Anyone expecting to step out of a meeting and catch a train home will find this location actively unhelpful.

Nightlife seekers. After dark, the area is deserted. There are local pubs within an 11-minute walk, but this is not a venue for anyone hoping to be close to Birmingham's Broad Street corridor or the city's bar and club scene. The nearest nightlife is a taxi ride away.

Early train departures. If you have a 6am train from New Street or Birmingham International, this is the wrong base.

Nearby: Food, Drink, and Essentials

The immediate area is not dense with options, but what exists is within a manageable walk. The Duckpond Café is a one-minute walk from the hotel, making it the obvious choice for coffee and a morning bite without needing to get in the car. The Oak Tree pub is a 7-minute walk. The Old Hare and Hounds doubles as both a restaurant and a pub and is 11 minutes away. Lai Ling (restaurant) and Joe Joe Jim's Bar are also at the 11-minute mark, as is the Lickey Hill Fish Bar at 10 minutes. Everyday Essentials Supermarket covers grocery needs at 11 minutes on foot. For most guests arriving by car, a short drive will bring more choice, but the walking options for an evening out without needing transport are workable rather than spectacular.