Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC

Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare, is half an hour's drive from the hotel. Take a day trip to visit the timber-framed house where the playwright was born, and the childhood cottage of his wife Anne Hathaway, famous for its lovely gardens. You can take a rowing boat out on the Avon, and book tickets for a play in the evening at the riverside Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre.

If you have children with you, the Cadbury World chocolate factory, only 30 minutes away by car, is a must. Here, you can discover the history of chocolate-making through computer games, colourful rides, demonstrations and a multi-sensory 4D cinema on a self-guided tour. And of course, you get to drink liquid chocolate on the way round and take home a little something from the shop.

You can pick up a new outfit, catch a film or relax in the spa at the huge Resorts World Birmingham entertainment complex, next door to the hotel. If you're heading for a gig at the Genting Arena, you can leave the car here and be in your seat within 10 minutes. There's plenty for the family to do if you're busy at the NEC, and you can celebrate your business deal with a flutter at the casino.

If you're looking for a special gift, Birmingham's historic Jewellery Quarter, only 20 minutes' drive from the hotel, is home to 500 individual businesses and craftsmen. There are galleries, bars and restaurants scattered among the listed buildings, and the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter offers a guided tour around a traditional factory and a demonstration of jewellery-making techniques.

Motorcycle enthusiasts staying at the hotel are only half a mile from the National Motorcycle Museum. You can admire everything from vintage models to modern superbikes, including iconic British brands such as Norton and Triumph, among the 1,000 bikes on display. If you want to entertain clients, book a guided tour. Memorabilia and models from the shop make great gifts, too.

Distance to hotel: 10 MI/ 16.09 KM North