Relocating from SW London to Birmingham - where to live <1 hr train commute?

[mrsgrace]

My DH may be asked to change his work base from London to Birmingham. He will predominately commute to Birmingham with occasional days in London.

We currently live in SW London (Clapham) and are at a bit of a loss where to start a house search as neither of us are from the area.

Where would you live if given the choice? Priorities would be in order: location, amenities, schools, commute time.

[cheapskatemum]

My brother, SiL and 3 DDs live in Worcester and it is really lovely. Not sure about state secondary schools there though as he teaches in one of the private schools so DDs go there.

[msrisotto]

Solihull is nice and about 20/40 minutes from town depending on traffic.

[ivykaty44]

Warwick or leamington

Train to London one hour twenty and train to b/ham 20 minutes

Good school
Two leisure centres
Two rugby clubs
Plenty football clubs athletics/ swimming clubs
Cycle clubs
Cinemas
Decent shops
Castle
Plenty of night life
Plenty of decent restaurants