h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The Bristol Road (A38) undoubtedly provides the best exploration outside of Brimingham's city centre. I used to think it was just that I lived at the other end of it that I spent most of my social life along it, but I came to realise that that was also because it was where most of the good stuff is.
I cite first of all the Warwickshire Cricket ground (if such is your fancy) and the Midlands Art Centre/Cannon Hill park as the first two examples as one leaves Brum centre. Then you will encounter the student district around the University, full of cheap pubs and restaurants (the district that is, not the Uni... as much). A little off this beaten path is a huge realm of Balti houses (this researcher recommends Stirchley) and also Bournville, the location of Cadbury World.
From about Northfield out the entertainment grows a little scarcer, but for anyone fascinated by the motor industry the rapidly dwindling Rover factory in Longbridge may be of interest, or failing that one may wish to visit the Birmingham Great Park, right out near the city limits in Rubery, with it's bowling alleys, restaurants, 13-screen cinema and (for a while its defining feature) Safeways... a little anticlimax there.

PS: The main article refers to J.R.R.Tolkein's influences. I was lead to understand that the exact inspiration for the Shire was Kings Heath park, also located not far from Cadbury World (and incidentally right next to where I went to school).

why is it called that?

Why is what called what?

The Bristol Rd, do you mean?

yeah

Because it leads to Bristol.

I think most big British cities have a habit of naming their major artery roads after the towns or cities they lead to.

its a long road then

Aye.

But here comes the part:

When it leaves Birmingham it's not called the Bristol Road any more, and is known simply as the A38 all the way down to Bristol.

thats the bridgewter road

The A38 goes all the way down to Plymouth, It has been superceded by the M5 until Exeter.
I think it goes up to Derby (not sure)

It bypasses Derby, and joins the M1 at J28.

I think the other end sort of dies the death where it meets the A30 at Bodmin.
All in all a fair few miles long !!

this is better than using a map

IINM, Tolkien's inspiration was Moseley Bog, not King's Heath Park. King's Heath Park is decidedly boring. Perrot's Folly in Ladywood may have also influenced him toward at least one of the Two Towers.

The A-road numbering system is supplementary (and subsequent) to the road name. In Bromsgrove, I believe you will find it is called the Birmingham Rd. The road names stay the same even if the number changes. In this way, Birmingham's Stratford Road was originally the A42 rather than the A34 (originally A34 meant just the Winchester - Oxford section; Oxford to Birmingham was the A42; Birmingham to Stafford the A455; Stafford to Newcastle-under-Lyme part of the A449; and Newcastle-under-Lyme to Manchester the A526).

Moseley Bog.

Must remember that.