M5 - Northbound, or A449 ?

Doing a bit of route planning - from Bristol to Heysham along the M5/6.

Looking at the road atlas it seems the M5 heads into a very busy looking area around Birmingham.

On the other hand there seems to be a nice looking alternative road, the A449, that peels off just north of Worcester-going to Kidderminster-Wolverhampton, then join the M5/M6 again.

Is the M5 through Birmingham a load of grief - or is it more grief to turn off onto the A449 Kidderminster road ?

Thanks.

 

For the short amount of time you will transit this area you are better sticking with the M5 bud

 

Thanks - this was for the trip up to Heysham, to catch the ferry to the IoM TT.

In the end I did as you recommend - and did the trip from Portsmouth to Heysham in about 5 hrs.