Train prices to get in at about 10:45 and leave at 20:15 ish - a decent day out - are bang out of order. I have held off booking hoping they would come down, but no signs as yet. It would be just as cheap to come down by coach the day before, spend the night in Brum, and come back by coach in the evening - 21:00.
A day trip by coach means setting off from my place at about 06:30 and back in Leeds at 23:45. That is a long old day. I have tried a mix of Megabus and National Express and those are the best times I have found.
Another option is to drive down, but not have a drink after, say, 13:30 ish - lunchtime. Leeds/Birmingham is about and hour and three quarters drive.
What to do?