Is Birmingham an interesting place to visit?

Brian Marwood

Brian Marwood

Well-known member
My wife and I have never spent time in Birmingham but it keeps appearing in food articles and travel shows and comes across as a vibrant city. Is it worth a long weekend?
 
Yes certainly. It’s development has come on hugely over the past 10 years with the canal area, the centre square where there are some great pubs and restaurants. Went there for the Commonwealth Games last year and it was very vibrant.
 
Least favorite city.

Sleazy . Dull. Typical of Britain's stereotypical city centres.
 
Never stayed too much in Birmingham, so I am not the best to comment, but I found it a bit dull, lacking atmosphere and it seemed disjointed somehow, but that may be due to a lack of research by me.

Outside of London, I personally prefer, Nottingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Liverpool, York, Cambridge and Edinburgh for city breaks, although I am sure some others will be just as nice too.

If you do go to Brum, let us know how you got on and the highlights it has to offer.
 
I’ve spent a fair bit of time there. There’s nothing about Birmingham that stands out as particularly unique, but it is a decent place to visit in my view. Probably wouldn’t go out of my way to spend a weekend there, but if you’re going for some kind of event it can be nice enough.
 
atypical_boro said:
I’ve spent a fair bit of time there. There’s nothing about Birmingham that stands out as particularly unique, but it is a decent place to visit in my view. Probably wouldn’t go out of my way to spend a weekend there, but if you’re going for some kind of event it can be nice enough.
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Aye that probabaly sums it up well. I wouldn't go unless it was for something specific but once there there is enough to have a day or two to enjoy.
 
Each to their own, of course, and try it... but I can count at least 6 cities in the UK I'd rather visit.

Might be because I don't know Birmingham well but never know where to go when I've been there, nightlife didn't impress me, nothing to do there. Yeh, very dull in my opinion.
 
We went during the Commonwealth games. The city was pleasant enough and the atmosphere was great because of the games. Outside of the Commonwealths- I am not sure I would rush back, although I'm sure that if anyone went for a weekend they would find enough interesting things to do and see.

There used to be a great science museum as part of the University, which was really very good indeed for kids. That was years ago, but I assume it is still there?
 
Just to add to my sleazy comment.

Other than walking through soho I'v never been propositioned, appart from Brum.

Several times on Broad St. Again a few times in Pubs just off Broad St and twice outside ( going into) the national conference center ( me in a DJ Too!) The night capped off at my hotel front door with another offer! I worked on the docks as a young guy and these brummy ladies were rough to put it mildly.It's not as though I'm looking for it or that I spent any more probably 9 or 10 nights there in 25 years.
 
Osboro said:
Just to add to my sleazy comment.

Other than walking through soho I'v never been propositioned, appart from Brum.

Several times on Broad St. Again a few times in Pubs just off Broad St and twice outside ( going into) the national conference center ( me in a DJ Too!) The night capped off at my hotel front door with another offer! I worked on the docks as a young guy and these brummy ladies were rough to put it mildly.It's not as though I'm looking for it or that I spent any more probably 9 or 10 nights there in 25 years.
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I suppose if you walk around with a twenty pound note behind each ear ……….
 
Depends what you want - for younger people Broad Street could be heaven - full of lively bars during the afternons as well as evenings.

Lovely concert hall, lots of shops. especially around the Bull Ring.

Think tank is an interesting science type musuem and if you are intereted in social history the back to back houses are a must.

4 miles out is Cadburys World.

Good choice of restaurants in the Centre

Having said all that Birmingham was not built for tourists. its still a very much working city.
 
atypical_boro said:
I’ve spent a fair bit of time there. There’s nothing about Birmingham that stands out as particularly unique, but it is a decent place to visit in my view. Probably wouldn’t go out of my way to spend a weekend there, but if you’re going for some kind of event it can be nice enough.
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Same here, decent enough, lots of the standard ‘chain’ restaurants and some award winning curry houses. Had to spend a fair amount of time there with work, bitch of a drive but an ok place.
 
I got to love it thru daughter being at uni there. Great city, food, drink, buildings. Parts of it very industrial grungy, but I like that sort of thing. Some great walks around the canals, jewellry quarter, markets, new street.
 
Redwurzel said:
Depends what you want
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We like:

Quirky bars, not blasting music, definitely not Weatherspoons and offering good beers (again, not Fosters, Carling etc)
Nice local restaurants, not chains such as Ask.
Independent shops.
Love museums and place with local heritage.
Ancient buildings and churches.
Markets and food halls.
 
Been about 10 times but only ever for football. My lasting memory is the place stinking of chocolate, think our bus went the wrong way to St Andrews one time and the smell of chocolate even now reminds me of Viduka's wonder strike. I dare say there's enough there to have a weekend there though with the food, museums, shopping
 
Brian Marwood said:
We like:

Quirky bars, not blasting music, definitely not Weatherspoons and offering good beers (again, not Fosters, Carling etc)
Nice local restaurants, not chains such as Ask.
Independent shops.
Love museums and place with local heritage.
Ancient buildings and churches.
Markets and food halls.
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Well you’ll get all of that in Birmingham
 
The walk from new street to st Andrews is less than inspiring( though they do seem to be spending money on that stretch, new tramlines?).
 
Some of the more modern areas of the city centre are impressive but too much of it is a concrete jungle has a real edgy feel for me.
 
Birmingham Cuty Centre was badly designed with a ring road which created a dead city centre for many years. They are trying to improve it despite the infrastructure not lending itself to major overhaul and to an extent they have done a decent job. If you do your research Brian that list of yours will be pretty much ticked but I don't think you are going there to think its a must see city. It isn't but it has its plus points as you will discover especially around Victoria Square and the canals.
 
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