Birmingham - More than just a Concrete jungle?

Infidel

Hi all. I was going to post this in the hotel/B&B thread but thought it's probably best to make a new one for a new subject.

I may end up in Birmingham for a full day on Friday. I have heard that all there is to do there is drink and shop. But surely England is in a better state than this?? After all Brum often claims to be England's "2nd Capital", so surely there are other things of interest there?!?!?.....isn't there? Isn't there?? Please help.

Any suggestions considered. Art galleries, museums etc. etc. (especially any free ones).

Cheers! :beer: (though not literally as i plan to stay sober on Friday),

newlywed

Birmingham art gallery is good and free!!! It's in the main paved square by the town hall buildings (I think).

Cadbury World - you don't have to pay all the money to go round the factory - you can just go straight to the shop

Erm... shopping is good. Good shoe shops (for girls) and a great menswear shop (Slaters).

avfc4life

Yes second the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. It is very interesting and free. There are some nice art pieces in there (im not a big art fan) and some interesting excerbitions. There is also a nice cafe in there with some very nice cakes;)

Also for eating can i recommend a place in China Town called The Big Wok. It is an all you can eat Chinese that is only £4.99 per person. For that you get as much as you can eat. There is all the starters, Mains & ice cream machines and cakes for puddings.

I always eat here whenever i go to Birmingham as it is very close to the bullring and usually works out cheaper. That will waste away about an hour and a half of your day.

Stompa

I visited Birmingham for the first time last year - I can't think of a single reason why I'd want to return!

saveapenny

Jewelry quarter is very good. It used to be alot better for shopping when the old Bull ring and Bull ring market was there but now its all changed. If your close to Brum go to Merry Hill for shopping its much better.
The Science Museum is well worth a visit if your taking kids. Go along Broad street as well to the Gas Street area and take a canal ride. If your driving its best to park at one of the small train station like Tame Bridge and then get the local train into the City because parking can be expensive if you can find a spot or park on the Metro route and go into Snow Hill which is a short walk into the main area. There are tons of thing to do and its a nice city (except on a Saturday) I agree about the Big Wok its welll worth a visit

Infidel

Stompa wrote: »

I visited Birmingham for the first time last year - I can't think of a single reason why I'd want to return!

Oh dear! How far is Warwick Castle?

odowdchr

http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=3341&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=126

melancholly

i went last summer, mainly for cadbury world, but made a weekend of it. we thought it was so nice (maybe that's due to our low expectations ). the jewellery quarter was lovely - there's a museum in there that was free but i can't remember the name. we stayed at nitenite (tiny rooms, but big beds, big tv and great shower - and a low price) and walked up to the jewellery quarter, pottered about, came back to the mailbox for some food (obviously with clubcard vouchers!) and walked along the canal at night to a few bars! the weather was gorgeous, which no doubt helped, but i'd definitely go back - it far exceeded my expectations and was lovely!

littleredcorvette

I'm not sure what the prices are, but how about these (taken from locatebirmingham.com):

• The Botanical Gardens
  Comprise 4.7 hectares (14 acres) of manicured gardens and impressive glasshouses with rare, exotic and unusual horticultural life.
• Cadbury World
  The only purpose-built visitor centre in the UK devoted entirely to chocolate, it attracts over half a million visitors each year.
• Custard Factory
  Birmingham's revolutionary new arts and media quarter is home to a dynamic bohemian community of 500 artists and small creative enterprises. The 5-acre development was built 100 years ago by Sir Alfred Bird, the inventor of custard. Recently completed and further planned additions to the scheme mean it will take its place as the largest and most exciting concentration of artistic and creative activity in Europe.
• The Jewellery Quarter
  The largest working Jewellery Quarter in Europe, the Quarter also includes the world's largest Assay Office. With over 500 businesses involved in the jewellery trade, more than one third of the UK's jewellery is produced here.
• Midlands Arts Centre
  The venue for the most extensive programme of performances, exhibitions, films and courses in the UK, with over half a million visitors each year.
• The National Sealife Centre
  Birmingham has the UK's largest National Sealife Centre, which incorporates the world's only 360 degree transparent tunnel.
• Thinktank
  Thinktank, at Millennium Point, is made up of ten themed galleries of interactive, informative exhibits. It is a truly modern, award winning museum, attracting some 280,000 visitors since it opened in September 2001. It is one of the biggest museums outside London and offers four floors of interactive learning, with a 200-seat theatre and education rooms.
  
  Birmingham lays claim to over 8,000 acres of parks, and public open spaces - more than any other European city, including:

Birmingham Nature Centre
Edgbaston Reservoir and Harborne Walkway
Fox Hollies Park
Lickey Hills Country Park
Millstream Project (Southern Cole Valley)
Plantsbrook Community Nature Park
Project Kingfisher
Sheldon Country Park
Woodgate Valley Country Park

• Sutton Park
  Birmingham's largest park, covering 971 hectares (2,400 acres) consisting of woodlands, heathlands and wetlands. The park has been designated a National Nature Reserve by English Nature and is the largest urban nature reserve in Europe.
• Cannon Hill Park
  A few miles from Birmingham city centre, this is the flagship and the most varied and attractive of all Birmingham's parks. The Midlands Arts Centre is also located here.

Yes, I am from Birmingham and there's loads of things to do here

Doozergirl

The Botanical Gardens are lovely if you enjoy a walk in the sunshine. That reminder has prompted me to make another visit with the kids

Lunch by the canal in one of the places in the Mailbox would be nice if you prefer something a little more refined than the Big Wok

There's usually something going on in Centenary Square - I think there's a beach at the moment, LOL!

Infidel

Thanks everyone. So its looks like i probably won't be cowering in a room all day Friday waiting for Saturday to arrive :j.

Though one time an acquaintance from Walsall once told me that the only cultural building of note in Birmingham is the Saddam Hussein mosque.