What should we do in Birmingham?

[Judashascomeintosomemoney]

I started one of these threads about Hong Kong a few weeks ago and it was blimmin brilliant! Got loads of suggestions from those in the know (locals, expats and just people who had been recently) which we followed and had an absolutely brilliant holiday. So thought I’d do the same for Birmingham! I love travelling anywhere and I’m always perfectly excited to go places in the UK that I don’t know, doesn’t have to be international to be interesting!
My DDs (14 and 15) have (conned) politely requested that I purchase tickets to their favourite band’s gig at the Institute, which I have. Birmingham is flipping hours from where we live though. It’s on the Sunday evening so, I’m thinking, to make the most of it, we go Friday and come back Monday. So, where should we visit? PS will be coming by train so won’t have a car with us. Thank you!

Ooh watching with interest. Going to see the Arctic Monkeys on Sunday night at the Arena and will be making a day of it. I knows theres the Sea Life Centre if that sort of thing appeals. Will be having a gander in the Bullring too. But thats all I have at the moment!

The back to backs are well worth a visit.

What sort of things do the DDs like?

If they like shopping, Grand Central and the Bullring should have enough to appeal to them.

If art, the art gallery is especially known for its pre-Raph paintings and stained glass. There's also the Ikon gallery for modern art.

The Jewellery Quarter is nice for a wander - there's a good museum with a tour of an old jewellery factory, and plenty of places to eat/drink.

Lots of good places to eat - a curry is a must!

Back to Backs
Hippodrome if anything on they want to see
Sea Life
Think Tank
Imax at Millenium point
Canal boat trip or just cake on the stationary boat
Walk along the canal
Cadbury world - train from New Street to Bournville
Shopping in the Bull Ring!

The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Birmingham Library - great views from the top.

Yes to the roof garden at the library.

Cadbury World a good idea if they've not been before - probably best to book in advance.

The Ikon Gallery is right by the canal - lots of places to eat around there too.

Check out what's showing at the Electric Cinema.

There's loads! My mum and I had a theatre trip recently and decided to make a day of it. We barely had time to do the gallery and lunch before the show.

Do you want free or are you happy to pay?

What sort of things do the DDs like?
History, bit of shopping, and definitely food! We’re vegetarian and, I’m an idiot, forgot Birmingham was curry capital of the U.K.! - any veggie curry restaurant recommendations?
Btw, excellent suggestions so far, the Back to backs sound exactly the kind of thing we like!

Museum and art gallery dippy is currently there I believe - also it's central so can be do with shopping too

Selfridges/bullring and grand central if you like shopping all good for shopping a wander and food.

Also brindley place wander down the canal and food- is pretty around there

I wouldn't recommend Cadbury world at their age, and depends on their likes for science museum, sealife centre. When I was a teenager the bullring was my absolute favourite place.

Escape Room!
Escape Live on Henrietta Street looks good but not been.

Yes, Hunter, happy to pay. We really like to pack stuff in and make the most of our trips, we need a holiday after the holiday to relax usually! I feel it my duty to try to fit most of these suggestions in (there was only one thing on the HK thread that we didn’t do and that was only because of an impromptu massive thunder storm on our last day )

There’s a lovel veggie / vegan cafe in Birmingham, I think it’s run by Friends of the Earth? I can’t remember the name, helpfully, sorry

For veggie curry, you need Jyotis - it's a bus or taxi ride out of town, but is well worth a trip.

There are several veggie places in the city centre too - the Warehouse Cafe in Digbeth, Bistro 1847 near the cathedral, and a couple of veggie fast food places too - a vegan hotdog place and a place called Ffresh (although I haven't been to either of these).

Bistro 1847 for food if veggie. It's fantastic do book though.

There's also a 'not dogs' in the bullring which is lush

The warehouse cafe in digbeth which is where the institute is is completely veggie/vegan

Can't advise on a curry place in town all the good veggie and good in general places i know are quite a bit out of town

Oh, again, what was I thinking?! The canals! We’d love to go on a canal trip, is there a good start/end place or are there loads of options?

Definitely the library, although bear in mind that it's closed on Sundays and is open 11-5 on Saturdays.

Take a short train ride to Tipton and visit the Black Country Living Museum.

The National Trust Back to Back houses in the city centre, Hurst St/Inge St, although you may need to prebook.

The Coffin Works, it's a museum.

Can you link to HK one as heading there again soon!

I'd second jyotis if willing to venture out of town

York’s bakery is fab esp for vegan cakes!

moseleyroadbaths.org

Digbeth dining club

Custard factory

Depending on what’s on/ their interests, think tank can be fun.

I would definitely recommend going out of brum and visiting the black country museum.

Outbackshack it's an absolutely brilliant museum isn't it?

Dudley Canal Trust run trips through the tunnels, it backs on to the Black Country Museum as well if you can get there.

Bit of an Outlet Mall at the NEC (Resort World) but never shopped here so don't know what it's like, just walk through it on our way to the NEC.

Winging
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3331733-What-should-we-do-in-Hong-Kong

You will love it! Our favourite places were the Victoria Peak Tram, The Lantau cable car and the Tian Tan Buddha (Big Buddha) it leads to. But literally everywhere we went was interesting and I really want to go back!

Museum of the Jewellery Quarter.

www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/jewellery