Birmingham...what unique things to do?

[Jumpking]

Off to Brum for a few days next week with DP. What shall we do?

I know there's the typical things to do like back to backs, canal trips, library but we're looking for the fun things to do that only the locals know about.

Don't want to use any transport once we're in the city centre.

Would love to hear your recommendations please.

I love art. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery holds one of the leading pre-Raphaelite painting collections in the world.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Raphaelite_Brotherhood

The museum and art gallery is only partially open atm. It’s got a special set of exhibitions on showcasing some brum history.

I’m afraid central Brum is pretty chain heavy now. There isn’t really any typically just Brum things unless you go to certain bars.

a walk down Digbeth and the custard factory can be good. A visit to the Crown- oldest pub in brum.

visit to Primark- very easy to get lost 😂

Jewellery Quarter, Pen Factory, Coffin Museum.
The Roundhouse has just opened.
Birmingham has two great theatres.
I love walking from Mailbox along the canal to Brindley Place (see the Black Sabbath bridge) and into Symphony Hall to Centenary Square and the fountains. I think the canals there are great).
The library and it’s terrace gardens views and Shakespeare room. Take a picnic to the lovely little City Garden behind the library.
Try the Electric Cinema
Loads of great places to eat: we like the Old Joint Stock opposite the Cathedral and all 4 Michelin starred restaurants.
I don’t live there but I love it’s vibrancy and history.

There are some new electric boats you can hire in canals that look more interesting. Also stand up paddle boarding.

Ghetto golf in Digbeth is a bit quirky

The botanical gardens.

I’ve heard good things about the Pen Museum and the Coffin Museum but been to neither. There’s also the new-ish police museum in an old Victorian prison wing that looks interesting!

There’s some good looking tours out of The Roundhouse too (kayaking, narrow boats, walking). The Back to Backs (National Trust) are well worth a visit too.

In terms of places to eat and drink, the Independent Birmingham website is quite good as a directory!

Tilt for a coffee or craft beer and a game of pinball. It's right in the centre.

There is a new venture like a pp said where you can paddle board on the canals.

Get the train from moor street to Stratford for a day out?

Cocktails at the fairly newly reopened Grand Hotel. The pineapple club in Great Western arcade is brilliant.

Sign up to independent Birmingham, it's about £2 for a month (PAYG and cancel once you've left) for a long list of independents and discounts in them.

Further afield, there's the Tolkien trail and up the road is Moseley, full of pubs and cafes and bars. Mostly independent.

The Jewellery quarter is good for a mooch about, again, bug independent scene for eating and drinking.

Go for a high end curry at ashas.

Thanks all.

I'd already found the Roundhouse on t'internet, so that's definitely on the agenda after your recommendations. Ghetto golf sounds intriguing!

Anyone been to the duelling piano bar?

Also booked Adam's as a present. Can't wait to eat there.

A friend and I were just in Birmingham for a day last week we had a quick lunch in @ Pizza in Grand Central which was amazing and really cheap too thanks to an offer they had one