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Original poster

Birmingham Christmas market - anyone been?

28 replies

MerylSqueak · 03/11/2022 10:22

I'm thinking of going with Christmas obsessed DD as a surprise tomorrow. I know it only starts today but has anyone been in previous years?

OP posts:
Oldraver · 03/11/2022 17:47

Yes been lots including last year. It's ok lots of samey stalls and can be incredibly crowded

But just go

MrsDrudge · 03/11/2022 17:52

You’ll enjoy it if you’ve never been before. Otherwise it’s the same stalls year after year

ColonelRhubarbBikini · 03/11/2022 18:01

It’s lovely for a wander and the hot choc is lush but it’s a bit samey. As you walk you realise it’s the same stalls repeater after a while.

You couldn’t kill more than an hour or two I’d say but there’s a lot more to Brum than just the market so definitely worth it.

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KurriKawari · 03/11/2022 18:03

I work next to it and all set up. Same as most other years but nice to visit once and you can for a wander to the museum and art gallery, walk down brindleyplace and the canals, loop back round to the station and the shops.

LeafHunter · 03/11/2022 18:06

Yes, lived in bham for 15 years. It’s very, very busy and very repetitive . Like others have said it’s fine if you’ve never been before but it’s only vaguely German and I cannot reiterate how busy it is.

Laiste · 03/11/2022 18:10

The German Market?

One of my older DDS has been going to this every year for ... must be about 8 years now, and she says the last 2/3 years the stalls have been progressively more over priced/crowded/nothing unusual/disappointing/not worth the effort to go and not a patch on how it used to be. She's not bothering this year.

Me; i've never been as i detest crowds. But i guess if you like that sort of thing and haven't been before it would be a novelty ...

imnotalpharius · 03/11/2022 18:12

Last year they did a little Christmas market in Pigeon Park as well, I thought that was better than the German Market.

Kite22 · 03/11/2022 18:22

Agree with everything above really.
If you haven't been, then it is a nice thing to go to. Wander around, get in the Christmassy mood.
Most of the stalls are quite expensive but that is the nature of the beast really. Agree there are a lot of stalls that are much of a muchness (well, not been this year, but, over the decade(s?).
Certainly recommend to go if you haven't been.
Lots and lots and lots of people will go every year.

XanaduKira · 03/11/2022 18:31

KurriKawari · 03/11/2022 18:03

I work next to it and all set up. Same as most other years but nice to visit once and you can for a wander to the museum and art gallery, walk down brindleyplace and the canals, loop back round to the station and the shops.

We go every year - enjoy the drink and food and then do the above.

Go and enjoy (although there are some train strikes tomorrow apparently so bear that in mind if you're using the train)

QueenWenceslas · 03/11/2022 18:37

Brummie here.
It does get extremely crowded. It’s expensive too, we took the children last year - bought 2 mulled wines, 4 bratwurst, DD had a go on the helter skelter and the carousel and we didn’t get any change out of £50. My kids wanted to a skewer with four chocolate covered strawberries on it - they were £6 EACH.

XanaduKira · 03/11/2022 18:37

Agreed - it is expensive @QueenWenceslas

surreygirl1987 · 03/11/2022 18:58

Lovely but crowded

workiskillingme · 03/11/2022 19:02

Very samey very expensive and how can anyone feel festive at the beginning of November? It's not even cold!

KurriKawari · 03/11/2022 19:14

Birmingham Mail have got useful info and pics on their site - including the huge sausages
www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/german-market-birmingham-live-updates-25416243

pickleandpolish · 03/11/2022 19:16

Honestly you're better off looking for smaller, local Christmas markets and evenings, supplied by local crafters/artisans. The Craft & Flea markets are very good too. They do one at The Custard Factory on the 26th Nov. All handmade things by small businesses. The German Market is always rammed, over priced, lots of pickpockets. The cheesy garlic bread is next level though!

TheHauntedPencilCase · 03/11/2022 19:37

I've been pre covid as friends raved about it. Lovely market but as others say very samey and the big downside for me was that parts were unbearably crowded. I've thought about taking my DC but they're too young to cope with the crowds yet. The best bit about it for me is that you can have a museum interlude and make a day of being in Birmingham generally. I drove but it was a horrible place to navigate round (although that's true of many cities) so if you can get the train I recommend doing that.

RachelBosenterfer · 03/11/2022 19:38

How old is DD?

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 03/11/2022 19:40

It's awful. Really expensive and hideously crowded. Makes going into Birmingham in the evenings a really horrible experience.

ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 03/11/2022 19:40

Went last year. Lots of repeats of the same expensive stalls. Got a nice Currywurst, but otherwise I thought it was overrated. Some pretty stalls.
If you're in the right area, Winchester had a great one last year.

Daisychainsandglitter · 03/11/2022 20:48

I really enjoy it and go at least once a year. Like PP have said some of the stalls get a little repetitive and it does get busy.
I was working in Birmingham today and walked through town early this morning to the office and was really pleased to see all the little huts and twinkling lights. I think it's well worth a visit if you haven't been before.

QueenoftheNimbleFlyingCat · 03/11/2022 20:50

Last year was horrifically busy and mind blowingly expensive. I don't think I'm going to go this year. It's okay if you've never been before and if you also plan to do something else in Birmingham!

BippityBopper · 03/11/2022 20:57

QueenWenceslas · 03/11/2022 18:37

Brummie here.
It does get extremely crowded. It’s expensive too, we took the children last year - bought 2 mulled wines, 4 bratwurst, DD had a go on the helter skelter and the carousel and we didn’t get any change out of £50. My kids wanted to a skewer with four chocolate covered strawberries on it - they were £6 EACH.

@QueenWenceslas Do you remember roughly how much the helter skelter was?

QueenWenceslas · 03/11/2022 23:35

@BippityBopper it was about £3 if I recall correctly

Original poster
MerylSqueak · 04/11/2022 06:42

workiskillingme · 03/11/2022 19:02

Very samey very expensive and how can anyone feel festive at the beginning of November? It's not even cold!

My daughter, that's who. She did a little happy dance squealing, 'Christmas is coming!' on Nov 1st. I think it's because it's the only time we get to see extended family and she adores them so all the hype has got mixed up with that.

Thanks for all the tips. We're going today but we love Birmingham do we'll also do some other stuff ( Primark, if I know DD).

OP posts:
BippityBopper · 04/11/2022 06:52

@QueenWenceslas Thanks!