Primark Birmingham

nyprincess · 2021-07-28T09:44:28+00:00

Aibu to travel from Glasgow to Birmingham (just under 7 hours on the bus) to just go to the new Primark to see the Harry Potter dept they have? Me and my daughter love HP, but if they don't have a good selection then I don't want to waste money. Anyone been??

Orf1abc · 28/07/2021 10:54

Primark in Glasgow stock Harry Potter products tatt.

paperandfireworks · 28/07/2021 10:56

Better ways to spend a day than chasing tatt.

BloodyTinaNextdoorAgain · 28/07/2021 11:03

That's a crazy amount of time to spend on a bus.
Almost the time it would take to fly to Harry Potter World in Orlando.
If you have that much time would it not make more sense to get the train to London and see the shop at Kings Cross?

GetOffThatTable · 28/07/2021 11:10

@BloodyTinaNextdoorAgain

That's a crazy amount of time to spend on a bus. Almost the time it would take to fly to Harry Potter World in Orlando. If you have that much time would it not make more sense to get the train to London and see the shop at Kings Cross?

Far more expensive to fly to Orlando and then get a ticket for Universal and then buy the merchandise there.

Birmingham Primark is the biggest Primark in the country and yes there are coach tours including an overnight stay to allow shoppers plenty of time. I think I saw that on Instgram or Reddit, one or the other.

It is a very long way to travel to HP stuff but you could make a city break trip of it and stay over and see some other things. Then again my Primark is massive so I understand the want.

unsureofneighbour · 28/07/2021 11:11

Just buy some HP merch online. It will cost more but it will be much better quality and by the time you cost out a trip to England, it will probably be evens.

unsureofneighbour · 28/07/2021 11:13

Birmingham Primark is the biggest Primark in the country and yes there are coach tours including an overnight stay to allow shoppers plenty of time.

Really?

But they sell absolute shit. People are mad.

A coach trip to Primark 🤣

Sirzy · 28/07/2021 11:14

Sounds bonkers to me even as a HP fan BUT if you both want to do it and will have fun then why not?

Can you book a hotel for the night and make a short break of it? Could you get train rather than bus as I assume that would be quicker

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 28/07/2021 11:15

YABU. The HP section really isn't that big. I go because it's one of the closest stores to me with the largest amount of stock (across the whole store) but I wouldn't make a special trip just for that, I'd rather go & stay overnight in Watford for the Studio Tour if I were doing a HP type trip!

Clarice99 · 28/07/2021 11:18

I realise that I may be in a minority, never having had any inclination to shop in any Primark store due to the fact that it's mostly tat, but to travel 7 hours on a bus to shop for tat - I really can't get my head around that

Original poster

nyprincess · 28/07/2021 11:19

I know Primark isn't great, I don't usually shop in there, but when we seen the pictures we wanted to go. I should have said I would go for 2 nights. We are planning on going to HP world in London next year. My DH can't come with us just now so will just be the 2 of us. I would love to buy better quality stuff, but not essential right now, and my DD wants to see the different house colours etc.
The Glasgow stores don't seem to do much HP just now.

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Invisimamma · 28/07/2021 11:20

It's only 4.5 hours to brimingham from Glasgow on the train.

But like other posters have said I'd rather go Hp studios than Primark, and I love a good Primark trip!

There's also a couple of good Harry Potter themed shops in Edinburgh, a fantastic potions afternoon tea expiernece, Harry Potter walking tour of Edinburgh, Harry Potter themed crazy golf. Surely that ld be much more fun thab 7 hours on a bus.

CaptainCorelli · 28/07/2021 11:22

Its not that impressive to be honest, I think you would be disappointed. And I say that as a massive HP fan who lives near Birmingham!

postitgirl · 28/07/2021 11:22

I think you might be disappointed OP. The HP section in B'ham primark is quite small, and the last time I was in there, they didn't have much stock and a lot of sizes were sold out. I really don't think it's worth a trip specifically.

Original poster

nyprincess · 28/07/2021 11:25

The train is nearly £200 and the bus is £70. I know it's crazy, but if the selection was worth seeing, then we would enjoy it. We went to Edinburgh a few weeks ago, never seen any HP themed shops, we would have done the walking tour, but we went with my DM & DS and they weren't interested in it.
I am considering going back to Edinburgh as my DD wants to do the Dungeons, so maybe the walking tour will be ok.

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Original poster

nyprincess · 28/07/2021 11:26

@Invisimamma

It's only 4.5 hours to brimingham from Glasgow on the train.

But like other posters have said I'd rather go Hp studios than Primark, and I love a good Primark trip!

There's also a couple of good Harry Potter themed shops in Edinburgh, a fantastic potions afternoon tea expiernece, Harry Potter walking tour of Edinburgh, Harry Potter themed crazy golf. Surely that ld be much more fun thab 7 hours on a bus.

Do you know any names of the shops etc that do the tea, golf and anything else?

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TakeYourFinalPosition · 28/07/2021 11:27

The Glasgow stores don't seem to do much HP just now.

I'm not a big HP fan, but I don't remember a huge section in Brum's Primark... there was when it opened, but unless I totally blanked it, I'm not sure it's massive now - it may well be the same as Glasgow has.

That said, I could be wrong. It's manic at the best of times and I tend to run through it as fast as I can if I have to go in.

7 hours on the bus for it seems absolutely insane to me, but if you want to do it, I'd avoid the school holidays and plan enough to do in Birmingham that if the selection is just really small everywhere at the moment, she won't be majorly disappointed.

As an aside, M&S had some HP stuff last time I was in - I don't know what age that goes up to, but the licensing isn't exclusive to Primark anymore, which may be why the range there is smaller.

BloodyTinaNextdoorAgain · 28/07/2021 11:28

I'm well aware it would cost more to get to Orlando. But having Florida at the end of it would make the journey worthwhile. Primark? Sorry no.

NotTheMrMenAgain · 28/07/2021 11:29

I'm in Birmingham and my DD loves the teenage tat in Primark, so I've been a fair few times. When the new store opened it did have a big HP themed area, with loads of merchandise across all houses and homeware like blankets, bedding sets etc as well as clothes.

BUT the last time we went - after it reopened post lockdown - the HP section wasn't there and the products were fewer and spread out through the shop. I was surprised because it was a well-themed, big area that must have cost quite a bit to put together, but it was gone. Think there was a "wellness" themed area instead, or something. I thought perhaps the bubble had burst on the HP craze.

So unless they're redone a HP area, then no - don't go, it's not worth it.

Original poster

nyprincess · 28/07/2021 11:31

Thank you all for the replies. I have decided not to bother going and I am now looking into Edinburgh for HP things to do. My DH did say I was off my head to consider it.

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MorrisZapp · 28/07/2021 11:35

The Harry Potter merch shops in Edinburgh and York are wildly, hysterically overpriced. You will blink and have to ask a member of staff if you're reading the price tag correctly.

A crap chocolate frog smaller than a Freddo and tasting of ashes costs six quid.

Squeaky acrylic scarves in house colours cost 35 quid.

Don't even look at the wands or the detailed models.

Teaandakitkat · 28/07/2021 11:35

If you both want to go then go. Why not? Even if its a bit shit your dd will remember that you made the effort to take her somewhere she wanted to go.

I once took ds across the country to a plane museum he really wanted to go to. It wasn't nearly as good as he hoped it would be but we enjoyed the trip. Stayed in a Premier Inn, had a hotel breakfast, we had fun.

Sometimes it's the random, not very sensible stuff that stays with you.

HoldingTheDoor · 28/07/2021 11:35

There's a list of HP themed Edinburgh stores, events and places here edinburgh.org/blog/the-ultimate-harry-potter-guide-to-edinburgh/

listsandbudgets · 28/07/2021 11:36

You'd be crazy especially as when I wkt in a few days ago the HP section had disappeared and replaced by some kind of wellness section.

If I were you aid be saving hard for a trip to Harry Potter world. For more expensive but a full day out and a lot better than a trip to Primark

Original poster

nyprincess · 28/07/2021 11:38

[quote HoldingTheDoor]There's a list of HP themed Edinburgh stores, events and places here edinburgh.org/blog/the-ultimate-harry-potter-guide-to-edinburgh/[/quote]
Thank you

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Original poster

nyprincess · 28/07/2021 11:39

@listsandbudgets

You'd be crazy especially as when I wkt in a few days ago the HP section had disappeared and replaced by some kind of wellness section.

If I were you aid be saving hard for a trip to Harry Potter world. For more expensive but a full day out and a lot better than a trip to Primark

We are planning on going there next year for her birthday and as a family. I am just taking her away for a couple of days to get her out of the house and have time together.

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