Birmingham Tomorrow - Ideas Please!

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Teen DD is meeting up with a new friend in Birmingham tomorrow daytime. The plan had been to meet up at the museum and art gallery, then some food. I've been fairly hands off with the arrangement so far as letting DD sort things out independently, but just clocked tonight that the museum is in fact closed until Feb.

I haven't been to Birmingham for about 25 years. We're getting the train to New Street - any ideas for a brilliant place for them to meet? They're not interested in shopping or clothes shops. They want to chat and walk and hang out a bit I think. My DD would prefer something like a gallery, to give them something mutual to focus on.

We have about 3.5 hours and we need to fit in a bite to eat and picking something up from the jewellery quarter, where we'd rather be, too be honest, if you think that might work.

Thanks!

...p.s. I'm going along but at a distance ideally. DD wants me around but not TOO around iyswim

The library would be great as it has gardens, observatory and sometimes some artwork/photography. There's several restaurants around it too

There is the Museum and Art Gallery and the big library if they are open. Also there is a roller skating eink and various other things in Digbeth now, depending on what she wants.

Maybe the back to backs tour if its not too late to book? Lots of nice places to eat in nearby Chinatown too!

Meet under the Bull in the station.

The library is lovely.

The Thinktank was good when I went (years ago though) but there is an admission fee. The library is pretty cool. Probably best just to wander aimlessly tbh, it’s a compact enough city. (But I appreciate teens may feel more comfortable to have a plan)

Chance & Counters board game cafe. Cooler than it sounds. Custard factory is a cool artsy place. There is an indoor market close by with loads of independent sellers that teens might like.

@glassconcreteandstone just looked at back to backs no availability until next week

Food at game cafe is fab.

Is the jewellery Quarter museum open? It's beautiful and very interesting!

There's the coffin museum in the jewellery Quarter will give them something to talk about
https://g.co/kgs/ha6hd83

Bomeheads for the chicken. Right by the station. If you know you know

I like ThinkTank (but it is a fairly loud space due to open plan, hard surfaces and some engine noise as well as people) I'm not sure if the teens would? The outside science garden cN be fun, but more weather dependent. Cafe offerings there aren't great.

There's the aquarium by the canal?

I recently came to Brum for a work do, we met at New St and walked up to Paradise? It’s like the newly refurbished square, we went to Dishoom for food then out to Albert Schloss next door a cool Bavarian sort of place. If you carry on walking you end up in another square with the library there. If that helps?

@Onceuponaheartache closed until Feb as is the main museum and art gallery

There is the Ikon gallery. It is near the main library (which is absolutely worth a visit) and nearly Brindley place where there are lots of restaurants.

Is it safe?

Custard factory is cool. Mac and adjoining gardens also cool.

Ghetto golf in Digbeth could be a shout too if they're in to that sort of thing!

Nope. I was going to suggest it but, when I checked, the Ikon is closed until Feb, too!

Red Brick Market is the place I was thinking of.

Ice rink is open in centenary square until Sunday, along with ferris wheel and other rides.

The library is lovely. Area around canal behind Symphony Hall good for places to eat. Can't believe that the Ikon, Art Gallery and Gas House are all closed at once!

Digbeth is great to wander round and look at the street art. You can Google digbeth Street art walking tour and follow the route. Birmingham is great for food. Lots of places in the Chinese quarter. Also a place called Bonehead by the station that does the best fried chicken. Would highly recommend!