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!

I know! The Ikon was the back up plan I gather... all of these ideas are AMAZING, thank you so much. I'm googling like mad

Yeah. Digbeth is cool. Easily walkable from New Street. They could mooch around the Red Brick Market and book a couple of hours at Chance & Counters for food and if they any to a game. There are other places close by for food too and some tables in a court yard (Custard Factory) is the area. Lots of interesting artsy stuff and there is a gallery.

What's the city centre like after dark?

If they fancy Think tank (which you can easily spend a few hours enjoying even as a teen) there is a discount code you could try to get half price entry THINKTANK50. Failing that one, you can get a discount code if travelling by train to Brum.

Much like the city centre in the day but less light....

You know what I mean

I took DS to Digbeth with a friend for his birthday to do VR at Matrix VR. It was lovely. An hour playing, then a pizza at cool place nearby. Loads of street art on the way and little galleries and stuff to look at.

Another vote for the big library, also The Exchange opposite which is a converted bank that the university have put a cafe and exhibition space in. Depending on how cold it is, walking along bits of the canals is quite nice for a chat. RBSA in the Jewellery Quarter is only small but would add it into the mix if it's open.

Birmingham city centre is fine after dark, it's the second city so busy and lots of things open late.

If you don't know it well I wouldn't go wandering down any alleys or small unlit side streets but I would say the same as any town/ city at night time as if unfamiliar you don't know where the rough areas begin. You'll be absolutely fine in the main city centre though.

I also think ThinkTank could be good. Or there's escape rooms in the jewellery Quarter if they want to travel less?
Or something quite different- the coffin works is quite an interesting place to visit (it's a museum about coffin making)

Afraid this is 18+ only

I'm so grateful for all these brilliant ideas. If it goes well tomorrow, they're planning another day out in the summer, so I've got a stack of suggestions for DD now.

Two posters have suggested Thinktank, which might be up their street. From a quick look at the website, I'm getting mixed views about whether it's okay for 14/15 year olds. They're quite into this kind of thing though.

If we did that, what's the best place for lunch around there? Sorry if someone's already told me that, I've got about 450 webpages open atm

You could go ice skating, for a coffee in the Exchange (opposite the library and ice skating) and then get the tram to the Jewellery Quarter. Or you could walk along the canal to LA Pop for fancy ice cream. Apparently there’s also crazy golf in the bullring at the mo.

I think it's directed to a slightly younger demographic, but could still be fun if they're into that sort of thing! Original patty men is nearby to eat, awesome burgers!

We're at thinktank a lot with my preschooler (who loves it) - geeky 14/15 year old me would probably have enjoyed it in a partly sincere-partly ironic sort of way, some bits are interesting and some are pretty tired. Prices are pretty high for a one-off visit though, I would think you'd get more entertainment for your money elsewhere for teenagers.

Thank you everyone - you've been unbelievably helpful. What about the Sealife Centre? Would that be okay for teens? Is there a decent place to eat near there?

...my plan is to present DD with a list of your ideas and we make a shortlist on the train en route 😳

I work at the Library, the reception area is also a Tourist Information Centre, if you go to the foyer my colleagues can provide you with a map and details of whats open.

At age 14/15 I wouldn’t suggest Thinktank or Sealife tbh as I think both are too young for that age group. I would suggest Red Brick market followed by lunch and board games at Chance and Counters. Did this with my daughters in summer before they went back to Uni. Red brick market has lots of cool, quirky stands. Food is good at Chance and Counters too. Street art around that area too.

Sealife centre is expensive but fun, and right by Brindley Place which is full of places to eat.

There’s usually lots of walking tours and an open top bus if they’re coming back in the summer. The West Midlands Police Museum is pretty good too, and not too far from Jewellery Quarter. There are two fascinating cemeteries in the J Quarter - if you’re ever here when a guided tour is on it’s worth doing :)

Ok so jewellery quarter good for a wander and a coffee.

Thinktank I would say is a bit young for 14 year old unless they have a love of big engines!

Brindleyplace for lunch. Try Cosy Club, Zizzi or Bank.

I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet but the Primark is incredible and I am not even a Primark fan.

Back to museums etc -

Back to Backs - www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/birmingham-west-midlands/birmingham-back-to-backs you have to book though so maybe too late

The Library has been mentioned and is v good.

There is a coffin museum - yes really - in the jewellery quarter www.coffinworks.org/

Police museum museum.west-midlands.police.uk

Sealift centre is quite pricey and takes about an hour it's nice but quick it is in Brindleyplace though to tie in with lunch and the Lego shop / Lego Discovery centre is over the canal.

At 14 they are miles too old for think tank, and the sealife centre is very expensive just to look at some dull fish. Can they ice skate, the ice rink is OK.

Also what am I missing in the library that would be of interest to look at?.

Sea life centre is close to the new library - both close to Brindley place where there is a huge choice of eateries . Close to canal too .

I wonder if the museums closing for January is due to the council being bankrupt .