Birmingham Christmas Market

[HeyThatsNotMyName]

Thinking about going to Birmingham to experience the Christmas Market for the first time this year. It would be a trip for myself, dp and ds who will be 2.

Any top tips for us?

It gets very busy as night falls at the weekends, a buggy will be difficult to get round then, but it's quieter earlier in the day.

Will you be staying over?

@TwoGinScentedTears the plan would be to stay over in a hotel close to the market.

I live just outside Birmingham, and my advice is to go during the day. Do not take a 2yr old at night, its just not safe as it gets RIDICULOUSLY crowded. I'm only just taking my son this year, and he's 7.

Agree with everyone else; it's beautiful but utterly rammed so take kids in the day.

Don't go at night full stop, the crowds were so dense you were pushed up against people on all sides and I got groped last time I went 😒
Honestly I would only ever go on a weekday in the daytime now x

Agree with pp, go in the daytime!

There's a Premier Inn close by to Victoria Square - the majority of the stalls, food, carousel etc are with some more on New Street. This Premier Inn has a Beefeater right next to it so you can get a cooked brekky the next day.

If you get bored/cold, right on Victoria Square there's the Museum which is free to look round.

I live in Birmingham and where they normally have the Christmas market is a building site at the moment as they are extending the tram system, I would make sure that it's going to be in that location first

Even during the day, it's not easy to negotiate all the visitors with a pushchair. I'd be inclined to leave DC behind this year (if possible and appropriate of course - I appreciate that not everyone has willing and suitable babysitters on hand).

Thank you for all of the helpful advice! I guess we were being quite unrealistic with our plans. Back to the drawing board...

We're planning to go on a Saturday in December (arriving mid morning Saturday and coming home on the Sunday afternoon) I'm thinking the train and a central hotel will be least stressful. We'll be taking DC but they're teens.

Last year the market was smaller than usual because of the redevelopment of the old library site - so my favourite part, the craft stalls and hot cider stand - weren't there.

I don't know if it will be back to normal this year. I'd only go a weekday daytime. Lunchtime gets crowded as people go for a drink/food. After work is so rammed I wouldn't even attempt it with a little one.

It's expensive but festive. I like a mooch around and a snack but don't buy anything else because it's all exactly the same stuff each year.

Personally I wouldn't entertain taking a pushchair round due to crowds. Going very soon after opening in the morning might be doable but may lack atmosphere.

I went last year and tbh it was a bit crap. The stalls mostly sell the same things - all the sweet stalls sell the same sweets, the ornaments/decorations are the same whichever stall you go to, etc. Or it's stuff you can buy off eBay for a fraction of the price. There's nothing new or interesting or worth splashing out on.

I'd do something different - Santa Express at SVR?