Birmingham or Bicester?

[HLBug]

If you had a whole day to spend pottering around, bit of money to spend, and wanted some quality alone weekday shopping time with no kids, where would you go - Birmingham City Centre (Bullring etc) or Bicester Village?

I'm flying into Birmingham International so can easily get the train to either. I arrive early morning but not meeting family until dinner time so I have the whole day to myself and I'm giddy with excitement

OP it really depends on what you would like to buy?

Birmingham bull ring unless you are wanting to spend serious money on last seasons designer stuff. There's very little left for regular shoppers are Bicester (white company, Hobbs and jaeger still going I think) so it's not worth that much time or effort. Birmingham has selfridges and lots of nice mid range stores.

Brum. Without a doubt

So is Bicester still super expensive then? I was hoping it would be full of amazing bargains...

Brum in a heartbeat. Bull Ring, Selfridges, the new mall at Grand Central station.

I was hoping it would be full of amazing bargains

^^ It really isn't, it is only good if you want to buy things from previous seasons, you will never find anything that is in season.

Birmingham! Closer to international and if you get bored of the shops you could go for some nice food and wander up to the museum.

Depends what you want. Birmingham has a really good range of shops. Bicester only has high end designer.

I was hoping it would be full of amazing bargains

The problem that it's 70% off an elaborate £5k ballgown
Rather than 50% off £100 pair of jeans.

Bicester is very high end now , I love Birmingham for choice . They have great shops and a super selfrdges .

I'd go to Birmingham every time. It is much closer and there's far more to do, plenty to keep you occupied all day and more. The new train station is really quite beautiful and you could spend plenty of time there with lots of choices for lunch, and you can walk from there to the bull ring without going outside (if the weather is pants). You then have the outside shops around the bull ring and grand central. you won't have time, but if you did you could walk across to the mailbox where there are some more shops and nice food joints.

Bicester is ok occasionally but really it's shit for food, ok if you want a last season designer bag at a slightly discounted price but no bargains really. Plus if the weather is shit there's no escaping it. You can't really spend more than a couple of hours there either (although I imagine that will change with the huge expansion they are planning).

Glitterfrog .. that’s it bang in, I use to go to Bicester years ago and it was fab but now is soooo High end it’s ridiculous . And the sizes are so tiny too. I have no need for a £5000 coat reduces to £750. I’d rather spend £750 on current clothing . If you are going out let then Portsmouth is a good shout because it’s lower end ‘designer ‘ and also has a normal shopping centre nearby . Me and dh have had quite a few fab days out there !

Ok you've definitely convinced me - Birmingham it is! I am happy to spend a bit on good stuff but I don't think a slightly overweight 30-something mum of two is the demographic that would do well bargain wise at Bicester!

So - Birmingham. Bullring and surrounds plus Central Station area? Is Jewellery Quarter another good location? I went to Birmingham once about 12 years ago...I imagine a lot has changed since then. Very excited for Selfridges

Don't forget the Mailbox (Harvey Nicks).

There’s the Bull Ring with Selfridges
Grand Central with John Lewis
the Mailbox with Harvey Nichols
All Birmingham

Last couple of times we have been to Bicester we have bought very little
All last seasons designer gear and still expensive for what it is

Bicester has valet parking and bouncers standing in shop doorways. The last time I went there the only thing I could afford bought was a sandwich & coffee in Pret.

The Jewellery Quarter is good for, er, jewellery. It does what it says on the tin: there's not a lot of other/non-jewellery going on. It's not really walking distance but there is a Metro.

There is also resort world at the NEC, which is right by the airport which is an outlet shopping centre but with normal outlet shops- gap. Next; vans. Bike: lindt chocolates!
I love birmingham. Grand central is my favourite.

Ohyes Resort world. Really good Nike outlet store there.

Oh thanks for that tip - I'd never heard of Resorts World. It seems to be connected somehow to International? Is that right? Can I walk there? My plane gets in at stupid o'clock so I might take a look round there before heading into City Centre. I'm a sucker for an Outlet - Cheshire Oaks is one of my favourite places ever

OMG I love Cheshire Oaks! Only been there once but I remember shedding money like my cat sheds white hair on my black clothes.

Yes you can walk from one to the other. It is signposted.

Brim is fab for shopping now, all totally revamped! Not been to Resorts World but yes it's at Brum International station, 10-15 mins on train from Brum. Solihull is pretty good for shopping too and is also 10-15 mins on train from Birmingham.

Have fun!

Brum not Brim!

I would do exactly that OP - go to resorts world first thing, have a mooch and breakfast/brunch at Patisserie Valerie. It's an outlet, with limited range, so do have a look on the website to see if they suit your taste.

Then get a train to New Street (grand central) and do some shopping in there, Phase 8, John Lewis, Hobbs etc and maybe have lunch there too.

Then walk out up to the Bull Ring. Lots of shops and Selfridges of course.

After that you will be shattered!!!

Birmingham city centre, no doubt.

Bicester is just too busy to be a pleasant shopping experience, unless you go verrrrrry early. In that part of the world you'd be better off going to Oxford, especially once the John Lewis opens at the end of the month.

I couldn't personally spend a whole day at Resorts World, but the shops are good for an hour's mooch before or after the cinema (which has an IMAX screen).

nutnerk's itinerary is a good one