If you had a morning in Birmingham?

[YesThisIsMe]

Doing a day trip to Birmingham as part of a mini-break so DC can have a look at University of Birmingham in person and get a bit more of a sense of the city before UCAS decision deadline. If you were going to wander around for an hour or so in the city centre before heading to the University area, what route would you take? DH and I used to know the city really well but that was thirty years ago and as I understand it it’s pretty much been knocked down and rebuilt since then.

We don’t want to “do” anything, just see stuff.

And can you recommend anywhere good to have a quick lunch/tea in the University area?

TIA

I'd head down to the bullring and buy expensive chocolate from Selfridges!

Thanks, but we’re from London, we can buy expensive chocolate at our very own Selfridges .

You could have a wander round the canals or the jewellry quarter (nice places to eat there) or go to the botanical gardens which are close to the university.

IKON gallery and brunch at York’s cafe, visiting the back to backs (heritage site), go for an explore round Digbeth, visit the Jewellery Quarter and go to the museum

@YesThisIsMe

Thanks, but we’re from London, we can buy expensive chocolate at our very own Selfridges .

Now if I had access to London I'd be heading to Laderach instead!

Unless you were absolutely set on going to the city centre I’d probably avoid that altogether if the weather was nice and head to cannon hill park for a wander and drink/something to eat at the MAC.

It’s been a while since I’ve been but if it had to be the city centre I would head to the bullring markets for a potter.

Thanks all. It’s a measure of how long it’s been since I lived in Birmingham that I find the idea of going for a wander round Digbeth actually hilarious, much as someone who hadn’t been to London since 1990 might find the idea of wandering round King’s Cross. I assume it’s been gentrified/hipsterated?

I havn't ventured to Digbeth recently (Me and dh studied and worked in Brum in the 90's) as when we go now it tends to be for specific reasons such as theatre, dd's dance workshops etc but I believe it has been re-generted round the Custard Factory area.

I would probably go to the Mailbox area or Brindleyplace and go to a restaurant/cafe for a nice canalside lunch. You could actually walk (part canal route) to both places from Bham university, although it would be a long walk.

I'm not too clued about the area immediately surrounding the university but nowhere particularly nice to have lunch around there springs to mind.

How will you be getting around? Car or public transport?

Winterbourne gardens is very close to the University and absolutely gorgeous - you could go for a wander around there and have lunch, if you fancied it?

@HumunaHey

I would probably go to the Mailbox area or Brindleyplace and go to a restaurant/cafe for a nice canalside lunch. You could actually walk (part canal route) to both places from Bham university, although it would be a long walk.

I'm not too clued about the area immediately surrounding the university but nowhere particularly nice to have lunch around there springs to mind.

How will you be getting around? Car or public transport?

I wouldn't drive into Birmingham from the university to be honest. The train from University Station to New Street is so easy and only takes around 10 minutes. By the time you've navigated the one way system with all the building work diversion and found expensive parking its not worth the hassle.

Botanical Gardens.

Digbeth was awarded £15m for regeneration yesterday, but it’s pretty cool as it is, if it’s your type of place. Usually I’d have said to check out the Dining Club, but it’s not reopening there sadly.

I can’t think of anywhere particularly nice to have lunch around the uni... I’d probably train in and wander round for a bit, see where you fancy, and where’s open with availability.

Winterbourne Gardens are a good shout!

Half of us are getting off the train at University and the other half are continuing on to the centre.

Thanks for this - I just came on to ask a similar question! Although we have the added complication of DD being on crutches... so limited on what / where.

Sorry to hijack, but can anyone recommend a budget hotel with parking on site? We were thinking of staying in the centre within (slow) walking distance of good food for the evening & driving to the university.

Any other suggestions of what we could do? DD has been thoroughly fed up with being housebound so it would be nice if we could treat her & make a weekend of it.

Another vote for the Mailbox area.
Digbeth is all hypsterized now yes.