At a glance…
- Days To Spend: 1, but only as a passing-through destination
- Get Around: By walking or bus
- Get In and Out: By train
- Pay: With a bank card or cash, in British Pounds
- Speak: English
- See: The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter
- Should you go?: If you’re passing through, otherwise no
Everywhere you look in Birmingham, you will find steel. From it’s skyscrapers to it’s history, Birmingham is an industrial city of metal, glass, and oppressive architecture.
General Impressions
Rain is something us Brits are used to, but it nonetheless heavily marred our visit to Birmingham. It made the already grey and dreary atmosphere all the more depressing, but this was perhaps very appropriate for the city’s soul. Birmingham does not feel like a happy place, but it endures, much like it’s people, in spite of the ugly surroundings and less than pleasant weather.
Transport
Getting Around
Bus is, for the most part, your only option for reaching the further parts of Birmingham. A tram line exists, but we didn’t use it, and the centre is fairly walkable.
Getting In and Out
Birmingham is a railway hub, and has good connections to most other major cities in the UK, even as far as Dundee in Scotland, or the Welsh island of Anglesey.
Food
Birmingham is a city of immigrants, and it’s full of delicious foreign food. Indian come highly praised, though we preferred to visit a small Jamaican place, 24 Carat Bistro, tucked away in a hidden alley that we struggled to find. It was well worth the urban trek it took to get to it though, as the food was both relatively cheap, and delicious.
Money
Birmingham used the British Pound. Card payments are taken nearly everywhere, though small corner shops and takeaways may ask for cash only payments. A small amount of places may take payment only by card, but this is rare.
Language
Brumies, as they are affectionately called, speak English, though their accents can be hard to understand to non-native speakers (though this isn’t as bad as some, more Northern, accents).
Time
Despite its size, there’s really not a whole lot to do in Birmingham. It might be worth a stop over, or to be used as a base, but there’s not many interesting things in the city itself.
My Favourite Spots
The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter
One of the remains of Birmingham’s industrial past, the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter shows you how mass produced jewellery was made in Birmingham in the Victorian era. Its begins with a static display portion, where you learn more about the history of this particular factory. You are then taken on a guide tour of factory, where the knowledgeable guide will talk through the process of making jewellery, and demonstrate how this was done.
Birmingham Library
A library is not the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to tourist attractions, but Birmingham Library is situated in a lovely modern complex, which is interesting both inside and out. You can also go to the terrace for free, and observe the Birmingham skyline from above.
Conclusion
Is Birmingham worth visiting? Maybe. There’s enough activities to last you about a day, and it is a major rail hub, meaning it makes for the perfect city to pop your head into as you travel between other, more interesting cities.
We May Roam 