**Birmingham England** Ah where to begin. Birmingham or Brum (as it is known to some), is my home and has been for almost 19 years. I have never lived anywhere else and I will always consider it my home. I felt compelled to write this review of this fantastic city as I find that people are all too quick to judge Birmingham for all of its downfalls and not necessarily its wonderful attributes which make it the friendliest city I know. So never judge Birmingham until you have been and experienced the offering of a world class cultural scene, a diverse and lively mix of shopping and people, attractions, nightlife, major international events and exhibitions, such as the motor show, the clothes show and many, many more, and of course a beautiful countryside just a short drive away.
WHAT TO DO IN BIRMINGHAM This is a huge city, the second largest in England although many don’t realise it and even the weather people forget to mention the weather in Birmingham! There are many sights and attractions in Birmingham I will try to describe all of them so that you know where to go when visiting Birmingham. Firstly, we have THE NATIONAL SEA LIFE CENTRE; this is located around the broad street area of Birmingham, right by the canal. The address; The Water's Edge Brindley Place, Birmingham West Midlands B1 2HL. The sea life centre apparently offers over 3,000 creatures and you
are also able to walk through the world's first 360 degree transparent under water tunnel while sharks, stingrays and other creatures swim all around you. This is a great day out for the kids although I wouldn't recommend it as the best place to go in Birmingham; it is merely one of the many places Birmingham has to offer. CADBURY WORLD, yes that right chocolate land! Cadbury world is one of my favourite places as I'm definitely a chocolate lover, and this is a great place to learn all about the history of chocolate and how it is made. Along the trip you get to taste all different chocolate and win all sorts of treats. After the trip has finished there is a Cadbury shop where you can purchase cheap chocolate pretty much in bulk at less than half the price of shops. I'm talking Cadbury’scream eggs for a few pennies each. NOTE: This is very busy during school holidays pre-booking is essential. +44 (0) 121 4514159. I'd day the best time to go if you can manage to get a booking is Easter time as you get eastern eggs given to you as a complimentary gift and you can purchase cheap eggs in the Cadbury shop. THE BOTANICAL GARDENS, this is fifteen acres of beautiful gardens all under one glass roof. I visited this place many years ago on a school trip when I was around 10 years old, so I'll try to remember the best I can. It contains many rare species of plants so this place is definitely for the green fingered people out there. It has a children's discovery garden which I remember having a lot of fun in. It also has averies, a gallery and a gift shop. I wouldn't recommend this as a children's place as they may get easily bored, just you gardening folk out there. THE THINKTANK, this included an IMAX cinema. This is Birmingham's very own science museum; it is defiantly new and improved since it has been rebuilt. There are many things for the children to do and play on here, including a room full of science equipment that will amaze even the oldest of kids, I'm 19 and I enjoy it! The exhibits are defiantly hands on and contains the only IMAX cinema in the Midlands. STAR CITY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE This is a massive building containing restaurants such as Pizza Hut and Nando's, there are 10 restaurants and bars to choose from. There is also the biggest casino in the UK and the largest multiplex cinema in the UK. It also boasts a 22 lane mega bowl, which from my experience is easy to get lanes without even booking. It is located just off the M6 motorway not far from the city centre either! THEATRES From the Alexandra to the Old Rep there are many theatres to choose from in Birmingham, just looking in the city centre booking office at the leaflets you will find something that floats you boat, from shows at the Hippodrome Theatre to concerts and the well known NEC or NIA arena's there is something for everyone. SHOPPING! Definitely my favourite part of Birmingham, in fact I’m going shopping right after this review! I love shopping in my home city, especially now that is has the new Bull Ring shopping centre and Mail Box to offer. The MAIL BOX is definitely for the label queens and kings out there, it offers boutiques that contain the most expensive and beautiful designer clothes, such as DKNY, and Emporio Armani to name but a few. If you don’t have the money, which I certainly don’t, its great fun just to go window shopping and trying on the expensive garments. THE BULLRING. Now this has a reputation for being a rough area, and to be honest it once was, but now it has been rebuilt to create the biggest shopping centre in Europe and it contains the best high street shops there is to offer. My favourites include; the massive two floors of Topshop and Topman, the Spanish Zara, Jane Norman, Office shoes, a HUGE H&M, the famous Selfridges, and many, many more, including numerous jewellery shops and restaurants (Eat and Café Rouge, (which has to be tried to be believed)). The HIGH STREET shopping in Birmingham is also brilliant, (if the Bullring and The Mail Box weren’t enough); the high street offers indoor malls including The Palisades and the Pavilions which all contain another lot of shops. NIGHT LIFE Birmingham has a lot to offer night life wise, there’s Broad Street, or the Arcadian.
The Arcadian* This is a type of entertainment centre with a range of clubs, bars and restaurants, even hair and beauty salons. It includes the following; 52 Degrees North Bar/Restaurant, Arca, Bar Coast, Barocco, Café Soya, Milanos, Festival Balti Restaurant, Golden Pond Chinese Restaurant, The Glee Club, The Green Room Café Bar, New Sum Ye Fast Food, The Old Fox Public House, O'Neills Public House, Oriental Kitchen, Mono, Poppy Red, PJ's Moon and Sixpence Bar, Las Iguanas Latin American Café Bar/Restaurant, Missing Bar, Sobar and Teppanyaki Japanese Restaurant. The address; Hurst Street Birmingham B5 4TD.
Broad Street* This is a long street full of clubs, bars, pubs and restaraunts. I won't name them all as there are too many and I can't remember all of their names, and I havn't been to all of them. Broad Street contains; Branigans (cheesy music), The Works (lots of floors with different music to cater for all tastes, situated in the heart of Broad Street), Bar Risa, Jimmi Spice (a all you can eat buffet for £11.99 containing Italian, Indian, Chinese and Thai food), Flares (like a 60's and 70's club where everyone dressed up), Hard Rock Cafe, to name but a few.
I hope I've managed to change a few people's minds about Birmingham I know a lot of people have a negative attitude to Englands second city. However don't knock it till you've tried it, and you never know perhaps you'll enjoy the experience. Come rain or shine there's always somthing to do in Birmingham.
:o) xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Pictures of Birmingham (England)
Arcadian
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Birmingham is definitely the place to be at the moment!
tel1 20.03.2005 21:35
Some good info on Brum. I've passed by (or thro'?) the town on the motorway but have never stopped there. Cheers Tel
wine42 12.03.2005 16:02
Very helpful, and detailed review. Seem to cover all aspects of the city. Anyone who has not visited birmingham before will learn everything they need from this review.
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Advantages: Cheap shopping, no end of places to go for shopping, top restaurants. Disadvantages: Street crime a plenty, *incredibly* rude locals, overcrowding.
badongism 23.12.2005 (23.12.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Birmingham (England)
Advantages: Cheap shopping, no end of places to go for shopping, top restaurants. Disadvantages: Street crime a plenty, *incredibly* rude locals, overcrowding.
badongism 23.12.2005 (23.12.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Birmingham (England)
Jul 6th, 2004
(Sep 29th, 2004)
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