Hi, I work for a large mobile telecomms company. I live in Oxford but was born in Toronto, Canada. ...
Hi, I work for a large mobile telecomms company. I live in Oxford but was born in Toronto, Canada. Engaged to a lovely guy from Birmingham (see Sonatine on Ciao [love you babes xx]). Love playing guitar & midi keyboards when I can afford it. Have 2 ca...
Member since:03.01.2001
Reviews:86
Members who trust:8
Being only an Oxford girl I've never really felt very comfortable touring England's big cities. London scared the hell out of me, and while Manchester & Leeds were far more interesting they still felt cold & soulless.
I first visited Birmingham 20 years ago and my impression of the place was...damn...'nuff said!!
However, my boyfriend is a Brummie lad so a few weeks ago I pushed myself to take another trip northwards up the M40 to the city of nightmares.
Well bless my stockings!
With my boyfriend as guide I was genuinely surprised at the total transformation of the city hub. Even though it was still a nightmare to get into with all the one-way systems & diversions that would test the patience of a Paris-Dakkar racing driver, the city itself has changed from the graveyard I remembered from when I was a kid.
Gone is the hideous Bull Ring shopping centre:the disaster of 1960s architectual planning & design, to be replaced by a £500 million....eerrr Neo-Bull Ring Shopping Centre - I hope lessons have been learned here!
In addition one of the main arterial roads that lead into the city, Broad Street, has transmogrified beyond belief. No longer a place of cobbled pavements, sad old shops & derelict factories, Broad Street has had over a billion pounds lavished on it with a new Convention Centre, Symphony Hall, 5 starhotels, a sea life centre, multiplexes, top shops, pubs & eateries etc etc.
As a consequence this is the place where all the pretty young things flutter too of a nightime like moths to a lightbulb. However, the problem with this is while Broad Street rocks with life the rest of the city nightlife is as dead as dead.
And even though a lot of the centre is now pedestrianised with subways filled and cars pushed to the periphery there is still too much unsightly concrete, glass & tarmac and not enough grass, trees & wildlife.
In addition, even though the local council is investing billions of pounds along with private investment into making the centre of Brum attractive to European & global eyes, what of the suburbs, the poverty, the crime, the crumbling schools, roads & hospitals?
Its all very well making the centre more attractive but what of the local people who live in the shadows of all these towers & skyscrapers?
Yes, Birmingham has changed for the better but a lot still has to be done both for the tourist, the businessman & the local people. Until then my attitude towards cities in general and Brum in particular remains unmoved.
Give me quaint little Oxford anyday. The problem is, I've got to convince my Brummy Boyfriend that moving to little old Oxford will be the best move he will ever make...will he cope I wonder lol
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
I used to think Brum was all smoke, cobbled streets and Bennies (character from Crossroads). However, I went back there a few weeks ago and PHEW....we're talking major surgery here. The place is a million times better than it was, more accessable, good choice in shopping, plenty of style, culture, entertainments etc. Lots of redevelopments still going on so some areas are like bomb sites. But yes Brum is definately BACK!!!
the_mad_cabbie 03.01.2001 22:57
"Transmognified". Wow, I like that one !! Good opinion.
cujimmy
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
Advantages: Easy access, lots to do/see/buy, open spaces, smog free, friendly Disadvantages: inner ring roads still lurk, not enough nightclubs, restaurants, needs to cater more for foreign tourist
Advantages: Mostly free, fascinating, reflects the city's industrial heritage Disadvantages: Not well publicised enough, buried under the city's poor reputation
michaird 31.12.2002 (31.12.2002)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Birmingham in general
Advantages: Huge, multi-cultural, lots to do and see, nice atmosphere. Disadvantages: Far from the coast, some of the buildings, the spaghetti junction and the accent.
Jan 3rd, 2001
very helpful by (90%):
helpful by (10%):
