Briminghan

[4GS]

We're off to Mrs 4GS's work 'do' in Birmingham on Saturday night. We've booked the hotel and arrive about 10AM Saturday morning, which leaves us the day to sight-see, so, any ABer know of any places of interest in Brum?

[jazzy_lady]

no more names then? try cripple if u like, it works a treat!!

off to polish the old wheelchair...........

[cazzz1975]

go then jazzy...

[vehelpfulguy]

Its a pity morons like jazzy_lady spoil what is otherwise a very useful site.

Birmingham council have made huge strides in the last few years to improve the centre of Birmingham for tourists.

There is now some amazing shopping areas, and other tourist places.

I have given a similar answer in the past, so here is the link

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Travel/Question 272394.html

[dot.hawkes]

who the **** is this jazzy person coming on here making grunting noises, i am not liking that not one bit, i see potential conflict here, it's unnecessary, where is lucythomas hiding?

[amonty1144]

The botanic gardens in Edgbaston, an oasis of peace and quiet one would hope.
Also the museum is very good, used to be free but don't know now.
If you are prepared to travel then the Black Country museum.
I used to live in Brum and loved it...each to their own

[vehelpfulguy]

If you only have part of one day, and you fancy just strolling around, then the area covered in this photograph is probably the best place to be.

http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/gallery/v/birmin gham/ice-rink-mg4280.jpg.html

It is just to the west of the city centre.

The square in the centre is called Centenary Square (not sure if the ice rink or big wheel is there this year).

In the top left of the picture you can see the Hyatt Hotel.

The large building in the top centre (behind the wheel) is the Convention Centre and Symphony Hall and the public can stroll through it.

If come out the other side of the Convention Centre you get to the canals and Brindley Place where there are lots of bars and restaurants, and a few shops.

Picture here

http://www.shakespeareline.com/images/canal_ca fe_v.jpg

If you leave the Centenary Square from the opposite end from the convention center you go through the new library, and into Victoria Square, shown in this picture with the German Market in it.

http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/gallery/v/birmin gham/_MG_4408.jpg.html

The building in the centre, with the red roof and dome, is the museum and art gallery which I think is free and is a lovely building inside (nice edwardian cafe as well)

http://www.arlis.org.uk/conf/arlis2005/photos/ tearoom.jpg

You can easily stroll round this area for half a day or so (traffice free as we

[vehelpfulguy]

So to sum up my slightly complex append above you can do as follows (depending where you start):

To go from west to east. Start at Brindley place and the canals, go through the convention centre (look in at the symphony hall if it is open), come out into centenary square (ice rink), keep going straight ahead and through the new library, out in Chamberlain square (fountain), see the entrance to the museum and art gallery, then into Victoria square and the German market.

If you do it the other way round (east to west).

Start in Victoria square with German Market, walk past entrance to museum and art gallery, into Chamberlain square (fountain), under the new library, out into Centenary square (ice rink), go towards convention centre, go through it (looking in to symphony hall), out the other side of convention centre, cross canal by bridge into Brindley place.

The total walk is less than a mile, but it can easily take half a day or more depending how much you look at.

As I said, the walk either way is totally traffic free.

Here is a map that may help. The area I am discussing is on the left of the map. You can see Victoria Square Centenary Square and others things I mentionewd marked on the map.

You can just see the Hyatt hotel but the Convention Centre is just off the left of the map.

http://www.networkwestmidlands.com/Bus/Bham%20 City%20Centre%20June%2007.jpg

[dolly pond]

i`m in solihull and rarely hit the city!!! god knows why really...... plan to after xmas to do some shoppping and food.

i think jazzy has a point but no need to rant like that, a lot of birmingham is great like anywhere else, there are rough parts and towns you avoid like the plague!! i love solihull, its really lovely and thats where we are off to now to go shopping at john lewis and then for a liquid lunch, hic

[maglet]

jazzy-lady. I was born & bred in Brum, and I can tell you that Brummies are some of the most genuine and caring people around, regarding Sparkhill Rd yes, there is a large community of eastern people, but thats what makes life so interesting, different foods, styles, cultures etc. You are I'm afraid very uneducated, possibly bordering on illiterate, narrow minded, a chav, and from your remarks not a nice person to know.

I now live in the Cotswolds, you probably dont know where that is, but if you would like to visit, just speak into the intercom and my gates will open for you. Bye Loser !!