Birmingham City Break
Is Birmingham good for a city break?
Birmingham is great for a city break. It’s home to the UK’s oldest independent cinema, the Bull Ring market, great museums and a fab Chinese quarter. It’s also got lots of canals.
Check out this review of a weekend trip to Birmingham with details of things to do and places to visit.
1. Birmingham City Break – Getting to Birmingham
I flew from Inverness to Birmingham. There used to be a regular service operated by Flybe. There is a service between Inverness and Birmingham which is now operated by Loganair.
Search below to find flights to Birmingham
2. Birmingham City Break – Travelling from Birmingham Airport
Birmingham Airport is a nice sized airport. I took the train from Birmingham International to Birmingham New Street Station and then walked to the hotel I was staying at. It was an easy walk and took about 15 minutes once I had found my way out of New Street!
I stayed at the Ibis Birmingham city centre. It was a reasonably priced city centre hotel (?55 for the night). Check out my review of the Ibis Birmingham city centre for more information.
If you want to quickly check prices for the Ibis Birmingham city centre then quickly check below.
Quickly find the best prices for hotels across Birmingham using this map search;
Birmingham City Break – Activities and Eating
4. Birmingham City Break – Chung Ying Chinese Restaurant
While I was in Birmingham I ate at Chung Ying Chinese restaurant which is just across the road.
I chose this restaurant because it had an extensive vegetarian menu.
I ate bean curd dim sum for start, which were like trying to eat molten lava. They were very nice once they had cooled down!
The main course of fried rice and vegetables in a bird’s nest was very nice but I couldn’t eat the birds nest (made from noodles) because I only had a spoon and chopsticks. I wasn’t able to get the attention of anyone to request any more cutlery. The restaurant was very busy and there were lots of groups and couples in. I was something of an oddity as the only solo diner I think.
With two soft drinks the meal cost £21.00
5. Birmingham City Break – Electric Cinema
I also visited the Electric Cinema while I was in Birmingham.
This is a quirky independent cinema that is beside New Street Station. The lobby area is tiny and because it was cold and there were two films starting close together it was jammed in the lobby area while waiting to get into the cinema. I loved the little bar, although I couldn’t reach it to get a drink or a homemade cake/cookie.
The seating was comfy and there were also sofas as well.
I saw the film Parasite and it was a great experience with members of the audience laughing etc throughout – it felt almost like a communal cinema experience. The film was amazing, something quite different, and actually, a South Korean film that went on to win several awards. It was nice to hear the reaction of others in the audience to various parts of the film, which is well worth a watch if you haven’t seen it.
This quirky independent cinema experience was the highlight of my Birmingham break.
It was a short walk back to the hotel, which was fortunate because by the time I came out of the cinema, there were lots of groups milling about the streets of Birmingham city centre.
6. Birmingham City Break – Coffin Works Museum
I had actually booked a ticket to take a tour of the Coffin Museum in Birmingham. This sounded really quite interesting but my plans changed at the last minute and I wasn’t able to go. It’s definitely on the list for next time.
The museum is in the Jewellery Quarter and it tells the history of the Newman Brothers business which was in its heyday in the 1960’s.
Here is a little clip from when the museum was on the Antiques Roadshow for a flavour of what it is like and about.
7. Birmingham City Break – Birmingham Back to Back’s
These terraced houses are now a National Trust museum providing insight into the daily life of working class people.
The reviews are really great, with much praise for the guides taking the tours.
There are some steep stairs to deal with.
Otherwise, they sound like a really different type of historic tour.
8. Looking for Hotels for your Birmingham Break?
Find great deals quickly using this map search
Top deals in Birmingham
Further Reading
If you have found this Birmingham City Break article useful you and you are planning to travel to Birmingham you might also like;
My review of the Ibis Birmingham New Street
My review of Ibis Birmingham Airport.
My review of the Village Hotel, Solihull
For more ideas check out my Travel Inspiration page
Other Articles
- Holyrood Hotel Review and Helpful Things to Know 🏴Click below to quickly find the best price for your stay at the Holyrood Hotel 1. Holyrood Hotel Address The address of the Holyrood Hotel is; 81 Holyrood Hotel, Edinburgh, EH8 8AU 2. Phone Number The telephone number of the hotel is; 0131 528 8000 3. Getting from Edinburgh Waverley Station to the Holyrood Hotel… Read More »Holyrood Hotel Review and Helpful Things to Know 🏴
- Lerwick Hotel Review and Helpful Things to KnowClick to get the best price for your stay at the Lerwick Hotel 1. Lerwick Hotel Address The address of the Lerwick Hotel is; 15 South Road, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0PX 2. Phone Number The telephone number of the hotel is; +44 (1595) 692166 3. Getting from Sumburgh Airport to the Lerwick Hotel It is… Read More »Lerwick Hotel Review and Helpful Things to Know
- Visit Shetland – A Stunning Destination Any Time of the YearPlanning to Visit Shetland? Shetland is an amazing place to visit. It is very different from the rest of Scotland. It has its own very distinct culture, language, food, landscape, and history. There is a great deal to see and enjoy when visiting. Visit Shetland 2. Where Do You Fly From to Get To Shetland? There… Read More »Visit Shetland – A Stunning Destination Any Time of the Year
- Alicante Holiday – What You Need to Know to Plan Your Trip 🇪🇸Thinking of an Alicante holiday? You should it’s a great destination that offers great value too. Alicante is a coastal and port town located on the South Coast of Spain. It is in the Costa Blanca area, which refers to the coastline and it’s a popular tourist destination. It has a population of around 350,000… Read More »Alicante Holiday – What You Need to Know to Plan Your Trip 🇪🇸
- 6 Handpicked Hotels in Riga – From Budget to Luxury 🇱🇻Looking for Hotels In Riga? Wondering where to stay? Check out this guide and find your perfect stay from these hotels in Riga. Hotels in Riga – Airport Hotels If you need to stay close to the airport then you have two choices – the Sky High Hotel or the Hampton by Hilton. Hotels in… Read More »6 Handpicked Hotels in Riga – From Budget to Luxury 🇱🇻
- 5 Interesting Things to Do in Riga – Plus How to Get Around 🇱🇻Planning on visiting Riga? Read on for some ideas of things to do in Riga, including a couple of free and a couple of paid options. There are also a couple of restaurant recommendations too. Riga public transport is really great value so keep reading to find out how to use it to get around.… Read More »5 Interesting Things to Do in Riga – Plus How to Get Around 🇱🇻
- 10 Reasons to Stay at the Lovely Busta House HotelI am lucky enough to have stayed at the lovely Busta House Hotel a number of times when taking tour groups to Shetland. It’s my favourite hotel on Shetland, and one of my favourite hotels anywhere. Here are 10 reasons you should stay at the Busta House Hotel too. 1. Busta House Hotel is Run… Read More »10 Reasons to Stay at the Lovely Busta House Hotel
- 26 Great Things to Do On Your Shetland HolidayConsidering a Shetland holiday? It’s a fantastic place to visit, with its own unique character. There is something about Shetland – whether that’s the people, the scenery, the wildlife, or the weather. It gets under your skin. Here are 26 things you might like to see on your Shetland Holiday. Shetland Holiday 1. Sumburgh Head… Read More »26 Great Things to Do On Your Shetland Holiday
- Campanile Glasgow – Helpful Things to Know Before You StayLooking to stay at the Campanile Glasgow? Check out this review, including a video room tour of a twin room. Pros My Review Score 😄 Cons Cost £79 twin room, no breakfast Campanile Glasgow – Find the Best Price Online Want to find the best price for the Campanile Glasgow super quickly? Just pop your… Read More »Campanile Glasgow – Helpful Things to Know Before You Stay