Are you planning on visiting Birmingham?
Why not consider a Birmingham city break? It’s a surprising city with some interesting attractions – not least the oldest cinema in the UK.
Author Bio – Melanie Newdick, Professional Traveller
- +36 years travelling for work. Visited +40 countries (many multiple times)
- Stayed in over 700 hotels. Taken +9,500 on coach holidays
- Check all out my best money saving resources
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.
Birmingham City Break
1. 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
Birmingham City Break
2. 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. 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
Birmingham City Break
5. 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.
Birmingham City Break
6. 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.
Birmingham City Break
7. 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
- Pitlochry Hydro Hotel – Video Room Review and Helpful TipsAre you thinking of visiting Pitlochry? Looking for somewhere to stay that has free parking but is within easy reach of the High Street? Looking for somewhere with a pool and spa facilities, restaurant and lift? The Pitlochry Hydro has all of those things, alongwith a bar and a pool room and a couple of… Read More »Pitlochry Hydro Hotel – Video Room Review and Helpful Tips
- Enchanted Forest – First Time Visit Review & Helpful TipsAre you planning a visit to the Enchanted Forest? The Daily Record described the Enchanted Forest as a “mesmerizing underwater voyage of discovery” After our visit, I would say that’s a very accurate description. Read on to learn everything you need to know to plan your trip in 2024. Enchanted Forest – Summary of Visit… Read More »Enchanted Forest – First Time Visit Review & Helpful Tips
- Days Inn Lockerbie Review and Helpful Tips for Your StayThinking of staying at the Days Inn Lockerbie? It’s a handy location right beside the M74. There is free parking at the front of the hotel and a lovely duck pond and green area to the rear. The hotel is right beside the service area which has a restaurant, McDonalds, breakfast takeaway and shop selling… Read More »Days Inn Lockerbie Review and Helpful Tips for Your Stay
- Cairn Hotel Bathgate Review and Helpful Things to KnowClick to get the best price for your stay at the Cairn Hotel Bathgate 1. Cairn Hotel Bathgate Address The address of the hotel is; Blackburn Road, Bathgate, EH48 2EL 2. Cairn Hotel Bathgate Phone Number The telephone number of the hotel is; 01506 633366 3. Getting to the Cairn Hotel Getting to the hotel… Read More »Cairn Hotel Bathgate Review and Helpful Things to Know
- Travelodge Central Edinburgh Review And Helpful Things to KnowClick to get the best price for your stay at the Travelodge Central Edinburgh 1. Travelodge Central Edinburgh Address The address of the hotel is; 33 St Marys Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1TA 2. Phone Number The telephone number of the hotel is; 0871 984 6137 3. Getting from Waverley Station to the Hotel The easiest… Read More »Travelodge Central Edinburgh Review And Helpful Things to Know
- Holyrood Hotel Review and Helpful Things to KnowClick 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 – All You Need to Know to Plan Your TripThinking 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 – All You Need to Know to Plan Your Trip