Our usual family routine when we check into a hotel is for our son to scroll through all the channels on the TV, my husband to go back outside for a walkabout and me to scoff the complimentary biscuits, suss out the toiletries in the bathroom and have a lie down.
We were too early for check-in when we arrived at the Staying Cool apartments in Birmingham so, having left our luggage at the reception desk, my son and I had to join Dad in ‘going for a wander’, which was a bit disconcerting to be honest. Thankfully we had brought Rory’s girlfriend with us and, as she was keen to start shopping immediately, she took charge of our recalcitrant son and led him onwards to Selfridges. Dougie and I were free for an hour to get our bearings and see what Birmingham has to offer.
The Bull Ring at night |
One of the main benefits of the apartments is the location. On the top floor of the iconic Rotunda building, it’s merely an elevator ride away from the extensive Bull Ring shopping centre which features Debenhams, Selfridges and every high street store you can think of. While the teens headed in that direction, my husband steered me away from the shops and up towards the Cathedral, the Town Hall and the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. As this was purely a recce, we carried on walking, with me making a few mental notes as to the location of clothes shops as I had some ridiculous notion that we might return the following day.
The Meeting Point |
At 3pm we waited at our rendezvous point, which was always going to be the bronze bull just outside the shopping centre. I hadn’t managed to buy anything in the time but Juliana, Rory’s girlfriend, had her arms full with bags from TKMaxx, Primark and Zara and a big smile on her face which contrasted well with the dazed and weary expression evident on our son’s. Thankfully the room was ready and some serious chilling out could be done.
Where to go for a meal that night? We were spoiled for choice and keen to not walk too far. Luckily there is a decent selection of eateries very close to the Rotunda so we booked a table at Jamie’s Italian and bowled up there later that evening. I’ve never tried his restaurants before but was very impressed with this one. A bustling, spacious room, excellent service and very good food. Plus they even served Aperol Spritz which brought back memories of our summer in Austria.
Brindleyplace |
On our second day we stayed together as our plan was to head towards Brindleyplace. We had visited this part of Birmingham some years before as it’s the location for the National Indoor Arena where we had once taken Rory to see the Harlem Globetrotters perform some basketball magic. It is a modern, cosmopolitan, canal-side development with a good selection of cafes and restaurants, most overlooking the water, making it a very pleasant alternative to the central shopping area. We had an early lunch in the Piano & Pitcher, a delicious selection of tapas, thankfully eating before a swarm of office-workers piled in.
Staying in the canal area, our plan, or my plan if I’m honest, was to walk via the tow-path towards the Jewellery Quarter, a famous historical part of the city. I annoyed the whole family by quoting facts about this area from the leaflet I’d picked up from the tourist office.
Did you know…
- The Jewellery Quarter still makes around 40% of UK jewellery
- It has the world’s busiest Assay Office
- Europe’s largest School of Jewellery
- The original FA cup was made here
- Rip Van Winkle was written here.
- Alfred Bird, inventor of the eggless custard, is buried in the Quarter.
- In the 1890s plain clothes officers in the Quarter were issued with ‘silent boots’ to apprehend thieves.
- Whistles for the Titanic were manufactured here and are still made by Acme Whistles
It was more by luck than judgement that we stumbled across The Pen Museum which proved to be quite delightful. Accosted at the door by the friendly guide, we were taken on a personal tour, discovering how Birmingham had been the centre of the world’s pen trade and having a go at fashioning a nib. I did worry at one point we might never be allowed to leave the building until we had seen every fountain pen ever made but our guide’s passion for his subject was infectious so even when he left us to attend to other visitors, we didn’t bolt for the door. Rather, we took a seat at the desks and tried our hand at writing with a quill.
Library of Birmingham |
I was flagging by this stage but Rory and Juliana both wanted to visit the city’s new library. Books first, we found the striking new building which I have described on my post for BritMums as resembling a Great British Bake Off show-stopper wedding cake. Inside it was quite stunning. Welcoming and spacious with huge escalators taking you up the middle of the building. There are areas to sit outside, little gardens, oases of calm. I had never thought to visit a city’s library before but this was superb and there was a feeling that everyone was immensely proud of it. Smart loos too!
By chance, the way back to the apartments passed by The Mailbox, a shopping and office development featuring a Harvey Nichols and the offices of BBC Birmingham where we spent a happy half hour trying our hand at being a weather reporter or newsreader in their free Public Space area. Dougie is now convinced he has missed his vocation.
More lolling about back at the apartment and then we allowed the teens to choose where to eat that night. As Juliana was born in Malaysia, we suggested she choose a Chinese restaurant from several situated in the city’s Chinatown. She decided on Shanghai Shanghai and it was an excellent choice. Guided by her, we picked some dishes we hadn’t tried before, including a surprisingly good white cabbage dish, and won Brownie points from her by using our chopsticks correctly.
As the train was at noon the following day, Juliana was sure there was more shopping to be done on our final morning so cheerfully took our son with her. Dougie and I had a final dash round the shops too, but only had time to buy some perfume for my aunt and precisely nothing for each other. Hopeless.
There was loads to do in Birmingham and we only scratched the surface. If we come again I’d like to see more of the museums and we will definitely make a bee-line for The Electric Cinema, the UK’s oldest working cinema, where they have double sofas and waiter service.
I haven’t really given you a proper guide of ‘things to do with teenagers in Birmingham’, have I? However, those of you with teens will know that having an open agenda, some shopping time, good places to eat and plenty of sleep is probably all they need to put smiles on their faces.
Happy Teenagers |
We stayed in Birmingham as guests of Staying Cool apartments. All photos and opinions are my own.
If you want to know more about family friendly attractions in the area, check out my review on BritMums
No, I did not know any of these facts or that you can find Aperol Spritz in Birmingham!!
Great post. xx
Thank you! It was a very good spritz too 🙂
We (my sister and I) took my mum to Birmingham for a weekend a few years back. We spent most of it in either Selfridges or Bournville. What's not to love?!
It's fab for shopping, which makes me wonder why I got nuffink 🙁
We've visited the region a few times – done Cadbury World, Warwick Castle etc – but this was a proper city visit and it was great.
Wiping tears from my eyes. So proud to be Midlander.
You entertained us grandly, you should be justly proud 🙂
Silent boots – fabulous! I wonder aha they were made of? Do you think they were an early version of trainers?
Sneakers, perhaps?
We love Jamie's Italian. Thanks for all the suggestions. x
I think there's one in Cambridge I must go and visit sometime. Very impressed at the quality with it being a chain.
I always see the signs to the Mailbox and wonder what it is. Well there you go.
We could see it all lit up at night from our room and wondered what it was. I thought it was the Post Office! It's being redeveloped at the moment so was fairly quiet. The free BBC activities were great.
Sounds like the perfect place to take teenagers! I am ashamed to say I have never been to Birmingham, but it looks great, and I am very impressed with the serving of Aperol Spritz!!
It was great. A busy shopping area and plenty of quieter spots that can be reached on foot. Waking along the canal tow-path was a real treat in the sunshine.
I will have to seek out Jamie's Italian wherever I am in future so I can partake in my favourite Bavarian tipple!
This is really handy as I often head Birmingham way with my teenagers for gigs so it's good to know there's other things that will keep them entertained – maybe we'll stay overnight next time!
I've got a 15 % discount code if you fancy staying in the Staying Cool apartments. I'm sure your teens would love it.
I think the Bull Ring in Birmingham is one of my most favourite places to shop in the UK.
I can see why – it has everything!
It is amazing just how much Birmingham has changed in the 13 years I haven't lived there – and I still never knew half of the facts you said there. We went into the new library too – it really is so modern and amazing isn't it.
Isn't the library brilliant. So welcoming and inclusive – didn't seem like a place you would be shushed!
That library is fantastic! Indeed everything you describe makes me now want to visit Birmingham, and I never thought I'd say that. 🙂
I was a bit ambivalent beforehand but we were very pleasantly surprised at how much there was there. I should have taken some interior shots of the library too but I was too busy gawping, I think.
We were in Birmingham last week too – and I know just what you mean about the Pen Museum 🙂 If you go back, do visit the jewellery museum factory tour – it's brilliant!
Ha! What a coincidence! Now why didn't we walk a tiny bit further and check out the jewellery museum rather than give up!
Wow I knew nothing about Birmingham, sounds like so much to see and do & probably a place to put on my 'should visit' list. That was a great review!
It's funny how we can be blinkered about places in our own country worth visiting for a holiday. I'm the same – if I think of a leisure break I think of the Cotswolds or somewhere on the coast. I forget about our cities, apart from London. Silly really.
I've struggled in the past to consider Birmingham a place worth visiting, but you've made me wonder…
I'd go back again, especially as I didn't get the chance to shop as much as I'd planned.
Ooh I feel a wee trip coming on…
A really enjoyable post, Trish. Your son must like his girlfriend if he's happy to be dragged around the shops, haha! I love the sound of the pen museum and what a great idea to visit a library too, particularly one as fabulous-looking as that. #citytripping
Super cute trip! I, for one, LOVE all of your random Jewelry District facts, especially the one about Rip Van Winkle being written there! Good call on bringing the girlfriend with you, sounds like she can really keep things moving! 😀 #citytripping
I love all the facts about the jewellery district and your description of the library as a 'show-stopper' – it really does look like one! I must admit, I've only ever been to Birmingham to shop or enjoy the nightlife so you have educated me, in a very entertaining way, on what else there is to do in the city. Thanks for linking to #citytipping
I grew up so close to Birmingham and have really never explored it properly – either the traditional side or the revitalised areas. I do fancy seeing the library and Brindleyplace particularly. Doubt I'll be able to do much shopping either! #citytripping
The original FA Cup was engraved by my Grandad who has since passed away. It was lovely to see it get a mention in this blog post!
How proud you must be of your grandad’s talents. Sending my condolences and wishing you many happy memories of him.