Travel Writer Rida Hasan provides some unique places to visit in Birmingham, suggesting that Birmingham should get so much more love than it does
Let’s be honest – Birmingham doesn’t quite get the love it deserves. For whatever reason, the UK’s second city has found itself dismissed far too many times as grey, industrial, or plain boring. However, the reality is that while Birmingham admittedly has an image problem, it is overflowing with things to do, places to explore, and reasons for your friends to visit here, instead of congregating in London to eat £9 strawberries from a plastic cup. As a commuter student who has spent years embracing Birmingham’s character, creativity, and charm, here is a guide to some go-to spots.
Earlswood Lakes
Located in Solihull, Earlswood Lakes exists as a quiet, relatively unknown escape, and feels a world away from Selly Oak bins, and town centre commotion. It is quiet, underrated, and dotted with plenty of decks to perch on, whether with friends or your laptop. In times of assignment psychosis, it’s a significant step up for those who need more than to ‘touch grass.’ The weak signal makes it a rare peaceful pocket of the city where one can just breathe, sit, and maybe spot a frog, a woodpecker, or an elderly man fishing.
A38 Last Exit
A38 Last Exit has emerged as the go to food park this year as a haven of diverse cuisines. Smash burgers, loaded fries, fried chicken, and desserts including the famous Matilda Cake from Bake and Drizzle, there’s something for everyone. The beauty of A38 lies largely however, in the creativity of how you get to enjoy it. In winter, diners huddle in their cars, hoodies thrown over pyjamas for the late-night munch, whilst in the summer car boots are flung open for makeshift picnics and bonnets become benches, under the hazy glow of warm fairy lights. A tad chaotic, but with excellent food, it’s brilliant and unmistakably Birmingham.
Smash burgers, loaded fries, fried chicken, and desserts including the famous Matilda Cake from Bake and Drizzle, there’s something for everyone
Birmingham Rag Market
Over 850 years old, the rag market is one of Birmingham’s unassuming gems. Fashion enthusiasts and Vinted Warriors will find sanctuary in the endless bargains on vintage clothing, the crafters will find a trove of material, wool, and haberdashery, and those under the accommodation candle ban can find a range of handmade essential oils. Anyone who enjoys a rummage will certainly leave with something unexpected, and it’s a great way to support local small businesses. Unpretentious, creative and a little scruffy in the best way, the rag market embodies Birmingham’s heart.
Rollerjam
An absolute Digbeth classic, Rollerjam is Birmingham’s answer to 80’s roller discos and is always a good time. It is advisable to go after 8pm, to avoid being shown up by 7-year-olds who seem to have been born on wheels, and enjoy the floor from 8pm to 2am instead. Whether you can glide like an angel or are more likely to end up in a cackling heap on the floor, in a tangle of limbs, it’s impossible not to have fun. Bumps, cuts, bruised egos, and broken thumbs are included in the price.
It is advisable to go after 8pm, to avoid being shown up by 7-year-olds who seem to have been born on wheels
German Market
Now that Halloween has passed, we can now shift our focus since, as of last Saturday, the Birmingham German Market is officially up and raring to kick off the festive season. Cozy wooden stalls, twinkling lights, gingerbread, and mulled wine, it’s essentially Christmas distilled into the square. Whilst I have not seen the stalls change in the 18 years I have lived here, its consistency is part of its charm. The handmade goods, ice skating, Christmas treats, and fairground rides make for a vibrant and festive evening that seems just as magical every year.
Ikon Gallery
For a slower day, The Ikon Gallery in Brindleyplace offers free entry and impressive programmes of contemporary art exhibitions. Nestled inside a dramatic neo-gothic Victorian building, the Ikon shines in showcasing diverse voices and perspectives. Recent highlights include works by Guyanese British artist Donald Locke, and his exploration of resistance, on until February. It’s the perfect light academia excursion, with the cafe downstairs perfect for a hot chocolate and study date.
Overall, Birmingham’s charm doesn’t root itself in picture perfection; it chooses authenticity instead. In a city that constantly reinvents itself, it’s often overlooked but never dull. Indeed, for those who take the time to look beyond the stereotypes, Birmingham will reveal the version of itself that’s warm, unpredictable, and full of life. Read More from Travel here:
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