Birmingham offers the perfect budget break
In Birmingham, visitors can enjoy a wealth of attractions without having to break the bank. There’s a great city waiting to be discovered for those on a budget. Make your euro, dollars and pounds stretch further with a wallet friendly break in Birmingham.
Birmingham’s food offering is second to none - with over 200 city centre restaurants serving food from around 27 countries, there’s no excuse not to indulge your tastebuds. Foodies can experience the cuisine of Thailand, enjoy authentic Italian dishes and munch on a Malaysian meal – all in one city.
The recently opened Around the World in 80 Dishes restaurants offers an all-you- -can-eat buffet. Your tastebuds can enjoy a worldwide tour with cuisine from Thailand, India, China, Mexico and Italy on offer from just £6.95 per person.
Food fans on a budget can fill up in style without paying Michelin star prices in Birmingham’s unique Balti Triangle. The Balti is widely thought to have originated from this area which boasts around 50 Balti restaurants. In fact, enjoying a traditional Birmingham Balti has been named as one’s of life’s must do experiences according to Rough Guide. Most Balti dishes are priced under £10, and many restaurants allow you to bring your own drinks, cutting the cost even further.
If you’re feeling inspired to create your own slap up feast, head to Birmingham’s Bull Ring market. Recently crowned the UK’s best outdoor market, more than six million people visit the market each year. The fantastic food offering includes Pearce’s shellfish – a family run stall which has which has been trading since the 1840s.
A short walk away is The Custard Factory – the creative hub of Birmingham, home to young fashion designers, artists and jewellers. Every weekend, you’ll find The Flea – an extensive arts and crafts market with a wide range of stalls plus live music and food. The stalls offer vintage clothing and accessories, handmade clothing and handbags, vintage jewellery and much more.
For something truly unique, try Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. The area is home to over 400 jewellery businesses and over 100 specialist retailers, so shopping is a must. Jewellery, clocks and watches are all competitively priced and you can even commission your own design.
Find out more about this historic area at the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter and the Pen Museum which reflects the Quarter’s reputation in the 19th century as the world centre for pen production. Entry to both museums is free.
There’s more culture on offer at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BM&AG) – home to the world’s largest collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings and drawings. Admission is free and you will find everything from Renaissance masterpieces to 9,000-year-old Middle-Eastern treasures. In fact, more than half a million objects fill the cabinets and walls of Birmingham’s museums.
There’s a free History Bus which runs the first Sunday in every month until October taking visitors from BM&AG to other paces of interest - Sarehole Mill, Blakesley Hall, Aston Hall, Soho House and Museum of the Jewellery Quarter.
Just outside the city entre you’ll find one of the finest small art galleries in Europe. The Barber Institute in Edgbaston boasts Monet, Manet, and Magritte; Renoir, Rubens, Rossetti and Rodin; Degas, Delacroix and van Dyck — not to mention Turner, Gainsborough, Gauguin, van Gogh, Picasso, Kokoschka.
Fans of modern art should make the Ikon Gallery in Brindleyplace a must-do. The striking neo-gothic building houses a variety of media including sound, film, mixed media, photography, painting, sculpture and installation.
The chic Mailbox development also has a host of galleries including The Art Lounge, the largest commercial gallery for contemporary art in Birmingham, Three White Walls Gallery and Castle Gallery.
Budding media types can get their fix at The Mailbox thanks to the BBC Public Space, where you can spy on the local radio stations, browse the gift shop and try your hand at being a newsreader.
The Mailbox also boasts bars and restaurants overlooking the canal. The Birmingham Canal Navigation is the world's largest canal system so exploring Birmingham by water is a great way to see the city, and The Mailbox boat allows you to do just that. Hop on for a 30 minute aquatic tour of the city centre for just £3.50. For that special occasion, enjoy gourmet food on away2dine. This floating restaurant offers diners a five course meal and a relaxing three hour cruise of the city.
To sample the great outdoors, head to Cannon Hill Park. Just a short distance from the city centre, Cannon Hill Park is one of the premier parks in Birmingham and has been awarded Green Flag status. With beautiful flowerbeds, lakes, pools and a wonderful collection of trees, it's easy to see why. There's plenty of opportunity for exercise at the park's tennis courts, bowling and putting greens and wildlife enthusiasts can follow the walkways and cycle routes alongside the River Rea. The park also has as its neighbour Birmingham Nature Centre. The Nature Centre homes a wide range of animals from across the world including Red Pandas, Meerkats, Lemurs and Otters. Entry is free for children, accompanied by an adult.
Birmingham has a packed events calendar with many free events throughout the year. These range from Artsfest, a festival of arts held very September in the heart of the city which includes comedians, bands, dance, orchestras and singers; and the Christmas canal boat light parade, where a series of decorated canal boats sparkle throughout the city’s waterways – guaranteed to get you in the festive mood!
Round off your stay in Birmingham at nite nite which has beautifully designed rooms from just £44.95 a night. Alternatively, head to Birmingham Central Backpackers for bargain overnight accommodation just a short walk away from the city centre. The Digbeth-based hostel also has free Wi-Fi, dining facilities and movie nights.
For more ideas of activities and events in Birmingham or to book restaurants and accommodation, go to www.visitbirmingham.com or call 0844 888 3883.