Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

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Destination Guides

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Previous issues for Birmingham

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United Kingdom : Birmingham - February 2008

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Getting around

Birmingham International

Bus: Buses from the airport to the city centre leave every 30 minutes and a single fare costs €1,95/£1.50.
Train: Trains run from Birmingham International to New Street Station; the journey will take around 10-20 minutes and a return ticket will cost €7/£5.30 before 9.30am and €4,50/£3.40 after 9.30am.
Taxi: A taxi from the airport into the city centre will cost around €22/£17 and take about 40 minutes.
Tourist information: The main tourist office is at The Rotunda, 150 New Street (tel. , beinbirmingham. com).

CITY CENTRE

Splash out at the Bullring and The Mailbox, Birmingham’s two best retail complexes. Once the shops have shut, you can relax over a meal or discover the local pubs and bars.

Must eat – Bar Estilo (110-114 Wharfside Street, tel. ) does fantastic cocktails and robust Spanish food, like chorizo with cannellini beans or salt cod croquettes with alioli. Make sure you try their sangrias, too.

Must drink – Sip one of the wonderful champagnes at Epernay (171-172 Wharfside Street). Live piano makes for a laid-back atmosphere.

Dance the night away – Hit the tiles at Bambu (Kotwall House, Wrottesley Street) where DJs spin commercial house to a dressed-up crowd.

Shop til you drop – The striking, futuristic Selfridges (Upper Mall East, Bullring) has transformed the local landscape. It’s also the Bullring’s best store. Shopaholics won’t want to miss Harvey Nichols (31-32 Wharfside Street) either.

SNOW HILL

If you’re in Birmingham on business, there’s a good chance you’ll spend much of your time in the area around Snow Hill and Colmore Row.

Sleep soundly – The opulent rooms at the Hotel du Vin (Church Street, tel. , www.hotelduvin.com, rooms from €187/£140) are matched only by the food served in the restaurant downstairs.

Must eat – Chef Glynn Purnell will be hoping that he picks up a second Michelin star this year for his eponymous venture Purnell’s (55 Cornwall Street, tel. ).

Must drink – The stylish One Ten (110 Colmore Row) is popular with the after-work crowd. Bolder visitors might want to try to blag their way into the members’ club on the first floor – it’s definitely worth the effort.

Dance the night away – Round off the evening at Mechu (59 Summer Row). It serves fabulous cocktails in a chic setting, and the dance floor is always packed.

JEWELLERY QUARTER

The city’s Jewellery Quarter is a great place to find unique, hand-crafted trinkets at reasonable prices. The area’s winding streets are also home to several good bars and restaurants.

Must eat – Check out The Vaults (Newhall Place, tel. ) for juicy grills and great wines in unique surroundings. Alternatively, San Paulo (24 Ludgate Hill, tel. ) does tasty Italian dishes.

Dance the night away – Put your glad rags on and savour the atmosphere at The Jam House (1 St Paul’s Square). Be sure to get tickets in advance, though, as the queues can be a nightmare.

Shop til you drop – It’s a mistake to single out individual jewellers in the district. Just head to the area north west of St Paul’s Square and start exploring. There’s something here for everybody.

BROAD STREET

Broad Street is bursting with bars and clubs, many of which are packed to the rafters on Friday and Saturday nights.

Sleep soundly – Stay at the dependable City Inn (1 Brunswick Square, tel. , cityinn. com/birmingham, rooms from €126/£94). The rooms are simple yet well presented and the breakfasts are a perfect way to start the day.

Culture vultures – If the Broad Street nightlife looks a bit too hectic, give it a miss and take in a play at the Repertory Theatre (Centenary Square) instead. The Ikon Gallery (1 Oozells Square) exhibits contemporary photography and sculpture. There’s also tempting tapas on offer in the ground floor bar.

Must eat – Simpsons (20 Highfield Road, tel. ) is a short walk from the Five Ways end of Broad Street. Both chef Andreas Antona’s food and the service are superb.

Dance the night away – Shine your dancing shoes and make for Dragon Eye (193-194 Broad Street). You’ll hear upto-date house tracks with some old favourites thrown in for good measure.

Compiled by Ben Tickner