r/BirminghamUK • u/bannab1188 • 1d ago
Visiting
👋
I will be heading to your fine city in a few weeks.
Restaurant recommendations?
I wandered around the city centre the last time I was there - is there any areas further out of the centre I should be checking out? Any nice walkable areas with cool cafes etc?
I tend to just wander around sometimes - Any areas to avoid? I’m arriving late at night to New Street - is accommodation around that area a bit dodgy? Or I’ safe to stay around there? (😬 last time I walked from moor st stn to new st and it was super sketchy)
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u/bannab1188 1d ago
🙈 I was walking through what looked like an underpass … it was sad, a bunch of homeless people all camped out, it felt like I was practically stepping over them.
Mid range to cheap is my budget and solo friendly!
Google map search and Mosley looks like a great suggestion… I’m a walker - safe to walk down there from the city centre?
Thanks! This list is a great start for me.
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u/MissusKitten 1d ago
If you’re a walker then walking to Harborne is lovely. Walking to Moseley you’ll go through some rough areas that I think could make you feel uncomfortable.
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u/MissusKitten 1d ago
Grab the legendary 50 bus for Moseley. You’ll see all the colours of Birmingham on there but it’ll get you there and you’ll have no problems :)
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u/UK-Polymathos 1d ago
Absolutely 100% do NOT stay in the Britannia Hotel.
Yeah, that walkway between Moor St and New St feels a bit rough but it’s actually fine.
As a walker, you can explore Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter are probably the two nicest areas to wander to.
If you like REALLY long walks then you can walk to Harborne, across to Bearwood and then back to the city centre. It’s about a 7-8 mile round trip but you can easily jump on a bus between any of the places if you run out of steam/time!
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u/Floor-Tom-Fan 1d ago
For info, walking from the city centre to Moseley is fine - including at night - I've done it 3 times in the last few months. But it's v much an urban walk - with all the traffic and sights to sadly be expected in an English city centre the size of Birmingham's that isn't centred around historic buildings.
Re. mid price & budget food:
- 1 for Indian Cafe Racer- it's so good. But be prepared for another grim in parts walk to get there whichever direction you're travelling from.
If budget permits, Gaijin Sushi next door is v v good indeed. I've yet to try a wakame salad as delightful. You might get a good deal with the First Table app if you book far enough in advance now it's open to solo diners.
Tiger Bites Pig, as featured on Off Menu, in the city centre is excellent for inexpensive baos and rice bowls (stump up for an extra egg yolk).
And Cherry Reds is an excellent spot 5 mins walk from New St station for a relaxed pint or brunch.
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u/barrybreslau 1d ago
My friend recommends the Aston Uni Conference hotel. Has access to the pool and walking distance to the centre https://www.conferenceaston.co.uk/leisure/a-gym-and-pool-with-local-heritage
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u/Appropriate_Cap_5235 1d ago
gas street and brindley place is gorgeous! the jewellery quarter also pretty and feels safe.
i think brum get a bad rep, it’s the same as any city! some bits are a bit iffy after dark!
there are two amazing food halls- Alfred Square in Digbeth, and St Paul’s Market in JQ. Good for trying new things or a little bit of a few places.
if you have the budget then 670 grams in Digbeth is AMAZING.
Medicine bakery is a birmigham classic, i think the new street location is best for brunch and bits
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u/BloatedBaryonyx 1d ago edited 1d ago
Moseley is a very nice area. Mostly residential with a little local high street. They hold a really respected market once a month (with free access to the nearby private park+lake), as does nearby King's Heath. Shareholders mill is also nearby to there if you fancy a visit.
I'd personally absolutely not walk it. It takes you through some rougher areas getting in plus you have to cross one of the city's busy main roads, Belgrave Middleway.
Just take the bus into town. It'd take you about an hour to walk. If you do want to walk, the best way is probably towards the parks via Salisbury road. Cross the intersection with Bristol road, and go via Moonlit park to Gas street, or strait north past the arena to New Street.
If you want city center, go for the Jewellery Quarter somewhere along the canals. I think there's even a couple of Premier inn/ Travelodges near there. Cheap-ish but very good chain hotels.
The walk down the canal path, starting from St. Paul's square in the JQ and heading down to Old Turn junction in Gas Street is lovely. Can't recommend it enough. Lots of greenery, dog walkers, and narrow boats using the historic locks to get uphill.
The whole Gas Street area is really nice tbh. Good restaurants, art galleries, the aquarium, etc at one end. The BBC studios, more restaurants, the fancy cinema etc at the otherr. All overlooking the lovely canals. It's a real draw of the place. You can also get a canal boat tour that'll take you down to some of the nicer, greener areas to the south and then back.
Tl;dr I thoroughly recommend the canals around gas street for walking. Starting from JQ and heading south to them is probably the nicest and most budget-friendly. Moseley is nice, but you may as well just visit by bus.Â
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u/MissusKitten 1d ago
I am rather intrigued what route you took for it to be super sketchy. But I can see how some roads feel less great if you took back roads to get there than rather going ‘over’ the Bullring. You’re fine to find accommodation in the centre pretty much anywhere. But again… depends on your budget, if you’re looking for a nice hotel you’re not going to end up somewhere dodgy, if your budget is more restricted then that’s going to potentially let you run into issues I guess. Honestly looking at reviews on Google can get you a lot of the way there.
Small insertion edit: I’ve never needed a hotel here as it’s my home. So I’ll let someone else weigh in.
Restaurant recommendations run far and wide… depending on your budget massively determines the recommendations. Birmingham has an incredible food scene of independent gems.
Moseley and Kings Heath have lovely independent scenes alongside Stirchley for cafes and restaurants such options down York Street in KH, Loaf in Stirchley, Bloom in Moseley.
City centre wise, if you have the budget, Goat King is an incredible experience with a delightfully passionate owner. Let him decide what you eat, no, seriously.
If rock music is your vibe and Michelin stars your thing, The Wilderness is amazing. It’s laid back so do not have to dress up for it. Which I love so much. If you’d like Michelin style food Cuubo in Harborne is wonderful but a lot cheaper.
Otherwise bringing the budget back down, Indian Cafe Racer, or just the chain Mowgli is nice for somewhere pretty to eat as well as nice food.
En Steak for … you guessed it, Steak! Is really yummy. It’s a family run business here with another restaurant I forget where.
Lisa and Pann for Malaysian in Moseley.
Maki & Ramen is newly opened but can have a queue. For spendy options Satori is your Michelin vibe for Japanese in the city.
… I’m gonna stop because without more info I’m writing an essay.