City selling again

[Liverbirdie]

No not a footy thread.

I was watching a programme on canals last night (yeah baby - thats how we rock in our house!) and it was showing central Birmingham around the canal sides, and it looks really cool to be honest with canalside pubs and looked like a decent place to chill out in, as well as museums etc.

I'll be honest and say I've never fancied going to Brum for a weekend, and have only been a day tripper for the footy. I don't know anyone who has been there for a night out, stag weekend, or anyone who has visited it, or even talked about it as a tourist destination.

Is it any good? Can someone from the outside sell it to me, as a visitor.

And so as not to turn into a slanging match on the pros and cons of Brum, is there anywhere else that you love in this great and pleasant land, that isn't your own town?

Edinburgh, York and Scotland in general, I could wax lyrical about.

I've recently fancied going to Cambridge also - that worth 2 nights, or longer?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

No not a footy thread.

I was watching a programme on canals last night (yeah baby - thats how we rock in our house!) and it was showing central Birmingham around the canal sides, and it looks really cool to be honest with canalside pubs and looked like a decent place to chill out in, as well as museums etc.

I'll be honest and say I've never fancied going to Brum for a weekend, and have only been a day tripper for the footy. I don't know anyone who has been there for a night out, stag weekend, or anyone who has visited it, or even talked about it as a tourist destination.

Is it any good? Can someone from the outside sell it to me, as a visitor.

And so as not to turn into a slanging match on the pros and cons of Brum, is there anywhere else that you love in this great and pleasant land, that isn't your own town?

Edinburgh, York and Scotland in general, I could wax lyrical about.

I've recently fancied going to Cambridge also - that worth 2 nights, or longer?

HID and I went to Birmingham a few years back when I was up for the GM Centenary finals at Forest of Arden. Had previously only been there for the football and the exhibition centre and I really enjoyed it. Same with Leeds. Really impressed at the way it had been modernised and pedestrianised since I was up there about 30 years before hand.

 

[c1973]

Been a wee while since I was in brum, but the canal side area you talk about was pretty good when I was there.

Mind you the Bullring and New St have both had facelifts since I was last there so it's probably changed a fair bit.

Nice place and well worth a visit imo. :thup:

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Cambridge is a nice night out - some very good places to eat and have some drinks

A bit like York and Oxford

Have done a few nights in Brum whilst working and it's certainly a lot better than it used to be

 

[bluewolf]

I've had a few nights in Brum when I've attended conferences etc. really enjoyed the canal side area, but it is a bit "chainy". Some good restaurants and bars. Usually busy and generally a decent night out. I'd definitely go there again.

 

[Blue in Munich]

I've had a few nights in Brum when I've attended conferences etc. really enjoyed the canal side area, but it is a bit "chainy". Some good restaurants and bars. Usually busy and generally a decent night out. I'd definitely go there again.

This ^^. Very pleasant but all the usual suspects; little different or independent.

 

[Bazz]

Some great restaurants to be found, Brindley Place is probably the place you're talking about which is lovely.

Shopping wise you've got the Bullring which is full of the usual suspects. Great transport links so it's easy to get to.

Id recommend it but I'm biased I suppose.

 

[Liverbirdie]

Some great restaurants to be found, Brindley Place is probably the place you're talking about which is lovely.

Shopping wise you've got the Bullring which is full of the usual suspects. Great transport links so it's easy to get to.

Id recommend it but I'm biased I suppose.

Is there much culture-wise, in the centre?

Other recommendations from me would be Chester and Whitby.

Both good nights out, and lots to see and do in and around Whitby, great for a weekend. Chester is also quite chilled and relaxed, and only ever done in day trips, but always liked going there. Both full of real ale, proper boozers, as well.:thup:

 

[Bazz]

Is there much culture-wise, in the centre?

I'm the wrong person to ask unfortunately, never been my sort of thing but this should help....http://visitbirmingham.com/what-to-do/heritage-culture/

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Newcastle is a crackin night out, loads do it on stag weekends or as a races weekend, well worth a visit

 

[Tashyboy]

Nottingham is very nice down by the canal and lace market area, and if one half is into shopping during the Saturday well your sorted.

however the plank that thinks it's funny to get out his member to offload his number one in the middle of the square did not exactly sell the place.

For the second time this year I found myself talking to someone "vacating", it went along the lines of " ave seen that in adult size before".

What makes people think that wazzing like that in front of everyone is ok.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Another vote for Chester. Beautiful city, lots to do in and around it both day and night.

 

[Hobbit]

Did Brum just before Christmas a few years back. Wow! Was expecting it be a bit poor, having worked there in the past, but was very pleasantly blown away. Great restaurants, cracking pubs... and the guys took me into one of those computer clubs in the early hours... Not one laptop in evidence but the dancing was.... different.

 

[Tarkus1212]

As a resident of Cambridgeshire I'm obviously biased but Cambridge is a great city for a short break. If you're into the culture/architecture thing then you can't move for magnificent buildings, museums, art galleries etc. Loads of good pubs and restaurants (avoid Jamie's Italian, its cr@p and Jamie Oliver should be ashamed to put his name to it). Loads of live music and some really great acts at The Corn Exchange and The Junction, check their websites.

Other than that I've had a few cracking nights out in Durham, Bath and Bristol. There are so many cities and towns worth visiting in the UK.

 

[Marshy77]

Another vote for Chester and York, love Chester and go maybe twice a year - so much to see and do and still keep finding new places to go to and bars/restaurants to visit.

Just returned from Edinburgh this weekend - what an amazing place. Absolutely loved it, so much to do and not enough time to see it all, people we found were so friendly and welcoming. So many great bars and restaurants, loads of independents which I like. The drive is a bit of a killer but well worth it. Because we didn't see everything it means we have to visit again Thing we did notice was so many homeless people, guess with a big city you see more and more but there were loads, feel for them over the winter as the weather was cold this weekend, imagine over winter it will be baltic.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

but it is a bit "chainy". Some good restaurants and bars. Usually busy and generally a decent night out. .

That's what annoys me most about the Brayford in Lincoln, chain after chain restaurants and bars.

Love York.

We always seem to go to London whenever we have a city break.

 

[Marshy77]

That's what annoys me most about the Brayford in Lincoln, chain after chain restaurants and bars.

Love York.

We always seem to go to London whenever we have a city break.

Yes really don't see the point of going to a chain when in another city as it's just the same. Great to discover independent bars and restaurants, always seem to have decent ales on.

Bradfords the same apart from a street called North Parade were 5 or 6 small bars/ale houses and a brewery have opened. That street alone has made Bradford slightly less rubbish for a night out.

 

[User62651]

Don't know Brum but having returned recently form a week based in rural Wiltshire, my Mrs and me enjoyed both Bath and Salisbury as small cities (if they are cities). Love dry cool October UK weather, hate cities in the summer heat.
Took kids to Legoland at Windsor and Longleat Safari near Warminster, as its Scottish school holidays and not England/Wales it keeps numbers down which is great for these kinds of places as crowds/queueing are what ruin them. Legoland was playing bagpipe music across their PA which was amusing....know your market!

 

[oxymoron]

Another vote for Chester. Beautiful city, lots to do in and around it both day and night.

Just got back from a weekend in Chester ,as stated above lovely place plenty to see, do , drink and eat.The only thing to put a dampener was the stag\hen parties that seemed to be packing the place out Saturday night .
Followed with Sunday at Cheshire oaks shopping center with the wife , nice enough place if you like shopping i suppose,some good stuff in the Nike outlet but that's all that caught my eye there.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Is there much culture-wise, in the centre?

Other recommendations from me would be Chester and Whitby.

Both good nights out, and lots to see and do in and around Whitby, great for a weekend. Chester is also quite chilled and relaxed, and only ever done in day trips, but always liked going there. Both full of real ale, proper boozers, as well.:thup:

As long as you do it properly & arrive by steam train!! And the fish & chips is brilliant.