A girls weekend to Birmingham

I recently went away with 2 of my closest friends, for a much needed girlie weekend away to Birmingham. We chose the city as we wanted somewhere easily accessible by train, and being 1 hour and 20 minutes away from Cheshire, Birmingham seemed the perfect place.

Welcome to Birmingham

After a stressful morning which involved daughter having a huge nose bleed, we were on the 8.52am train. My stress soon disappeared once we were on the move, and the journey passed quickly due to us chatting non stop. We arrived into New Street Station just before 10.30am, and wow what a station. It has the fantastic Grand Central which overlooks the station. A place where you will find divine shops such as Pandora, Cath Kidston and The White Company. I was seriously in heaven.

Grand Central

After missing our morning coffee due to the lack of facilities on our London Midland train, we headed to Grand Central for a coffee and to take in the atmosphere. We didn’t realise when this group of entertainers walked past that it was Grand Central’s 1st birthday.

Grand Central Birthday

After coffee we popped over to the famous Bull Ring which is a short walk from the station. We made use of the luggage lockers which cost us £6 for a few hours. Well worth it if you don’t want to wheel your suitcase around the shops, and no doubt have people tutting at you when you clip their ankles. After a browse around the shops, and of course stopping to marvel at the building below (which houses Selfridges) it was time for lunch.

Selfridges at Bull Ring

We opted for Ed’s Diner which was located at Grand Central. After a lunch of chicken nuggets for me (yes I did feel like I was 8 years old ordering them), and beers all round, it was time to head to our hotel.

EDS Diner

We had booked the Hampton by Hilton hotel which was on Broad Street, about a mile walk from the station. I was really impressed with the hotel, and despite seeing a few hen and stag parties as we checked in, the hotel was really quiet during the night.

From our hotel it was a short stroll to the canals and Brindley Place, where there was a fantastic choice of restaurants and bars. Thank you to the lovely Emma from Life according to Mrs Shilts for the recommendation. We decided on Café Rouge and despite it being a Saturday evening we were seated straight away. We enjoyed a gorgeous meal, lots of wine and gin and plenty of laughter.

For more restaurant inspiration in Birmingham, you can read Holly Made Life’s review all about her evening at the Lost and Found restaurant.

Cafe Rouge

Gin and tonic

Brindley Place was definitely more suited to our ages, as Broad Street reminded me of my last visit to Magaluf when I was 17. It certainly made for some interesting people watching, as we stopped off at a Wetherspoons on the way back to the hotel.

The following morning we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast which was included in the price of the room. I have obviously failed as a blogger as I forgot to photograph my hotel breakfast.

After showers, packing up and watching the repeat of Coronation Street, we checked out and wandered back to the canals. We spent a leisurely few hours drinking coffee in the sunshine, and just enjoying the freedom that we could do whatever we wanted. Hurray for girls weekends away.

Birmingham Canals

Birmingham

All Bar One

We took a taxi back to the station and had a final wander around Grand Central. Cath Kidston forced me to buy another mug would you believe it. Our final meal was in the Handmade Burger Company which was amazing. Though we were slightly disappointed that they had run out of Yorkies (burgers made with Yorkshire Puddings as the buns).

Handmade Burger Co Birmingham

Handmade Burger Co

All too soon we were on the train and pouring our final glasses of wine, keeping it classy with plastic cups. Birmingham you are a wonderful city, and I am already making plans to return for the Christmas markets.

Thank you to my amazing friends for the wonderful memories. We need to plan our next adventure very soon x

Friends

 

 

18 thoughts on “A girls weekend to Birmingham”

  1. It looks like the perfect place to have a girlie weekend and I think I’d absolutely love a yorkis burger. Shame they’d run out! Brilliant photos. 69£ make me want to check it out 🙂

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    • It really was a great place to spend a weekend with the girls. Though husband and I are planning on going back soon to do the Christmas markets in Birmingham x

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    • I think I would jump on the train just to shop at Grand Central Julia. Ah didn’t realise you lived in Birmingham for a while, what a great city it is x

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  2. Tracey I keep saying I am going to go to BHam for drinks and dinner overtime I go it looks so fab, and I too love the station ti s so cool. Such a wonderful city and perfect for a girls weekend. Thanks so much for linking up #MondayEscapes

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    • You would love it Sarah and Grand Central is fantastic for shopping. Perfect girlie weekend of chatting, drinking and food x

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    • I can’t believe it was my very first visit to the city, but we will definitely be back. Husband and I are planning to visit the Christmas markets there as I believe they are fantastic x

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  3. I’d love to go to Birmingham for a visit I was arranging to go this week to meet my friend Sarah but I decided to visit her in home of Lancashire instead, Maybe another time. I need to see the Selfridges building! I would be very upset if they ran out of yorkies! that sound amazing! Sounds like you had a great time.

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    • The Selfridges building is amazing Donna. You and Sarah would have a great time in Birmingham, it’s the perfect place to shop, eat and drink x

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  4. It sounds fab! Glad you had such a lovely weekend away. Lots of food is always the best way to spend a weekend 🙂 Burgers in Yorkshire puddings sound amazing, I would have been disappointed they’d run out too.
    Naughty Cath Kidston for forcing you to buy a mug!

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    • Cath Kidston also forces me to buy bags from time to time, would you believe it. Ah I loved Grand Central Sarah, what a fab place to shop and then watch the world go by. Husband and I are hoping to go back soon and do the Christmas markets x

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  5. Sounds amazing Tracey, what a lovely treat for you, you can’t beat a girls weekend. I don’t know Birmingham very well but I always here such good things, it’s great you got a chance to explore and sample all the good food and drink too! xx

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    • Birmingham is such a great city Hayley, and I can’t believe it was my first visit. Hoping to go back with the husband soon to do the Christmas markets x

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  6. Ah there’s nothing like a girls’ weekend is there? I’ve never really spent much time in Birmingham – it looks like a great place for shopping, eating and drinking! The Bull Ring looks fab. #MondayEscapes

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    • Girls’ weekends are certainly good for the soul, especially when they are full of shopping, eating and drinking. I was really impressed with the whole of Birmingham x

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