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Buzzing Bull ring
Birmingham has undergone a major transformation in the last five years. So much so that when I finally returned from university in Liverpool I was amazed. Before I left I had been on a number of frustrating and uninspiring Saturday shopping trips into the city with my parents, but now there is definitely an improvement. It’s very chic, vibrant, and culturally rich. The new Bull Ring area is buzzing with street cafes, contemporary shops, street performers (of a reasonable standard) and contemporary buildings. The sort of place where you want to be seen.  

Proud brummies
As you can imagine, having a new found identity the locals, otherwise known as ‘Brummies’, are very proud of showing off their city. You can stroll down any of the major pedestrianised areas and ask anyone for recommendations on the best place to eat or shop, and you will be given a wide variety of options.  

For eating out and socialising, Birmingham has something for everyone.  If you are into clubbing, pubbing and generally looking cool and trendy, just have a stroll down Broad Street and Brindley Place.  These are definitely the places to be if you want a flavour of what Birmingham offers - from chic wine bars to cheap and cheerful local pubs, it is all here.

Birthplace of Balti
If you want a taste of the authentic British-Indian i.e. Balti or Curry, you will need to venture out of the city centre to Sparkhill or Smethic, birthplace of the UK’s number one dish – Balti.  Another unique feature of Birmingham is that it has a surprising range of food options from East Asian to Afro-Caribbean, and sometimes next door to each other.

This variety of culture is reflected in the population of Birmingham. For example when I was younger, we used to live on a street with families from Greece, Jamaica, Bangladesh, Korea, China, India and Cyprus, with a vast range of religious combinations.  If there’s one thing that makes Birmingham stand out from other cities, it is this: it is a melting pot of culture and definitely worth a visit!

Pukul
July 2007