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Managed to talk the loving wife into taking a trip up to Birmingham during our London vacation to see Derren Brown's Svengali!

Very excited!

Quick question from a soon-to-be "boorish" American tourist - what's fun to do in Birmingham?

You could try the Bull-Ring, although that's probably just exactly the same as a mall in the states. You could check out some shows at the NIA/NEC if they have any on.

Theres also a few sites that are nice to look around, not many mind, but there are some there.

Not a great deal of real excitement in Birmingham itself but places like Stratford Upon Avon or Warwick offer plenty for visitors. Depends on how long you'll be in the area and what kind of things your'e interested in. http://www.visitbirmingham.com/visitor_information/ might offer some ideas for you.

One thing to bear in mind, the English language undergoes a strange transformation into the local patois known as 'Brummie' - phrases such as 'Gerrin a buzz' have nothing to do with drugs but everything to do with hopping onto public transport, 'Orroight ar kid' isn't Martian but a friendly greeting, and 'Bostin' is an expression of approval. Be assured that this is the language of Shakespeare and he was very familiar with many words which now seem strange. the word 'sough', pronounced 'suff' is Brummie and means an outside drain - the word is used in one of Shakespeare's plays.

Hope you have a great time and enjoy Derren's show at The Alexandra Theatre .

what's fun to do in Birmingham?

Leave.

I left Brum 20 years ago; a quick check of the recommendations I was going to make reveals that none of them have existed for years! My how time flies...

Mandrake you forgot 'Kipper Tie', which means Cuppa Tea.

Actually, we got there almost 5 years ago - see http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic8553.php , fourth post from the end on page 2! To be fair, it's probaly more Black Country than Brummie but even the locals get confused over that, as I recently said to the mananger of the new toy shop in Duudley - Toys 'm We...

If nothing else Demitri, you now know that Brummies can laugh at themselves, probably along with everyone else!

Cadbury's Chocolate World! Totally worth a visit, yum yum

oooh, Star City is fun, it's a big media complex, cinemas, bowling, restuarants, bars, etc... bit of a way outside the main city centre though.
In the city, there is the art museum, which is free and I enjoy art.
Down by the canal, and the mailbox is lovely too - expensive, but very nice.
and the sea life centre....

I quite like Birmingham actually, very good advert for it on last weeks Hustle, btw.

Demitri wrote:Quick question from a soon-to-be "boorish" American tourist - what's fun to do in Birmingham?

This question is what is known as an oxymoron!

Jing wrote:oooh, Star City is fun, it's a big media complex, cinemas, bowling, restuarants, bars, etc... bit of a way outside the main city centre though.

I didn't find it quite that entertaining when I went there a year or so ago. Maybe it was just bad company.

Living very close, I end up there every few months. But I only tend to go there because they have a greater selection of shops.

I will definitely recomend a Cadburys World tour in Bournville. If you dont have a car, it is only a short train ride from the centre.

Don't forget to pop into World Magic Store. It is walkable from the centre, though it is a bit of a walk. So better if you have a car. They are very welcoming and always up for showing some tricks (dependent on who is there).

Which date will you be seeing Derren on?

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone!!

My wife found Cadbury's on her own, but since it sounds cool, perhaps we'll check that out!

Anon - thanks for the World Magic Store tip - I'll be sure to stop by there. As to your question, we are going to the May 13th show.

Thanks again, all!

I live in Birmingham and I grew up hating it, now I wouldnt live anywhere else!!

The bull ring is alright for a shopping trip, a woman could spend a day there happily.

Theres the Hippodrome Theatre, the National Indoor Arena and the National Exhibition Centre.

Theres a museum, theres the sea life centre, botannical gardens (where I got married)

Theres also Drayton Manor park and Zoo (theme park) near Birmingham but that pales in comparison to Alton Towers which isnt too far out (considering your from the USA lol).

Thats off the top of my head.

You'll love it.. just try not to bring your dinner up when you hear the god awful accent!!!

I think you can get to the world magic store if you go to duddeston station or something (you'd have to check on that one) but anyway, it's definatley on the same line as the train to bournville which is where cadbury world is, if you stay on the train past new-street. If you're at new street or the pallisades, get millies cookies. Unless you had them first in America and I'm being patronising.

There is a small milkshake shop in town near the bullring which is worth going to. There are also some quite idiosyncratic regular 'big-issue' sellers, which is all part of the Birmingham experience.

Demitri wrote:Managed to talk the loving wife into taking a trip up to Birmingham during our London vacation to see Derren Brown's Svengali!

Very excited!

Quick question from a soon-to-be "boorish" American tourist - what's fun to do in Birmingham?

Nothing, there is a reason its called birmingham, because the old name of Boringham was rejected, plus they all speak funny when out "In the Gaaaaaaarden", , only joking, dunnow when it is on but TORM is usually In Brum land, torm being the original re enactors market, lots of cool stuff, from cooking to killing.