3 Hours in Birmingham

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I need to be frank here, I've only ever been to Birmingham twice in my life. The first time I went on a long car journey (car journeys seem like days as a kid) to the airport to pick family friends at a Birmingham airport hotel (don't ask me which one!). Then the second time was only a matter of weeks ago when I was had to change at Birmingham New Street to get to Liverpool.



Ok, that's probably not the most enlightening and entertaining opening paragraph I've ever written, but stick with me my little darlings.

3 Hours in Birmingham

When Hotels.com got in touch with me about taking an exploratory trip to Birmingham, I knew I had to say yes, purely for the reason that it would give me another chance to explore a new city in the UK. I said to myself at the start of the year that I wanted to venture to more cities and places that weren't just Liverpool (still love you Liverpool). I ticked off Brighton on my list, now I can tick off Birmingham. There seems to be a bit of a 'B' theme going on here. Ignore me, that's a subconscious thought on my part.



Let's get started. I get to Birmingham New Street, very relieved that there have been no hiccups with my train journey, and equally praying that everything goes just as well for the journey home. The only thing that annoyed me was the man sat next to me kept looking at my Disabled Rail Card. He was clearly questioning what exactly my disability was. Not nice at all.



Anyway, I find my way out of the mahossive train station and head for anywhere which is serving food. I swear everyone could hear my stomach rumbling on the train. I come across York's Café on the corner. A rustic but very Instagrammable café, with clipboard menus and fairy lights. Yep, I'm one of those people who looks for fairy lights in restaurants! It was busy but not too overcrowded. I ended up having the house breakfast which came in a small frying pan. All breakfasts should be served in a frying pan. Just all mixed together, it tastes much better that way. After demolishing my late breakfast, I drank a herby infused green tea and left there full and cradling a food baby.

3 Hours in Birmingham

3 Hours in Birmingham

3 Hours in Birmingham

I then took a walk through Piccadilly Arcade, walked through the city centre and ended up at St Philip's Cathedral. A beautiful spot in the sunshine for everyone to sit down on the grass and just chill. Until seagulls go after your ham sandwiches. It's such a regal and beautiful church, it breaks up the moderness of the city. It's smack bang in the middle of the skyscraper office buildings and sleek hotels.

3 Hours in Birmingham

I then strolled back to Piccadilly Arcade in the baking sunshine, not a brilliant idea for me to wear a jacket walking through town. I was sweating buckets by the time I got to my next café. Faculty Coffee is tucked away in Piccadilly Arcade, small but simplistic and cute café serving coffee (obvs, hence the name of the place) and the most appealing looking cakes I've ever seen. From chocolate muffins, to brownies and custard tarts, they all looked so good on display! I opted for the Lemon Meringue cake and oh my word it was the most fluffiest cake I've ever eaten. The picture below doesn't do it justice.

3 Hours in Birmingham

3 Hours in Birmingham

3 Hours in Birmingham

The only thing I would say is that the stools that were the only option of seating weren't the most comfortable chairs in the world. They didn't do my lower back any favours either.

After devouring my cake, I left the second café of the day and headed back to the train station. I fully didn't realise before my trip how huge Birmingham New Street is. Well, it's like the size of an airport. Grand Central (situated in BNS) is just incredible. From bars to cafes and a couple of WH Smith's thrown in for good measure, it has everything you could need while you're anticipatingly waiting for your train.



I hopped on my train with my Monica Gellar humidity style hair and went home.



Would I recommend Birmingham to people to visit? Absolutely. The people seemed really friendly and there's so much on offer there. I'm writing this with sleepy eyes so I'm off to bed to dream about that lemon meringue cake.

Have you ever been to Birmingham? Let me know what you thought!

 

 

 

 

Lucy

*The spending money was given to me from Hotels.com but Birmingham and lemon meringue cake views are my own. Please read my disclaimer.