Our first trip … to Birmingham!

For our very first trip, we chose a city that was not too far from Coventry. Birmingham – only a twenty-minute train ride – seemed like the perfect getaway during our first week in the UK. Not that the trip started perfectly. On the contrary, we bought the wrong train tickets … Luckily the lovely conductress was kind enough to let us go without a penalty. After that little debacle, we happily arrived in Birmingham.

Birmingham thrived during the Industrial Revolution and you can still see the remains. It has an industrial, raw feel. Honestly – Birmingham is not the prettiest city, but there are some architectural buildings worth a visit. The Selfridges building amongst them. Also worth seeing is Victoria Square and the library. We’ve been told that the view on the top floor of the library is amazing but unfortunately we didn’t manage to do that as it was raining cats and dogs. No surprise there!

Chinese New Year

We visited during Chinese New Year, making Birmingham festive and cosily crowded, despite the coronavirus. Even the bull was dressed for the occasion!

The Selfridges building is not only nice on the outside but also the inside is interesting for shopping lovers. As you could probably guess by the name. In general, I would say that Birmingham is a pretty good shopping destination compared to Coventry. While Josefien and I did some necessary shopping, the boys went for drinks in the pub. Of course, we joined them later in the afternoon.

Pubbing in Birmingham

The boys stumbled upon The Head of Steam, a cosy pub offering a wide range of beers & ciders, including some famous Belgian ones like Kasteel Rouge. As Belgians, we can appreciate that!

Burgers for dinner

The last stop on our Birmingham trip was dinner at Original Patty Men, recommended by one of Rik’s local friends. Oh boy – it was goooooddd! The patty was incredibly savoury and juicy and perfectly accompanied by the Spiced Fries. If you’re ever in Birmingham and craving a hamburger, this is the place to go!

Although it was a very rainy day with a less than ideal start, our first trip was a success.If you love shopping, an industrial feel, and good food, Birmingham will certainly be your cup of tea!