The most reverting of stories from the most exciting place of all…

• Birmingham first Impressions
• Exploring Birmingham
• Hostel
• Birmingham day 2

Birmingham first Impressions

After enduring yet another soggy bus ride, we bid farewell to Bristol and embarked on our journey northward to Birmingham. Now, Birmingham didn’t exactly inspire wild excitement among the hostel crowd in Bristol – their reviews were nothing to write home about. But hey, we’re not ones to shy away from forming our own opinions, so off we went, ready to uncover the hidden gems (or at least the mildly entertaining ones) of Birmingham.

As the rain eased up slightly, we arrived in Birmingham, our first mission: locate our hostel and ditch our bags before venturing out. On our way to the Selina Hostel, we strolled past the impressive town hall and a few other architectural gems – not a bad first impression, all things considered. But there was no time to pause and admire; our focus was on finding our accommodation. However, as luck would have it, we stumbled upon a construction site with a bus stop conveniently situated outside, complete with one of those makeshift tunnel-like structures made of scaffolding. And what greeted us right at the entrance? A shattered glass bottle and a pool of old blood, trickling off towards the underpass. Ah, what a warm welcome to a city already flagged as one to tread cautiously in.

Luckily, our hostel appeared to be nestled in a relatively safe neighbourhood, complete with the comforting presence of a nearby police station. With that small reassurance in mind, we swiftly dropped off our bags and set out to explore the city while killing time until check-in. Time to hit the streets and see what adventures await!

Exploring Birmingham

The beginnings of aimless wandering had begun and for me it had already produced a cheeky wee gem. Behold, Mitchells and Butlers, last name being Mitchell of course a photo for this was totally necessary.

As we roamed the streets of Birmingham, one thing became abundantly clear: the city must have a thriving industry in car steering wheel clamps, judging by the sheer number of parked cars with them.

Our journey led us to stumble upon St. Paul’s Square, a charming sight in the somewhat dreary urban landscape. It was a welcome sight, a little nugget of serenity amidst the hustle and bustle. Energised by our discoveries, we pressed on, only to encounter a strikingly different sight – a building unlike anything I’d ever laid eyes on before. Behold: Grand Central Birmingham, a structure that seemed to defy conventional architecture by resembling one colossal, undulating mirror. Seriously, was this building crafted by wizards? Because the optical illusion it created was downright mesmerising as it twisted and contorted before our very eyes.

Right next door to the architectural marvel that is Grand Central, we encountered The Bullring another very modern take on a facade. This modern marvel boasted a facade unlike any other, comprised of sleek, rounded metal cladding that caught the sunlight. The effect was truly jaw-dropping, especially considering the building’s unconventional, twisting structure – definitely not your run-of-the-mill box-shaped affair.

As we soaked in the sights and indulged in some top-notch people-watching, we couldn’t help but be drawn to a particularly eye-catching feature: a giant mechanical bull on display. Yep, you heard that right – the name “Bullring” wasn’t just for show. Check out the video below to witness this metallic beast in all its glory! One mistake however is the bull does not have any balls so… you be the judge.

After all that strolling and people-watching, we had worked up an appetite when Nando’s materialised before us. Now, they say “when in Rome,” but in this case, “when in England,” indulging in a cheeky Nando’s seemed like the only logical course of action and truly hit the spot propelling us forward and onto our next area of exploration.

Ah, our journey eventually brought us full circle back to the town hall, where I found myself staring at the pillars that seemed to bear the weight of Birmingham’s history and character. It’s funny how amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, these architectural remnants stand as reminders of a past era, anchoring the city in its past while it hurtles towards the future.

But what truly captivated me in this corner of Birmingham was a perfect harmony of old and new architecture. My words don’t do this justice so you need to just feast your eyes on the images below.

Continuing our exploration, not far from this captivating area of architectural wonders lay the Birmingham Library. While I must confess I didn’t venture inside, much like many of the contemporary buildings in Birmingham, the library’s facade alone is a spectacle worth beholding. It’s like a giant metallic bird’s nest, a mesmerizing tangle of metal that certainly catches the eye.

Now, I couldn’t help but ponder: are these elaborate facades perhaps a deliberate distraction from the fact that, in my humble opinion, Birmingham is a tad on the dull side with not a whole lot to offer in terms of entertainment? It’s a thought worth mulling over as we continue our journey through this city of contrasts.

Hostel

When the time came around to check in I was really looking forward to this one. In this hostel we had managed to snag a two person room meaning for the next two nights we didn’t have to worry of snorers or things that go bump in the night. The room was pretty much perfect with comfy beds that had a curtain you could pull across to really enclose yourself in. Charging ports and a light also sat above a small shelf for your convenience.

Ah, the Selina Hostel. This place had a vibe that was a bit different from the others we’d crashed in. It felt more like a corporate office building with doors scattered everywhere, and the layout seemed to have a case of the jumbled-up blues – not exactly conducive to fostering social connections.

But wait, there’s more! The Selina Hostel harboured a secret – a quirky little trick up its sleeve. Picture this: while you’re enjoying your refreshing shower, you’re also treated to an unexpected foot bath. Yes, you heard me right. Thanks to some creative plumbing, showers here were like a race against time, with a strict 30-second limit before the bathroom floor resembled a small pond. Not exactly ideal, but hey, at least the beds were comfy enough to lull us into a decent night’s sleep.

Now what I’m about to tell you is quite embarrassing and one of the stupidest things I’ve probably ever done if I’m being honest. Let me pose you a question… we’ve all accidentally disabled our phone from plugging in the wrong code right? (If you answered no you get a golden star and a pat on the head well done) But have you managed to disable the phone for 8 hours? I’m guessing not? Well from what I can now say is that it’s not actually an enjoyable thing to do. Buckle up, because I somehow managed to achieve this impressive feat, and let me tell you, it was about as enjoyable as a root canal.

Picture this: I am in the hostel half-asleep, and bam – one minute disabled screen. No biggie, right? Wrong. Panic sets in as I attempt and fail to enter the correct code time and time again. Five minutes, fifteen minutes – each failed attempt sends me spiralling into a deeper pit of despair. And just when I think it can’t get any worse, the screen mockingly displays a one-hour lockout.

But wait, it gets crazier. In a desperate attempt to salvage the situation, I set an alarm on my watch to wake me up for the three hour lockout. Yet, in a cruel twist of fate, even my alarm can’t save me from my own stupidity. Eight hours locked out. I’m practically hyperventilating at this point, imagining all my precious photos and data disappearing into the digital abyss.

Now, here’s where things take a turn for the surreal. In the midst of my anxiety-ridden slumber, I’m jolted awake by a dream – a dream where I miraculously unlock my iPhone. Frantically, I grab my laptop and jot down the code, hoping against hope that it’s the real deal. Morning arrives, and I practice muscle memory with my fingers, I enter the code – one digit off from my dream. It’s now a coin toss between muscle memory and my subconscious vision before I have to reset my phone.

Heart pounding, I go with the dream. And would you believe it? My iPhone unlocks, just like that. Saved by a dream. I kid you not.

Lesson learned, my friends. Travel fatigue is real, and stupid mistakes can happen to the best of us and that stupid mistakes can happen so be prepared.

Birmingham day 2

The day kicked off with a breakfast of eggs on toast and freshly baked sausage rolls we had heated up in our hostel kitchen – the perfect fuel after the rollercoaster of emotions from my iPhone unlock saga. With no concrete plans for our day in Birmingham, we found ourselves pondering the age-old question: what on earth do you do in this city?

But fear not, fellow adventurers, for we stumbled upon a glimmer of hope in the form of Think Tank, a supposedly interactive museum that promised to stimulate our curious minds. And so, with a sense of newfound purpose, we set out on foot towards this beacon of potential entertainment. They say the journey is half the adventure, and boy, were they right. As we meandered through the streets of Birmingham, we stumbled upon unexpected delights at every turn, reaffirming my belief that long walks are the best way to truly explore a city especially when nothing else is planned.

Hopes were soon dashed upon reaching our destination, only to be greeted by hordes of excitable 5-6 year olds streaming out of the museum like a swarm of enthusiastic ants. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that while Think Tank was indeed designed for all ages, the overwhelming presence of tiny humans was a tad off-putting for a couple of blokes looking for a bit of intellectual stimulation.

So after sitting for some time on a bench to the side we hatched a new plan. Birmingham is boring so we are gonna see what our legs can find us, create our own adventure.

The old legs found their way to the Bullring markets, which we wouldn’t have known existed otherwise. The markets were teeming with people from various cultures, creating a vibrant atmosphere that photos couldn’t quite capture (too busy not to get in the way). It was a bustling scene, continued over a couple of blocks going inside and outside the buildings, ranging from fresh fish to rugs, it was a real eye opener. It was a reminder of Birmingham’s diversity and the joy of stumbling upon unexpected treasures while wandering the city.

After this we went on a hunt for a curry after being told Birmingham at least does have good curry’s. This mission half failed as we ended up at Wetherspoons the whitest place you could for curry. However, we got a good deal on a pint and curry which wasn’t half bad and great value for money.

As our day in Birmingham drew to a close, we found ourselves retracing our steps through Grand Central and the Bullring, indulging our curiosity by peeking into every shop we passed. It was a leisurely stroll filled with window shopping and people-watching, a fitting end to our day of exploration.

But before we called it quits, I simply must rave about Tesco meal deals – our go-to for budget-friendly sustenance. For a mere £3.50, you could score a main (whether it be a sandwich or pasta), a snack (choices ranging from yogurt to fruit to chocolate), and a drink. It was a lifesaver for us budget-conscious travellers, and once again, it came through for us at dinnertime. Paired with some hot cross buns – because Easter without hot cross buns just wouldn’t be right – it made for a satisfying meal that didn’t break the bank.

As the evening settled in, we decided to check out the movie room at Selina, where we were provided with a cable to connect our devices. So, with bean bags as our thrones, we kicked back and enjoyed a movie before calling it a night, eagerly anticipating our next adventure in Manchester.