Why Birmingham At Christmas Time Is The Best UK City To Visit
Read on to find out why Birmingham is worth visiting at Christmas!
The UK city of Birmingham at Christmas time is an absolutely magical place to visit, more so than the likes of London or Manchester in my humble opinion.
Often voted as the best city in the country in terms of shopping, Birmingham is also home to the largest German Christmas market as well, making it the perfect destination during the festive season.
As a local to Birmingham, I’ve visited the German Christmas market more times than I can remember. I always look forward to visiting it when Christmas rolls around each year and love its magical atmosphere.
That’s why I’ve put together this blog post to give you all the top details you need to know when it comes to what makes Birmingham such a special place at this wonderful time of the year.
⌚In a rush? My Top Hotel Recommendations for Birmingham:
⭐ easyHotel Birmingham
⭐ Radisson Blu Hotel
⭐ The Grand Hotel Birmingham
Why Birmingham At Christmas Is The Best UK City
Although London is often the most visited city in the UK during Christmas time, I do honestly believe that Birmingham is the better choice.
It’s cheaper in terms of accommodation and the city nowadays has so much to offer. Especially in the weeks leading up to Christmas, the city is a lively, vibrant place to be and there are so many things you can do here.
So let’s take a look at some of the main reasons why Birmingham is such a great place to visit at Christmas.
The biggest and best UK Christmas Market 🎄
Without a doubt, the main attraction during the Christmas period in Birmingham is the German Christmas market.
Known officially as the: ‘Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market‘, it has been running annually since 2001 and has become a firm favourite tradition for local Brummies and visitors alike.
The main reason why I love the German market so much is the special atmosphere. Walking around through the crowds you can see everyone is having a good time and it really gets you in the festive spirit of the season.
It is known to be the biggest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany and Austria and one of the best in the whole of Europe, never mind the UK! Here’s what you can expect when visiting the market:
- Numerous open air stalls selling a wide range of crafts, toys, ornaments and more that make for perfect Christmas gifts.
- Food and drink stalls selling traditional German items such as bratwurst hot dogs, gluhwein (mulled wine) which will keep you warm from the cold weather, sweets, pretzels, crepes, donuts and lots more.
- Live music and events: there is a bandstand in the market at Victoria Square which has live music and events to be enjoyed during the weekends.
👉 Pro Tip: Because its so popular, the market does get extremely busy during the weekends and Friday nights in particular, and it can get overcrowded during those times.
If you want to experience the market when its less crowded, then plan a visit there during a weekday – early afternoon is a good option.
Best UK city for shopping 🛍️
Birmingham is also considered to be one of if not the best UK city for shopping as well, and is very much referred to as a ‘shopping city’.
This makes it the ideal place to visit in the run up to Christmas during the all important shopping period. There are a lot of shopping options in Birmingham, including:
- Bullring Shopping Centre: this is a major shopping centre that dates back to the Middle Ages. Nowadays its a very modern place to visit with over 160 stores, from commercial high street clothing stores and cafes.
- Mailbox: another popular shopping place in Birmingham, the Mailbox features luxury clothing brand stores as well as exceptional restaurants.
- Primark: the largest Primark store in the whole of Europe is in Birmingham! It features over five floors of clothing goods as well as a barbers, a beauty studio and a Disney cafe.
Best Pantomimes in the UK 🎭
Birmingham is also well known for having some fantastic theatre locations such as the Birmingham Hippodrome and the Birmingham Rep.
During the Christmas period there are lots of pantomimes and Christmas themed theatre shows and ballets, such as: ‘A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story’ at the Rep and ‘The Nutcracker’ at the Hippodrome, both of which will be playing in 2024.
Pantomimes are a really fun UK tradition at Christmas and provide perfect afternoon or evening entertainment for families and youngsters when visiting Birmingham.
Fantastic nightlife 🍸
In my opinion, I really do think that Birmingham rivals any other top UK city when it comes to nightlife.
There are plenty of top rated nightclubs and when it comes to bars, Birmingham has some of the best options in the UK. The city has an excellent bar scene, from really sophisticated cocktail bars to wine bars, gin distilleries and more.
In recent years Birmingham has seen a lot of theme bars and activity bars open up, which are a tonne of fun if you’re looking for something different during a night out. Some of the best theme and activity bars include:
- Tilt – a themed bar packed full of pinball machines and retro arcade games.
- Boom Battle Bar – here can participate in beer pong, karaoke, axe throwing and more.
- F1 Arcade – an excellent Formula One themed bar where you can practice your racing skills on official simulators while enjoying a drink (though not at the same time lol).
- Birmingham Bierkeller – the city’s very own German themed bar with plenty of traditional German pilsners to try.
- Roxy Lanes – based in Digbeth, this cool bar features loads of games you can try, from table tennis to pool, bowling and loads more.
- Otherworld – a bar like none other, here you order a drink via a self-service drinks wall and put on a VR headset at one of the 18 ‘immersion pods’ before being transported to another reality altogether.
- Golf Fang – an absolutely mad crazy golf bar full of neon graffiti, it also has an awesome street food menu too.
Excellent Restaurants 🍜
As well as excellent bars of all kinds, Birmingham also has a reputation for having a thriving array of restaurants in recent years, and there is a wide selection to choose from when dining out.
There are a lot of fine dining restaurants, with the city currently boasting up to four michelin starred restaurants. My personal recommendation would be ‘Purnell’s‘, which is run by local chef and TV cooking personality Glynn Purnell.
If fine dining is outside of your budget range, then there are plenty of other options. I would recommend a visit to the top floor of Grand Central Station, where there are several very good restaurants featuring world cuisine.
Great transportation links 🚆
With Birmingham being based centrally in the heart of England, it has great transportation links to the rest of the country.
This makes it very convenient to get to anywhere in England, Scotland or Wales within just a few hours. You can get to London via train in just over 2 hours, while a train to the Scottish capital of Edinburgh will take you just over 4 hours.
If you fancy a day trip from Birmingham then you are spoilt for choice, with trains leaving from Birmingham New Street station to other top cities, pleasant seaside towns and anywhere else you may want to discover in the British Isles.
Best Places To Stay In Birmingham
Thinking of staying in Birmingham at Christmas? It can be difficulty to find the right accommodation place as there are so many options, so here are three recommendations to consider at three different price ranges:
⭐ Budget Recommendation: easyHotel Birmingham
If you’re on a tight budget when visiting Birmingham, then easyHotel is one of your best options, offering excellent value for money.
Based centrally, just a three minute walk to Birmingham New Street station, easyHotel has very affordable and comfortable rooms. The hotel has a lift, luggage storage and facilities for disabled guests.
⭐ Check out Julia’s top review of easyHotel Birmingham:
“Extremely helpful staff especially the night receptionist, Krishna, comfortable firm bed and efficient shower.”
⭐ Mid-Range Recommendation: Radisson Blu Hotel
Unmissable on the Birmingham skyline, the Radisson Blu Hotel is a classy 4 star hotel which is an ideal option for when visiting the city.
This very modern hotel is situated within a 39-storey glass skyscraper, featuring rooms that have some absolutely unbeatable views of the city and beyond.
The Radisson Blu Hotel features a fitness centre, a bar and a restaurant, and it has spacious family rooms available too.
⭐ Check out Eric’s top review of the Radisson Blu Hotel:
“Location was in the centre of city. We upgraded to a superior room which had floor to ceiling windows with great views of the city.”
⭐ Luxury Recommendation: The Grand Hotel Birmingham
If you’re looking for a luxurious stay while in Birmingham then there’s is only one option: The Grand Hotel Birmingham.
This exceptional 5 star hotel is located in the heart of the city in a beautiful building, which features two top quality restaurants, a fitness centre and a really gorgeous bar too.
The overall look and design of the hotel is absolutely stunning and the rooms are extremely spacious with lovely views of the city.
⭐ Check out Sandra’s top review of The Grand Hotel Birmingham:
“Great fun staying here. Nice attention to detail – lovely bathroom, good shower, good bed. Breakfast was very good with wide range of cooked and cold items. Staff very helpful.”
Birmingham FAQs
Still not sure about visiting Birmingham for Christmas this year? Allow me to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about England’s second city:
Is the Birmingham Christmas market worth visiting?
Absolutely! Christmas markets have become the norm all throughout the UK in recent years, but in my opinion Birmingham is better than all the others considering its size and how many stalls it has.
The atmosphere at Birmingham Christmas market is always lively and fun and it really does raise your spirits and signals that the season’s festivities are well and truly underway.
Where is the Christmas market in Birmingham?
The Birmingham Christmas market is very central in the heart of the city of Birmingham and it is really very easy to find.
If you’re coming to the city especially for the market via train, then from Birmingham New Street station it is just a short couple of minutes walk. All you have to do is head to the city centre and you can’t miss it.
When does the Christmas market in Birmingham start?
The market usually begins on or around the start of November right through until Christmas Eve, so lasts around 7 weeks in total.
The stalls open at 11am during weekdays (10am on weekends) and the place stays open up until 9pm (9:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays).
The market is totally free to enter and please remember that it doesn’t open until 1pm on Remembrance Sunday, which is normally the second Sunday in November.
Conclusion: Birmingham At Christmas
So that concludes everything you need to know what makes Birmingham the best UK city to visit during Christmas time.
From the magical German Christmas market to endless shopping options and a fantastic nightlife scene, Birmingham is an exceptional city that really comes to life throughout the entire Christmas period.
I always love visiting the Christmas market and can’t recommend it highly enough. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading through what makes Birmingham great at Christmas, and are ready to celebrate the festivities in the second city.
You may also enjoy reading these blog posts about Birmingham:
➡️ The Best Canal Trips That Are A Must When Visiting Birmingham
➡️ Why A Peaky Blinders Tour Is A Must When Visiting Birmingham
➡️ Things To Do In Digbeth: Birmingham’s Trendiest Neighbourhood
➡️ The Top 13 Birmingham Walking Tours In 2024 – From A Local
➡️ 15 Things To Do In Birmingham Alone: The BEST Solo Travel Guide
➡️ Birmingham vs London: Which City Is Better To Visit In 2024?
➡️ Is It Better To Visit Wolverhampton or Birmingham? Review By A Local
➡️ Is Birmingham Worth Visiting? Top 27 Things To Do – By A Local
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➡️ Planning your trip? Here are my favourite resources:
🏨 Accommodation: I recommend using Booking.com
🚙 Rental Car: Use Discover Cars for the best car rental prices
❤️ Travel Insurance: I recommend using Visitors Coverage
✈️ Flights: Use Kiwi.com for the best prices on flights
