Martin Guest Managing Director of property consultants CBRE with HIS suggestion for '48 Hours in Birmingham'
We kick off our mid-summer run of '48 Hours in Birmingham' with Martin Guest's suggestions. More to follow through the week.
See our full post to see how Martin would recommend a visitor to our City spends '48 hours in Birmingham'.
For other '48 hours in Birmingham' posts and suggestions, take the project link.
Coincide your visit with a trip to Britain’s busiest theatre - no, it’s not in London’s West End, it’s right here in Birmingham!
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Photo by Daniel Sturley
Whether you are a fan of musicals, opera, dance or ballet – Birmingham Royal Ballet is based here or want to catch a top-flight comedian, The Hippodrome has the show for you.
Either before or after a Friday night performance, I’d stop off at The Victoria, a traditional pub on nearby John Bright Street with a great choice of real ales.
For cricket fans, a game at Edgbaston is a must. Home to Warwickshire CCC and the Birmingham Bears, it’s undeniably the best ground outside Lords, and a favourite among England players, and not without reason: England has lost just one match there since 2008. No wonder they call it ‘Fortress Edgbaston’!
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Photo by Debra Power
There’s a great line up this year, with visits from two of the world’s greatest cricketing nations, Australia and India, for a floodlit T20 and a test respectively.
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Photo by Daniel Sturley
If you can’t get either of these hot tickets, Edgbaston is the home of the T20 domestic finals.
Even if the cricket’s a bit slow, you can always rely on the crowds in the legendary Eric Hollies stand to keep you entertained. They’re the England team’s 12th man!
After the game, head into the city for dinner. A steak at Gaucho, 55 Colmore Row, or a curry at Asha’s on Newhall St – fitting if you’ve been to the India test – would top my list.
I’d work that off on Sunday with a walk.
The city centre has a wealth of fantastic architecture to explore. Modern icons such as Selfridges, the Library of Birmingham and New Street Station live cheek by jowl with the Victorian buildings which burgeoned as the city prospered from the Industrial Revolution.
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Photo by Chris Fletcher
It’s equally fascinating to see the emergence of a new generation of buildings, including the HSBC and HMRC HQs at Arena.
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Photo by Daniel Sturley
New build is also underway at Paradise, creating a walkway from the Library of Birmingham which reveals Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in a totally different light.
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Photo by Raj Sanghera
I’d probably steer my city walk towards the Jewellery Quarter, and not just to take in the lovely St Paul’s Church, set in the city’s only Georgian square.
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Photo by Damien Walmsley
The JQ is becoming as well known for its bar scene as its jewellery making, with an award-winning gin bar and a specialist whisky bar, housed in the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, among its draws.
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Photo by Birmingham Museums
In my book, Sunday’s not Sunday without meat and at least three veg. I’d head for the Red Lion, an old-school pub which serves up a crackling (see what I did there?) roast and all the trimmings from £12.95.
That said, The Highfield in Edgbaston is also a great alternative: all the roasties you can eat, extra yorkies and bottomless gravy.
What’s not to like?
Enjoy Birmingham!