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If you’re coming to ̽»¨Ö±²¥ for the first time for an Open Day it can be difficult to know what else to do, how do you make the most of a day in the city? Most university Open Days finish by about 3pm so you’ve got time to fit in a bit more sightseeing before you head home.Ìý

Contents

1. Best places to go shopping
2. Best places to eat
3. Things to see and do
4. Where to go in ̽»¨Ö±²¥

Best places to go shopping

The Bullring and Grand Central

̽»¨Ö±²¥ is renowned for the , with new shops and places to eat arriving all the time including Sephora, SDMN, Zara, Blank Street Coffee, Cinnabon and many more. There are also lots of fun things to do on top of shopping, like  ²¹²Ô»åÌý which are activity bars where you can also get food.

Independent shopping

If you’re looking to find something unique during your visit to Brum, head to the  and arcades or to in Digbeth to find loads of independent retailers under one roof.

Places to eat

Best places to eat near BCU City Centre Campus

As a super-diverse city ̽»¨Ö±²¥ is full of amazing food options for every budget. The Bullring is a 15-minute walk from BCU’s City Centre Campus and has lots of popular chain restaurants like Wingstop, Nandos, Wagamamas, Five Guys, Yo Sushi and .

If you’re keen to try some of ̽»¨Ö±²¥â€™s independent offerings, , ²¹²Ô»åÌý are under 30 minutes walk away. You could also walk to Digbeth along the canal (15 minutes) and try , ,Ìý (great vegan food at ) or more at the Custard Factory.

Places to eat near BCU City South Campus

If you’re looking for places to eat near our City South Campus, there are some great options nearby. ,Ìý ²¹²Ô»åÌý are cosy, casual options under 10 minutes’ walk away. Or if you’re feeling fancy, Michelin starred restaurant is just next door.Ìý

Things to see and do

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From BCU’s city centre campus walk up to the Bullring Bull, this is the centre of ̽»¨Ö±²¥â€™s shopping area and a good place to get a feel for this bustling city. Looking down the hill you’ll see St Martin’s Church, which was at the heart of the historic city. Walk up New Street to Victoria Square where you can see some of the city’s oldest architecture and the much-loved "Floozie in the Jacuzzi" sculpture. Head through Chamberlain Square where you’ll find the  on your right, with a variety of restaurants and cafes to refresh yourself at.

Then if you head across the bridge to Centenary Square you’ll be at the . This is Europe’s largest public library and is a unique bit of architecture. If you’ve got time, ride the escalators up to the top to find the Secret Garden, with a panoramic view of the city. Nestled on the very top floor is the Shakespeare memorial room which holds the People’s Folio and an exhibition about Shakespeare’s influence.

To get to the canals, walk straight through the ICC. You can do a short loop around here, don’t miss Gas Street Basin for a photo, then head to Brindley Place for dinner.Ìý

Fun things to do in ̽»¨Ö±²¥

If you’re coming to an open day with friends or family, Brum has lots of activities you can do together. Just a 10-minute walk from our City Centre campus, Digbeth has lots of options like board games at , classic arcade games at or skating at . In the city centre, you could also try bowling at or a virtual reality gaming experience at .Ìý

Seasonal things to see and do in ̽»¨Ö±²¥Â 

March: The cherry blossoms outside  in Brindley Place are a beautiful sight to see in the spring, you might get lucky if you come to an Open Day in March.

November:  Christmas markets take over  and . These make the city look beautiful and are well worth a visit to get a hot drink and some festive food after an Open Day. There are also fairground rides and an  in Centenary Square outside the Library.

Where to go in ̽»¨Ö±²¥

If you’ve got a bit more time in ̽»¨Ö±²¥, it’s worth exploring beyond the city centre. Here are some of our favourite areas in the city to visit.

• Digbeth: ̽»¨Ö±²¥â€™s creative quarter
• The Jewellery Quarter: the historic home of the jewellery industry with lots of bars and cafes to try
• Brindley Place: for restaurants and canalside bars
• Moseley and Kings Heath: a short ride from the city centre on the bus but full of independent shops, cafes, pubs, restaurants and great venues
• Stirchley and Bournville: Stirchley is an up-and-coming neighbourhood with lots of craft bars and independent restaurants, while Bournville is a historic village built by the Cadbury family for their factory
• Harborne: for charity shopping and more great food options