Hotels in Birmingham

Best time to visit Birmingham

Birmingham has a temperate maritime climate, with average year-round temperature of less than 22 degrees Celsius and evenly spread out rainfall all year round. July is the hottest month of the year, while January temperatures can fall below 0 degrees Celsius. April – June and September – October are popular months amongst tourists, as the weather is slightly warmer. During these months, Birmingham hosts several festivals such as the British International Motor Show, Birmingham International Jazz Festival, Moseley Folk Festival, ArtsFest, and Birmingham Comedy Festival. If you are looking for cheap deals on travel and accommodation, you should plan your visit in the winter months from December – February.

Getting around Birmingham

Birmingham has several options for public transport. A network of 8 local rail lines connects all key sites and attractions while a comprehensive bus network spans the entire city. A ticket for “1-day network zones 1 – 5 which allows unlimited travel on regional buses, trams and trains (within zones 1 – 5), costs £8.50 GBP in cash or £8.30 GBP if you purchase a Swift Pay As You Go (PAYG) card. You can also hail a London-style black cab on the street.

Best places to stay in Birmingham

Birmingham’s industrial past attracted early settlers across communities and continents, leading to the creation of an exciting melting pot of cuisines, festivals and faiths. This makes the city truly vibrant and multicultural. Whether you are into the latest fashion trends, food, music, art, lifestyle or architecture, there will be some part of Birmingham where you are likely to feel right at home!

City Centre

The best area to stay in Birmingham is the City Centre, in close proximity to major attractions, shopping, architecture, and night life. Chinatown, Gay Village and Brindleyplace are all within walking distance of the City Centre. The area is well connected with other parts of Birmingham through plenty of convenient public transport options. At a prime central location, the Hyatt Regency Birmingham on Bridge Street offers you luxury accommodation with breath-taking views of the city’s canal network. In the mid-range budget option, you have the Holiday Inn Express Birmingham – City Centre, on Holliday Street, just a few minutes’ walk from New Street station. You may also want to consider the Staying Cool at the Rotunda, where 36 serviced apartments blend boutique hotel comfort with the space and freedom of living in a convenient flat.

Broad Street and West Side

Birmingham’s most dynamic entertainment destination, Broad Street offers you a wide choice of intimate waterside bars and clubs, cinemas, great food and warm hospitality. Consider the Hampton by Hilton Birmingham Broad Street or Premier Inn Birmingham Broad Street (Canal Side) hotel here. The rest of West Side, other than Broad Street, has several parks where you can relax by the lake, or take a walk into the woodland, or sit around and have a picnic. Restaurants are easy to come by and accommodation options are aplenty. You have the Hilton Garden Inn Birmingham Brindley Place with a chic restaurant and luxury rooms, just off Broad Street. It is less than 10 minutes’ drive from the Bullring and Mailbox shopping centres, the International Convention Centre, and the Symphony Hall. Within the Mailbox complex, you will also find the AC Hotel Birmingham, A Marriott Lifestyle Hotel.

Jewellery Quarter

The Jewellery Quarter is the 250-year old centre of Birmingham’s jewellery trade and home to over 500 jewellery businesses to this date. It is a unique area with a growing arts scene and plenty of bars and restaurants. Livery Street and the adjacent Constitution Hill are quieter areas with cheaper accommodation options for those looking to explore landmarks such as St. Paul’s Church and Birmingham Cathedral. Consider the self-catering apartments of The Jewellery Suites Birmingham on Caroline Street or the fabulous value-for-money Saint Pauls House on Saint Pauls Square. Another popular attraction in the heart of Jewellery Quarter is Hotel du Vin Birmingham, a landmark Victorian building built in the 1800s.

Cheap hotels in Birmingham

There are plenty of budget hotels to choose from in Birmingham. Wetherspoon’s The Briar Rose is a beautiful boutique-style hotel situated in the heart of the bustling city centre of Birmingham, a 3-minute walk from New Street train station and a 15-minute journey from the airport. Also close by is Premier Inn’s Birmingham Broad Street (Canal Side) hotel overlooking the city’s waterways. A short distance from major attractions such as Jewellery Quarter, Symphony Hall and Brindleyplace is the Hotel ibis Styles Birmingham Centre on Lionel Street near St. Paul’s square. Another budget accommodation near St. Paul’s square is the Bloc Hotel Birmingham, inspired by Tokyo’s capsule hotels.

Birmingham shops, galleries, museums and live events cater to everyone from art lovers to retail junkies to sports fans and festival lovers.

• In the Jewellery Quarter, walk around Birmingham’s finest square, St Paul’s, with its Georgian church, numerous restaurants, bars and galleries. Explore history at the Museum of Jewellery Quarter and check out the exciting world of pens and calligraphy at the Pen Museum.
• In the Broad Street area, watch a film or enjoy a show at the New Alexandra Theatre or the Old Rep Theatre. Watch comedians in action at one of the New Street clubs. For live music across various genres, visit the CBSO Centre. For some of the hottest night clubs on Broad Street, you must stop by The Night Owl to enjoy its wide range of soul, reggae and ska music, Snobs for Indie and rock n’ roll, The Chameleon for its glamorous atmosphere and amazing cocktails, The Tunnel for a gritty venue based under the railway arches and the Big Daddy of them all, Pryzm with its high ceilings and a glitzy and massive main arena.
• At the City Centre, visit the International Convention Centre and the Symphony Hall, one of the greatest concert halls in the world. Don’t miss out on a leisurely boat ride through the canals as you admire the beautiful views of the city and the restored industrial heritage buildings.
• The Sparkbrook, Balsall Heath and Moseley areas of the city come together to form the Balti Triangle famous for its Asian cuisine, traditional dressmakers and delicious sweet shops. Your visit to Birmingham, the ‘Balti capital’ of UK, is incomplete if you don’t try some of the tastiest curry dishes at the authentic family-run establishments as well as award-winning restaurants in this area. Lasan, Asha’s, Pushkar, Al Frash, Delhi 6, Kababish, Adil’s, Popular, Shabab and Shahi Nan Kebab are just a few of the highly recommended restaurants within the Balti Triangle.
• Visit the football grounds such as Villa Park and Edgbaston, an international cricket ground, as well as the NEC Arena, which hosts many international events.
• Explore the Birmingham Museum which holds the most interesting array of exhibitions about the city’s history. The IKON gallery’s modern art displays of local artists, Soho House which is the restored home of industrial leader, Matthew Boulton and the Thinktank Science Museum, are all worth exploring too.
• For a generous dose of retail therapy, visit The BullRing and the Mailbox malls. At the Mailbox mall, you are also sure to spot a celebrity or two as the on-site Malmaison Birmingham hotel hosts several national and international celebrities all year round.
• You may want to also squeeze into your itinerary, a trip to explore the picturesque model village of Bourneville (which is around 10 kilometres from Birmingham City Centre) and indulge in the world of chocolate at Cadbury World.