Selfridges, Birmingham
Mrs R and I have never ever been to Birmingham in our lives, and I suspect Mr Coulson hasn't either. It's come a long way since the days of Tommy Shelby!
But an impromptu invite from our tour guide and her understudy was too good an opportunity and education to turn down so train tickets enthusiastically booked and we were on our way. Just exiting Birmingham New Street station is a wow experience just in itself and you can do almost anything there except rollerblade as the nice tannoy announcement politely informed us. I just wish I'd brought my skateboard along as well!
Not knowing the area at all, we arranged to meet up at one of the many fine coffee establishments in an area now known to us northerners as the posh shopping mall. After suitable refreshments our expert guide led us on the grand tour. I was most interested in the funny building with all the silver spots so while we circumnavigated the exterior, Mrs R checked out the interior with an ingenious app called a "credit card".
Sensing my concern over financial bankruptcy, our tour guide suggested Eddie and myself also take a look at the interior of the funny building but start at the top where most damage could be inflicted. A fine plan and perfectly executed for we met on the second floor where the cheap stuff is. Next a brief interlude while we waited for the understudy to arrive.
Surprisingly, the understudy turned up and almost on time, but such failings were quickly forgotten with the education and enthusiastic commentary that ensued, but first a coffee break, which he offered to pay for as recompense... I should have pushed harder for a slice of cake as well.
Suitable refreshed, both our tour guides led us out of the posh shopping mall and out into the vast unknown that is Birmingham. Facts and figures were reeled off with confidence like they had only been read about the night before... so much information to digest I wished I'd written some of it down but this one fact from our understudy guide has stuck in my mind. Did you know, and not a lot of people know this... but Birmingham has more canals than Venice... only it's shittier!
These are the insider gems that only local brummie tour guides know... other tour guides are available. More to follow!
Tags: Birmingham Midlands grand day out professional tour guides education commentary just the facts coffee posh shopping malls funny buildings spots canals Venice
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And now for something completely different...
Tags: Birmingham grand day out professional tour guides from the people that brought you shi**y canals honest... I did it intentionally
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Library of Birmingham, Birmingham
One of my "must visit" buildings while on our recent little jolly to Birmingham. I didn't even know of its existence until I came across some images by Rep001 here on Flickr. It's everything modern architecture should be... inspiring, uplifting that leaves you with a sense of pleasure and wellbeing!
If Birmingham is doing anything wrong, it's only because it's not promoting itself to the rest of the country. My own city of Manchester has undergone a renaissance since the IRA bombing in 1996 with major developments throughout the city, as has Liverpool, but Birmingham is now leading the way. There is a sense of forward planning with more social consideration to its regeneration, something that I feel Manchester has overlooked. This is definitely a city to visit.
Tags: Birmingham Midlands grand day out professional tour guides education commentary just the facts coffee posh shopping malls great architecture fun buildings spots cubes cylinders circles h
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Library of Birmingham, Birmingham
Paul... how many circles?
Tags: Birmingham Midlands grand day out professional tour guides education commentary just the facts great architecture post modern abstract details not quite macro fun buildings circles lots of circles even more circles I dare you to count em' Paul!
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XXXU
It's been mentioned plenty of times on other Flickrites streams since the June meetup, so anyone up for another day out?
I've only tagged in those that came and the ones that couldn't make it first time round. So please don't feel excluded or left out... it's open to everyone that comes across this call out... though this time it's one date, one venue!
By the way, the interior of Selfridges is just as wacky as the exterior and can you spot the togs?
Tags: Birmingham Midlands grand day out Flickr togs professional tour guides education commentary just the facts coffee posh shopping malls great architecture fun buildings Selfridges credit cards don't miss the train
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