A Few Days in Birmingham
Birmingham Coat of Arms.
We were checked in to The Adagio by a Greek lady named, Linda, who was very helpful, hardworking and kind. Unfortunately we couldn't get an accessible room for our first night, but she promised to move us on our second day. We took our free drinks to our room and were too tired to go out for something to eat so just went to bed instead.
Our room in The Adagio.
Next day I went to Greggs to get us breakfast. I noticed that there was a lot of beautiful street art on the way to the Bullring Shopping Centre from our hotel. This really brightened up all the construction work that was going on.
Love Brum.
Jesus.
Amongst the gloom and doom we must continue to bloom.
Rose.
Flower.
On warm days and cooler nights, keep the fire that's inside burning bright.
Face.
Face.
We changed rooms around 12 o'clock. Once we were in our new room, I went out for a walk and to get us some provisions. It was a really hot and sunny day.
I walked to Birmingham Cathedral which had a big wheel outside it. This looks rather incongruous in the cemetery of a major church, but I think it's there because Birmingham lacks any open green space in the city centre.
Birmingham Cathedral.
The Big Wheel.
Then I continued on to Victoria Square. There's been lots of construction work going on here on my recent visits, but fortunately that's all finished now and the square is looking really great. Here you can find The Council House, the Town Hall, a museum, a statue of Queen Victoria and a fountain.
The Council House and fountains, Victoria Square.
Queen Victoria statue.
Queen Victoria Statue.
The River Statue and Fountain, Victoria Square.
Sphinx like statue nicknamed the "Floozie in the Jacuzzi" Victoria Square.
"The Spirit of Enterprise" statue, and buildings, Victoria Square.
Victoria House and Antony Gormley's "Iron: Man".
Next to The Council House is the Town Hall, and round the corner is Chamberlain Square which contains the Chamberlain Monument and a statue of Thomas Atwood, who was a political reformer.
The Town Hall and the Chamberlain Memorial.
Chamberlain Square and Chamberlain Memorial.
Birmingham Museum.
Thomas Atwood, political reformer.
Thomas Atwood, political reformer.
Continuing further on I reached the Hall of Memory, a war memorial located on Centenary Square. This square is also home to Birmingham Library which was designed by Francine Houben of Mecanoo and is considered to be a modern architectural masterpiece. Centenary Square also contains The Birmingham Rep Theatre and Symphony Hall.
The war memorial.
Baskerville House, aprominent Grade II listed building.
Birmingham Library.
Birmingham Library.
Birmingham Rep.
There are several statues on Centenary Square. These include "The Golden Boys" showing Matthew Boulton, James Watt and William Murdoch, three prominent figures from the industrial revolution and "A Real Birmingham Family," a bronze statue by artist Gillian Wearing.
The golden boys.
A Real Birmingham family.
Next I came to The Black Sabbath Bridge. Black Sabbath consisting of guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne were formed in Birmingham in 1968. Recently, on July 5th 2025, Black Sabbath held their farewell concert "Back to the Beginning", at Villa Park in Birmingham. All the original members of the band performed at the concert, which was attended by around 40,000 fans. This will be Ozzy's last performance, as he is very ill with Parkinson's disease. Proceeds from the concert were donated to charities including Cure Parkinson's, Birmingham Children's Hospital, and Acorn Children's Hospice.
There was an open-air exhibition about the band in front of the fountains in Victoria Square. Even the bull statue in Birmingham New Street Station is called after Ozzy.
Black Sabbath Bridge.
Ozzy the Bull.
Ozzy the Bull.
Black Sabbath exhibition.
Black Sabbath exhibition.
I went down the stairs next to the Black Sabbath Bridge and wandered around the canal district for a while. This old industrial area has been revitalized and opened as an entertainment district.
Canal Walk.
Canal barges with the Mail Box in the background.
Canal barges.
The Tap and Spile Pub.
Canal with painted pub in the background.
Canal bridge.
Canal walkway.
Canal walkway.
There are lots of attractive properties on the edges of the canal.
Houses on the canal.
Houses on the canal.
On such a hot day all of the pubs and restaurants here were heaving with people.
The Malt House.
Iguanas.
At one point I found a lovely little cottage garden on the edge of one canal.
Upper and lower cottage gardens.
Sunshine in the cottage garden.
Tree mallow.
Bee on bell thistle.
I also found a beach area complete with fountains, deck chairs, paddling children and an ice-cream van.
Children enjoying the fountains.
Deck chairs.
Fountains.
Walking back home I passed some other buildings I liked.
Narrow building on the corner of New Street and Pinfold Street.
Old building.
Next day I had made an appointment at a dental clinic in Great Barr. Peter came with me and I spent the morning having my tooth fixed for £140. Then we went to Walsall and did a little bit of shopping before catching a bus to Pelsall and placing flowers on Peter's parents grave.
Afterwards we went to The Old House at Home and had katsu chicken fries and a drink.
Peter in front of The Old House at home.
Peter in The Old House at home.
Next day we moved from The Adagio to The Ibis in Chinatown.
Peter and Eddie in The Ibis.
Peter and Eddie in The Ibis.
That afternoon our friends Chris and Pat came to see us and we went to The Dragon Inn Wetherspoons in Chinatown. Pat and I had fish and chips. Peter had Wiltshire ham, eggs and chips. Chris had a burger. We had a fun evening catching up on all our news and lots of laughs sharing anecdotes.
Chinatown.
Pat, Chris and Peter.
In Wetherspoons.
My fish and chips.
Wiltshire ham, eggs and chips.
Next day our friend Michael came up to Birmingham for the day. The weather has changed to cold and rainy. I took Michael for a walk. We went into Saint Martin's Church. I didn't take any photos because there was a service going on.
Then we walked to the cathedral and had a look inside. We were particularly impressed by the stained glass windows by Birmingham born artist, Edward Burne-Jones.
Birmingham Cathedral.
Inside Birmingham Cathedral.
Inside Birmingham Cathedral.
Stained glass window.
Stained glass window.
I then took Michael to Victoria Square, which looked a bit different on a rainy day.
Victoria Square on a rainy day
Michael in Victoria Square
The Chamberlain Memorial photographed better on a rainy day.
I also took Michael around the canal district. It was a lot less crowded this time.
Michael on the Black Sabbath Bridge.
Michael by the Canal.
Geese by the canal.
The canals on a rainy day.
I noticed that 'The Bulls in the City' Festival had begun. Last year the festival was a bear one and there were only about twelve statues. This time there's around sixty, so I won't be trying to find all of them. I'll just photograph them if I happen to pass them.
Michael with the bull outside New Street Station.
Bull outside New Street Station.
Multicoloured bull.
Multicoloured bull outside The Council House.
City bull.
Patterned bull.
Brindley Place Bull.
Birmingham Moseley Bull.
Floral Bull.
Weather Bull.
Cadbury Bull.
X bull.
Tiger Bull.
Market Bull.
Blue bulls in the city.
Take more chances bull.
Then I took Michael back to the hotel where we collected Peter and we all went to The Wetherspoons yet again. This time I had chicken jalfrezie, Michael had fish and chips and Peter had Wiltshire ham and cheddar panini. We had a lovely chat and attempted to put the world to rights, then it was time for Michael to go back home. I walked him back to the station to say goodbye.
Michael and Peter in Wetherspoons.
Me, Michael and Peter in Wetherspoons.
This featured blog entry was written by irenevt from the blog Trip to Europe 2025..
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