Yes, there is a little while to go yet, but we cannot wait for the festive season here at Travelodge. It’s never too early to start planning your fabulously festive weekend away, so check out some of the best things to do on a budget weekend in Birmingham.
Birmingham Christmas Market
Image courtesy of Frankfurt Christmas Market Ltd
What could be more festive than a huge German Christmas market selling seasonal treats, gifts, and goodies in a fabulously gaudy setting. Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market is the place to be this winter. Heralded as the largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany and Austria, dozens of traders and stalls head over from Germany, filling Victoria Square to make one of the country’s best and biggest Christmas markets. Do a bit of Christmas shopping, buy some decorations for the tree, or you could eat yourself to the size of Santa with all the delicious food and drink on offer. Get a sumptuous slice of stollen, a delicious cup of Glühwein, and revel in the romance of a traditional German Christmas.
Crafty Cocktails
Anyone feeling crafty? The Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) is holding some Crafty Cocktails sessions where you can knock back a couple of yuletide cocktails whilst you craft some Christmas cards for your nearest and dearest. A MAC art tutor will be on hand to guide you through the crafting process, whilst Christmas music and mulled wine will also be on hand for a fully festive feeling. No need to book in advance and the event is free (although the cocktails aren’t), just drop in to the MAC Arena Bar and get crafting.
Where to stay
Birmingham Central Moor Street
Birmingham Central Bullring
Get your skates on
There’s no more idyllic festive image than shakily skating around an ice rink. Well, Ice Skate Birmingham is just the place to get your skates on. Birmingham’s largest undercover ice rink provides a fabulous skating experience for first-timers and full blown Torvill and Dean’s alike. Great for all the family, Ice Skate Birmingham also features a giant ferris wheel and the City Flyer – an enormous carousel that sends you flying through the air 55m above Birmingham. It’s not quite a one horse open sleigh, but it’s about as close to being Santa as you can get. There’s also a delightful Ice Lounge on site where you can get a drink, a snack, and keep your chestnuts warm. Prices for ice skating are £10.50 for adults, and £8.50 for children, the City Flyer and giant ferris wheel are £5 a go.
Birmingham Floating Christmas Market
You can never have too many Christmas markets, can you? Birmingham’s Floating Christmas Market capitalises on Birmingham’s most famous feature – it’s canals. “We’ve got more canals than Venice” is practically the city’s motto. The Floating Market will be held on the Birmingham Mainline Canal, alongside Arena Birmingham. Pop on down to see a flotilla of barge’s with all manner of crafts for sale, showcasing some amazing talent. This is an excellent place to pick up some unique Christmas gifts for your loved ones.
Where to stay
Birmingham Central Newhall Street
Birmingham Central
Hacked! Games Re-designed
Image courtesy of BOM
Ok, technically this isn’t Christmas related, BUT it is well worth a visit. Birmingham Open Media is a centre for art, science, and technology that’s dedicated to creative innovation, and they’re running a fabulous exhibition called Hacked! which looks at how artists and innovators are making changes to the games we play. This is a fabulous, and free, interactive event where you can get hands on with some cutting-edge devices that could be future game changers.
Do some window shopping
Birmingham is a fantastic place to go shopping, and the stores really pull out all the stops for their festive window displays. Take some time to stroll around in awe of the bright and beautiful store fronts in the city. One shop not to miss will be Selfridges. Famous for going the extra mile with their festive antics, this year promises not to disappoint. Once you get past the futuristically decorated festive windows, you’ll enter a winter wonderland. Go and meet Santa and his elves, listen to live Christmas music, or get a photo in a giant snow globe – there’s a lot of festive fun to be had in Selfridges.
Where to stay
Birmingham Perry Bar
Birmingham Yardley
