Birmingham shopping
With over 700 shops, this compact city is easy to get around and ideal for a quick spot of retail therapy. If you have more time, leave the city and visit the Black Country to see the glassworks of Royal Brierley or visit 'The Potteries', home to Spode, Royal Doulton and Wedgewood.
Two popular birmingham shopping destinations (in addition to birmingham jewellery quarter) are:
Birmingham Bullring Shopping Centre
Birmingham's newest shopping destination, this recently-built centre cost over £500 million to build and features the much talked about Selfridges, with its 'skin' of 15,000 spun aluminum disks. Birmingham Bullring Shopping Centre features 140 different shops and kiosks and its layout allows for a very different shopping experience.
Address: Birmingham, West Midlands B5 4BU
Telephone: (0121) 632 1500
Website: www.bullring.co.uk
The Mailbox Birmingham
Birmingham's top designer shops, including Christian Lacroxi and an array of contemporary restaurants and bars are housed here.
Address: Wharfside Street, Birmingham B1 1XL
Telephone: (0121) 632 1000
Website: www.mailboxlife.com
In addtion there are a number of local markets, the main ones being:
Birmingham Rag Market: at the end of Edgbston Street. Open every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday selling low cost clothing and general products.
Irish Market: at St Anne's Club, Alcester Street. Open every second Sunday.
The Farmers' Market: Selling home grown produce, at New Street / Victoria Square. Held on the first Wednesday of every month.
