STUDENT LIFE LAST UPDATED : 28 APRIL 2017
The Bullring shopping centre is the crown jewel of Birmingham’s City Centre.
It has over 160 shops across three levels, and is only a 10 minute walk from our city centre campus.
So what is there to check out in Birmingham’s best shopping centre? Here are a few highlights.
Selfridges
One of only four in the UK, the Selfridges department store was the biggest new addition to the Bullring when it was refurbished in 2003. It has become such an icon of the shopping centre that its bumpy, curvy exterior is now one of Birmingham’s most recognisable landmarks, alongside the giant bronze Bull that sits outside the main entrance.
Set over three floors, the bottom floor is one massive food hall, featuring Krispy Kreme’s and Yo Sushi among other outlets. The other floors offer a massive selection of fashion boutiques, covering everything from day to day wear to high end designer goods.
Debenhams
The fourth largest Debenhams in the country, the store sits at the other side of the Bullring from Selfridges. If you’re a department store junkie, you had better get your cardio up!
Covering four floors, it houses absolutely everything you could ever possibly need – from clothes and beauty products to homeware and food. You’ll find top brands throughout, including Coast, Oasis, Monsoon, Levis, Wrangler, Virgin Holidays and Yankee Candle. You can also treat yourself in the Chi Kitchen restaurant.
Shopping
No matter your style, you’ll find something to suit you in the Bullring. On the top floor on the Debenhams side, several big name brands like Victoria’s Secrets, Top Shop, River Island, Gap and H&M have their massive flagship stores. Other names include Forever 21, New Look, Zara, Harper and Lewis, Hollister and Next.
Shoe lovers can enjoy Footlocker, Schuh, Sketchers, Sole Trader and Timberland. If Jewellery is more your thing, look out for Goldsmiths, H. Samuel, Pandora and Swarovsi. And if you’d rather be looking for tracksuits than designer suits, you’re well catered for with JD Sports, The North Face and Sports Direct.
Food
You’re gonna get tired with all this bargain hunting. If you need to refuel, you can pick up a little something from My Cookie Dough, Fuel, Baguette Du Monde, Subway, Hotel Chocolat or Thornton’s. If you have a real hunger though, the Bullring has all the big hitters – Burger King, Pizza Hut, Handmade Burger Co, Five Guys, Pizza Express, Jamie’s Italian and Bills.
Team Picks
We canvased opinion in our office, and here are some of their top picks!
Annabell
A trip to the Bullring means always making time to pop over to Selfridges Food Hall – the perfect paradise for a foodie lover. Stocking food brands from all over the world there is always lots of treats to satisfy your sweet tooth – including Krispy Kreme and Patisserie Valerie. What’s more you will also find a replica of the iconic Bullring Bull, made from Jelly Beans – yes Jelly Beans! Be sure to check it out on your next visit – it’s gigantic so you won’t miss it!
Darren
For me, there is only one place in the Bullring that I have to go to every time I am there – Meecha. I first went there when it was a little stand outside Selfridges, serving Japanese bubble tea. It’s basically squash, but it has green tea in it as well as these weird popping bubbles at the bottom. Sounds odd but it all tastes so good! I drag everybody who hasn’t tried it there, and now they are just as big fans as I am! I’d like to think they financed their move to their current store outside Burger King through my army of addicts alone.
Karminder
An absolute must is Zara! It is no doubt one of my favourite shops, and one that I always want to visit whenever I step into the Bullring. In fact, it is more than just a shop - it is a 3 storey closet of cool, casual yet chic clothing. Having been to many Zara’s across the Midlands it is genuinely one of the nicest ones. Each floor is full off various clothes, shoes, bags, accessories and jewellery. What’s pretty cool is that each floor has a mixture of things and, unless I’ve just been lucky, there is always an extremely good sale on.
Keegan
If you’re a fan of trainers like I am then you’re bound to love my favourite shop in Selfridges, Offspring. Offspring brings all your favourite footwear brands to Birmingham including all the limited edition releases that you won’t be able to get your hands on elsewhere - they even collaborate with the likes of Adidas, Nike and Vans to bring you exclusive styles to keep you at the forefront of fashion. You’ll find both a male and female concessions within Selfridges so everybody’s feet are catered for – including my small size 4’s!