Birmingham has it all when it comes to shopping. Whether you’re after designer brands of mouth-watering value, Birmingham really does have it all and it’s all within walking distance of our City Centre campus.
Bullring and Grand Central
In the heart of the city is the famous Bullring and Grand Central, an indoor shopping centre with over 200 retail stores. From fashion to sportswear to music, it’s hard not to leave the Bullring without picking up something you fancy. With an assortment of restaurants also located inside, you really can spend an entire day here.
Mailbox Birmingham
If you’re one for luxury, Mailbox is home to designer brands such as Harvey Nichols, Hugo Boss and Emporio Armani. The Mailbox is also home to the luxurious Everyman Cinema, perfect for when you’re tired of shopping and need a break. Relax, sit back and watch a recent blockbuster with a bag of popcorn (or a burger!).
Arcades and independent stores
Birmingham is home to hundreds of local and independent retailers. You’ll find a lot of independent stores in Birmingham’s shopping arcades. The Great Western Arcade is your destination for a unique shopping and dining experience, straight out of the late 1800’s, this is the perfect place to take a picture for your Instagram and support local businesses.
Markets and Digbeth
Located right next to the Bullring is the historic Birmingham rag markets, where over 350 stalls provide local and internationally sourced produce and goods. Take a stroll and see what deals you can find. Or, you could head down into Digbeth, Birmingham’s creative sector and browse the unique selection of independent retailers there, such as Red Brick Market, where lots of independent retailers live under one roof. Once you’ve finished shopping, don’t forget to check out the outstanding street art on display.
Top tip: The outdoor markets are a great place to buy fruit and vegetables. They often stock foods you may not be able to find in smaller supermarkets.
Supermarkets
In the UK, there are countless supermarket options available for you to purchase groceries and other necessities. At first, it may seem daunting as there are so many, but each supermarket is different and offers a different variety of foods. It's best to try them all out and find out which one best suits your needs:
- Aldi and Lidl are usually the most affordable supermarkets in the UK; shopping is only available in-store.
- Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's are still affordable and offer more choice. Online shopping and food delivery are available if you want shopping delivered to you.
- Waitrose and M&S are typically more expensive.
- Metro and express stores: In the city centre, you may see lots of smaller supermarkets such as Tesco Express or Sainsbury's Local. These stores are convenient but can be more expensive to shop in.
Top tip: Supermarkets, especially Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's, are also great places to buy affordable homeware. You may need toiletries, duvets (blankets), bed linen, crockery (pans, pots, cutlery, mugs and plates). buying these in a big supermarket may save you some money.
Birmingham City Centre is also home to lots of international stores where you can find food and ingredients you might usually find at home.
