Birmingham Bullring

Remember how everyone used to talk about the Bullring — Brummies with a shuffling resentment, outsiders with a mocking snort? Well mock no longer because the Bullring's had a makeover of stellar proportions and where there were once only dank corners of wee, there are now bright, architecturally designed spaces sitting beside old faces that have been hidden from sight for years. Built at the measly cost of £500m – mere pocket money, we know – and spread over 26 football pitches you've got public squares and cafés and streets and more than 140 shops and an old church— why it's a whole new magical world! Check out Billabong, Molton Brown, Miss Sixty, Mikey, The Bear Factory and the big hitters H&M, Gap and Zara, the altar that is Selfridges, book–fest that's Borders and finally, welcome back to Debenhams. Phew — gonna take us at least a month to find our way around. Hurrah!

Email to a friend