Saturday 16th July 2016

A day spent exploring Birmingham. I had been once before to the Christmas market but the city is undergoing massive redevelopment. A large central area where the Library was situated is being demolished and the whole project will take 5 years. Many pedestrian areas have been rerouted and I would not like to be a car driver visiting for the first time as there are numerous closures or diversions.

We walked to the Jewellery Quarter and had an excellent tour of a factory which was exactly as the owners had left it 35 years ago. Photo shows the benches where the craftsmen worked.

We took a Big Red Bus tour around the centre and out into the leafy suburb of Edgbaston. The architecture of the new builds is striking as shown in these photos.

Selfridges 

A beautiful library, theatre and meeting rooms.

Grand Central above New Street station with a new John Lewis, numerous shops and restaurants and somewhere some trains! The ceiling above the central area is also dramatic.

There are too many views to add to this blog. So maybe plan a weekend in Birmingham. This is definitely a city for Hen and Stag parties and the area around Gas Street Basin was packed but we enjoyed an Italian meal before returning to the boat to plan tomorrow's sightseeing.