It’s the perfect city to hit for the January sales, but Brum also has loads of culture and a great restaurant scene to explore once you’ve finished shopping
Why now?
Brum is a great city to head to for the January sales, with a huge number of shops to trawl. Add into the mix fun and varied restaurants and nightlife, plus a decent arts scene, and this unfairly maligned city ticks all the boxes for an indulgent quick break, as well as being widely accessible for a large proportion of the population.
How do I approach the shopping then?
Bargain clothes can be hunted down at the iconic Bullring, one of Britain’s most popular shopping centres, home to 160 of the usual high street suspects, from Topshop to Selfridges. Sort through discounted designer wear at The Mailbox, an old Royal Mail sorting office turned designer mall, featuring Harvey Nichols, Hugo Boss and Emporio Armani. Or for something more original head to Disorder, a cool independent boutique, just off New Street; down to Digbeth to snoop around the Custard Factory (including the Sunday flea market), with shops such as Cow Vintage Clothing; or the Great Western Arcade, a restored Victorian gem with a wide variety of retailers – everything from designer shops to cigar and whisky parlours. A handful of beauty bars in the stores, and a spa within the Malmaison hotel – also inside the complex – offer a time out from scrabbling among the rails. Another top place to relax is The Spa at The Cube, where a day pass to access the pool, saunas and salt room starts at £35.
