Botanical Birmingham

Advantages: Plenty to see, a relaxing escape from the city.
Disadvantages: Expensive for a one-off visit. Disappointing restaurant.

...Every city need its green spaces. The architecture may be spectacular and the shops fantastic, but finding a place to escape the traffic and bustle is a necessity for most city dwellers. Picture Birmingham and what do you see? The Bullring, New Street Station and Spaghetti Junction would be the first things that come to my mind. Although I've never lived in Birmingham itself, I worked there for several years. During that time I went to the Botanical Gardens regularly, but for the purposes of this review I will focus on my most recent visit which was August 2008. A Brief History Celebrity gardeners are not a new phenomenon. In the nineteenth century J.C Loudon was an influential writer on gardening and became part of London's high society. He designed the Birmingham Botanical Gardens in 1830 to provide a place where keen...

JoannaPiano 31.10.2008 (02.11.2008) · Read review
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Review of Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Birmingham International Airport - 2008

Advantages: Big enough to get the destinations, small enough to care
Disadvantages: Complex road system to get there

...There's a theory that says every opinion on a site like Ciao is valuable and so we should post as much as we like on whatever topic takes our fancies. However, Ciao don't actually reward an opinion once there are already a bunch on a given topic. So this won't earn me a penny - even with the special bonus. Double nothing is ...... er.... nothing. But since there hasn't been a review of Birmingham International Airport for several years, much of the information on Ciao is outdated and well overdue for an update. So pennies or no pennies, here are my thoughts on BHX. When I was a kid, I loved going to airports - any airport, it didn't matter - it was all just so exciting. Strange exotic people, big shiny shops and lots of static electric shocks from the nylon carpets - there was nothing quite like it. But as I grew up the whole...

koshkha 11.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of Birmingham (BHX)

Etap Birmingham Centre, Birmingham

Advantages: cheap, clean, friendly staff
Disadvantages: quite a walk from town centre

...Etap Hotels are another budget hotel chain created by Accor, the creators of hotel giants Ibis. This 250 room complex is situtaed in the centre of Birmingham and all rooms cost £35, whether its a weekday or the weekend. But for this price, don't expect luxury acommodation, as luxury is probably the worst word to describe this hotel. The rooms are clean and modern and sleep up to 3 people. In most cases, this is either a double or twin beds with a single bunk on top - not very glamourous but good for the money. You do get a television (complete with an array of English and European channels), but I can't guarantee that you'll get coffee and tea making facilities, as some rooms seem to be missing these. There is also no hairdryer or anything like that, but you can get one if pay a £10 deposit at reception - you will get this returned to...

jdeacon_162 11.11.2006 (12.11.2006) · Read review
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Review of Etap Birmingham Centre, Birmingham

The University of Birmingham

Advantages: Great teaching, facilities, opportunites and social life
Disadvantages: i am only here for 3 years, wish it could be more.

...I am a student at the University of Birmingham in my first year of the popular course; Sports and Exercise Sciences. Although it is a difficult university to get in to, there are hundreds of different courses to choose from if you are not accepted on your favoured course. Also, they are quite lenient with grades as I did not achieve the expected marks but still got in... shhh! So what made Birmingham my number one choice? As soon as I arrived at the open day and got a walk around the campus I knew this was the place for me. Not only is it one of the leading universities in the UK for my course it is a beautiful place to study with its landmark clock tower, luscious all weather pitches and modern redbrick buildings. I felt right at home here and could picture myself studying here for the future. The Campus is located in Selly Oak...

Greenyman 19.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Birmingham University

A bridge too far in Birmingham

Advantages: Now unique in the UK - the only representative of the Hyatt
Disadvantages: Very average compared against the standards of this chain

...We had the occasion to spend a couple of nights in Birmingham recently. As Gold Passport members, our natural choice was the Hyatt Regency Hotel in the centre of Birmingham. Billed as the premier hotel venue in Britain?s second city, this is now the only remaining representative of the upscale American chain in the UK ? the Carlton Tower and the Lowndes Hotels in London having been sold about three years ago. The Hyatt brand started on the west coast of America in the early 1960s with a mission statement to be large, open plan and generously accommodating. New buildings were often constructed around multi-floor atriums lavishly decorated with marble, glass and fountains. They led the way in providing ?extras? for the discerning traveller. This has been formalised in the Regency Club. Several floors are set aside for guests wishing to...

Newfloridian 14.09.2003 · Read review
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Review of Hyatt Regency, Birmingham

DAYS INN - BIRMINGHAM WEST - £54.25 DOUBLE ENSUITE

Advantages: Cheap and cheerful, clean and tidy
Disadvantages: very basic, no frills, but at that price who wants them?

...We live in Devon and had tickets for a Runrig concert in Birmingham Symphony Hall. We live out in the country so going out into the big wide world can be quite scary you know what with all the guncrime and murder in the big cities!!! We were a bit wary of staying in the centre of Birmingham mainly due to cost, so we looked for somewhere on the edge and found Days Inn in West Bromwich, Birmingham. It is just off junction 1 of the M5 which was great and easy to find. We then took a taxi into Birmingham later on. This cost £12 each way, but thats another story! The hotel had underground parking which made us feel that the car was secure (no need to take the wheels in with us)!. The hotel is based on several floors of a large 10 storey building, with reception on the ground floor. Our swipe card would not open the room door...

kismet 11.02.2005 · Read review
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Review of The Birmingham Hotel, Birmingham

Birmingham: The Return

Advantages: Another chance to meet a great crowd
Disadvantages: Absent friends

...really!) Having arranged to collect people from the station at 1:00pm on the Friday, and at 12:30 just leaving work at Malvern I thought I?d better let people know I was running late. Steve to Allie: Where are you? Allie: I?m on the train (shades of Dom Joly here) Steve: I guessed that, but whereabouts? Allie: Between Bristol and Birmingham! (Well that?s good, the driver hasn?t taken a wrong turning then) Steve: How long before you get in? Allie: About ?. Daisy: Ooh look Mummy, a tunne?????bzzzzzzz. Despite the inconsiderate nature of train drivers who won?t pull over so their passengers can make a call, we did eventually meet up and set off for some last minute arrangements at the Apres bar, which was the venue for the Saturday meet. Snapshot 2 The Friday afternoon contingent taking over the tables outside the Apres bar...

netstation 16.09.2003 · Read review
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Review of Birmingham Ciao Meet 2003

Birmingham Britannia Hotel - Average

Advantages: central location, reasonable room size
Disadvantages: dated furniture, noisy generator, rubbish towels

...I stayed at this hotel for work purposes on Monday 3rd March in a single room on the sixth floor. We paid £70 B&B. My initial reaction was to be extremely negative about this hotel, however, on reflection i think it is important to point out some of its good points. I would not say it was an enjoyable experience, however, it was adequate and i've had worse! On the plus side - This is a proper city centre hotel - right in the centre of town, close to shops. If you are visiting Birmingham to shop, this is perfect. The kettle and toilet were clean, which is always a good start! The member of staff who booked me in was pleasant and helpful. There was an error with our booking, we had 4 rooms booked, but only two of us were on the list. She gave me the list to check through - which had other guest's names and personal details...

claire.wizzbiz 18.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of Britannia Hotel, Birmingham

Yo! Sushi Bullring Birmingham

Advantages: Tasty, makes a chance
Disadvantages: Expensive

...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Where it is situated ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Although on here, it is advertised as 'Upper Mall' which it may be, it is confusing as Yo! Sushi is situated on the lower floor of Selfridges in the Bullring Shopping Centre in Birmingham City Centre. It is visible from the outside of Selfridges and is located on the right hand side of the shop. The Bullring has a carpark which takes you right into the shopping centre, although it takes you to the opposite side of the Bullring, it is not far to walk. This carpark can be quite expensive so if you know the area you are best to park somewhere else. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What is Yo! Sushi? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yo! Sushi is a mixture of traditional Japanese and Western food which is freshly prepared by chefs infront of you. You can see it being made and you then have the knowledge...

lilyellowfish 09.02.2008 (11.02.2008) · Read review
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Review of Yo! Sushi, Upper Mall East Bullring, Birmingham

The Road to Birmingham

Advantages: With homage to James Elroy Flecker
Disadvantages: Apologies to him too

...(Readers of my ops on ?Top 10 Holiday Destinations? and ?Hassan? will know that I am an admirer of the poet Flecker, and in particular his dramatised poetic masterpiece The Golden Road to Samarkand. It struck me that this might find some echoes in the forthcoming Midlands Meet.) PROLOGUE We who with songs beguile your pilgrimage And swear that beauty lives though Brum is nigh We who are fond of spouting verbiage Now feel it?s time a verse or two to try. What shall we tell you? Tales, marvellous tales Of inns and hotel rooms where good men rest Where nevermore the foyer carpet pales O?er-shadowed by the gloom of Midlands (West). And how beguile you? Death has no repose Warmer and deeper than the land of yam Which tarnishes the chrome-bright faith of those Who take the concrete road to Birmingham...

torr 04.09.2003 · Read review
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Review of Birmingham Ciao Meet 2003