Christmas in Birmingham 2015

The Christmas season is a happy and exciting time of year, regardless of what town or city you live in. Christmas in Birmingham is no different, with lots of things to do and places to visit there are plenty of exciting and seasonal things to do for adults and children alike. If you are new to Birmingham and have started to look for things to do at Christmas time, you may find yourself overwhelmed with choices and not know how to best spend your time in Birmingham. To help you, we have created a list of some of the most popular and exciting things Birmingham has to offer this wintery season.

German Markets

For over a decade now, the German Market has been brightening up Birmingham every Christmas. Held in Victoria Square and New Street, the market arrives every November and remains throughout the seasonal period. Growing in popularity, this is the largest Christmas market outside of Germany, with more than 2.8 million visitors. The market hosts dozens of stallholders who both make and sell German food and drink, toys, jewellery, crafts and decorations. Alongside this, local stallholders gather in Chamberlain Square to sell a variety of other items, creating a truly unique shopping experience. Not in a shopping mood? That’s fine, the German market has plenty of other things to offer, why not sample some German beer or taste an ostrich burger? With something for all the family and for its uniqueness, the German market is high on the list of ‘must-see’ things in Birmingham this Christmas.

Ice Skating

Winter activities, such as ice skating, become all the more popular around Christmas time, the snow and ice brings out our inner child, reminding us it is the festive period. In the UK the chance to participate in outdoor winter activities is limited, unless of course you are spending Christmas in Birmingham. The city of Birmingham is lucky to play host to one of the few outdoor ice rinks in the UK. ‘Ice Skate Birmingham’ gives you the opportunity to enjoy over 600 sq. metres of iced surface, while also soaking up the sights of the beautiful surroundings and sights Birmingham has to offer. Growing in popularity each year, the rink welcomes groups and schools and operates on a session basis, with each session being 45 minutes long. This is an ideal experience for all the family, the rink provides OAP and student discounts, with skates available in sizes from 8j to 15, there are even penguin skating aids available for hire, for young and beginner skaters. You can check their website here.

A Christmas Carol

The Coffin Works building has been turned into a unique museum, boasting original machinery dating back to 1894 and in working condition, along with original tools and stock from the coffin maker company that used to operate there. This museum allows visitors to experience how companies that were established over a century ago, used to operate. With the historical integrity of the building intact, the museum is not only incredibly interesting, but also breathtakingly beautiful and is an ideal setting for a unique and traditional Christmas experience. This year, on the 12th of December, the museum is hosting a new storytelling event re-telling the Dickens Christmas classic ‘A Christmas Carol’. Perfect for all the family, this light-hearted adaptation of the popular Christmas tale includes a festive journey around the factory, followed by mince pies, mulled wine and Christmas hits. The show has three separate performances and tickets must be purchased. The day is finished with traditional carol singing in the courtyard, a free entry event starting at 7pm, where mulled wine and mince pies will be served. This is the perfect event for a truly traditional Christmas experience.

Christmas Shopping

This year it is more important than ever to get your Christmas shopping completed. Why? Because Santa is apparently going bankrupt and we cannot rely on him to bring our loved ones the presents they have asked for. According to the Telegraph, Santa has not had many visitors to his Lapland residency resulting in him becoming unable to pay his tax bills and falling into £140,000 worth of debt. For more information on Father Christmas’s financial concerns, read: https://www.wilsonfield.co.uk/santa-may-be-facing-bankruptcy/. Fortunately Birmingham is the perfect place for you to get all of your Christmas shopping done and out of the way. The newly completed bullring, along with the pre-existing shopping centres in Birmingham city centre such as the mailbox, play host to pretty much any and every shop you might need.

BBC Good Food Show

If there is one thing we associate Christmas with, it is good food-and lots of it. The Good Food Show Winter is therefore perfect for food lovers, Christmas dinner makers and simply lovers of Christmas in general. The show has plenty of famous chefs cooking their festive specialties live on stage, while also giving tips on creating the perfect Christmas dinner. Furthermore, it is the perfect place to stock up on all of the Christmas treats you and your family might need this festive season.

Christmas at Winterbourne

For a truly traditional and family Christmas, Winterbourne is perfect, complete with a Santa’s grotto and two real reindeer. From the 5th December the house is transformed, decorated in traditional Christmas decorations and filled with carol singers it becomes a Christmas haven. There is plenty on offer for entertainment, including stalls selling crafts and regular magical lantern shows, along with a tea room selling traditional Christmas treats.