'48 Hours in Birmingham' with actor Tracey Briggs, adopted 'Brummie' and often seen at BBC Birmingham

Let's see how great actor and adopted 'Brummie' Tracey Briggs (Casualty, Archers and many others) would suggest a visitor to Birmingham spends their 48 hours in our great city. Take the article for Tracey's absolutely brilliant 2 days in Birmingham, together with some fantastic photography from our 'People with Passion'. 

 

Day 1:

 

So you have come to Birmingham and I’m so proud to show you round my adopted city. Make sure you’re wearing comfy shoes because there is so much to see and I like to walk.

 

You’ve arrived at Birmingham New Street station and walk into Grand Central, which is always an excellent start for a trip around Birmingham.

 

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Grand Central, Birmingham. Photo by Chris Fletcher

 

From there we will follow the brightly coloured footpath to the Mailbox, with lots of high-end shops including Harvey Nicks and BBC Birmingham where I go to work when I’m in “The Archers”, and then to my favourite bit - the comfy blue chairs and sofas in the middle of the refurbished Mailbox, where we might bump into “Coronation Street” actor and comedian Gareth Berliner and his National Theatre actor wife Kiruna Stamell, who have recently made Birmingham their home.

 

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Mailbox, Birmingham. Photo by Tammie Naughton.

 

 

Walk past the Everyman boutique cinema by lots of excellent bars and restaurants into the Cube, and up to the top to Marco Pierre White’s. We just have to linger here to appreciate both the food and excellent views, and the see-through floor in the champagne bar which is scary for people with acrophobia. We could also maybe pop into Madeleine on the ground floor of the Cube for scrumptious cake and coffee.

 

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The Cube, Mailbox, Birmingham. Photo by Daniel Sturley.

 

Then walk along the canal and a bridge, a quick glance round Brindley Place, and into the ICC, where we have to have a quick peek into Symphony Hall. I’m so proud of this building; and built with European funding, by the way.

 

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Symphony Hall and organ, Birmingham. Photo courtesy Mike Gutteridge

 

Then it’s to the building that I always love to show visitors to my adopted city, the Birmingham Library. We must go right to the top to appreciate the garden, the other secret garden, and the wonderful views, and spend some time in the Shakespeare Memorial Room.

 

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Library of Birmingham & Shakespeare Memorial Room. Photo by Daniel Sturley

 

Then race past the impressive Council House, Floozy in the Jacuzzi (or rather in the jungle as she is now) to Colmore Row and Pigeon Park where we can appreciate the newly refurbished Grand Hotel and the beautiful Burne-Jones stained glass windows in St Philip’s Cathedral.

 

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St. Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham. Photo by Damien Walmsley 

 

And then I’ve just got to show you the Great Western Arcade, with its beautiful architecture and my favourite cheese shop Anderson & Hill.

 

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Great Western Arcade, Birmingham. Photo by George Daley.

 

You may have to drag me away from the cheese shop kicking and screaming, as I do love cheese! Now we must be feeling peckish again despite eating all the cheese in Anderson and Hills. So let’s go and look at St Paul's Square with its pretty church, Georgian buildings and my favourite wine bar The Rectory I had a lovely birthday meal here with friends last year.

 

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St. Paul's Church, St.Paul's Square, Birmingham. Courtesy Elliott Brown

 

Now it’s the evening and we have to go to my absolute favourite place in the whole of Birmingham, the Old Joint-Stock Theatre, which was created a decade ago after the Equity Birmingham branch and West Midlands Writers Guild lobbied Fuller’s brewery. Tonight my talented young friends and recent acting graduates from Birmingham Conservatoire are in the Old Joint Stock Theatre with their in-house production “Kanada”. As we go up to the top floor don’t forget to glance up at the ceiling of the Old Joint Stock pub and take in all the delights of this fabulous building, we may even catch sight of Julian Lloyd Webber having a quiet drink in a corner. We can end our evening back in the bar discussing this challenging play with my young actor friends and the immensely warm and welcoming producers who run the Old Joint Stock Theatre, Karl Steele and Adam Lacey. 

 

Day 2:

 

Day two just has to be a walk round Bournville Village. We can start off at the pretty train station and walk by the chocolate factory, see the lovely environment built by the Cadbury family for its factory workers back in the late 1800s. We must not miss Bournville Green with the carrilon as it’s the most amazing and bizarre bell ringing you’ll ever hear. We can loiter in the various parks and have brunch at Leverton & Halls. 

 

I told you to wear comfy walking shoes, because now it’s back to Bournville train station where we will go through the gate and have a lovely long walk down the canal to Birmingham University. Doing this walk always feels like you’re in the middle of the countryside and hard to believe you’re in the middle of a bustling city.

 

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'Old Joe', University of Birmingham. Photo by Daniel Sturley

 

At the University we just have to visit the Barber Institute to appreciate some art and this fine building.

 

Also not to be missed, Winterbourne House with its 7 acre Botanic Garden; a lovely oasis in the middle of our city.

 

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Winterbourne gardens. Photo by Peter Leadbetter.

 

Then time to have something to eat at Winterbourne’s Terrace Tea Room, and then back to Grand Central for your train home.

 

Hope you enjoyed your journey around Birmingham with me, there’s so much more I can show you so do come back again soon.

 

Tracey xx