Shopping in Birmingham

Birmingham Shopping is a spellbinding experience, the stuff that dreams of retail heaven are made of. For shopaholics it could very well be the Mecca, the epic journey that people who find themselves in Birmingham should experience, whether one is pressed for time or has much time available to browse or splurge. The amount of shopping to be done would leave any shopaholic happy for days and any shopping novice spellbound. Birmingham shops have things that any visitor would be happy to take home. Shopping is not just for the enthusiasts who know their Dona Karan from their Prada. Birmingham also caters for those shoppers looking for the unusual, the quaint.

Types of Shops in Birmingham

There are so many shops to choose from that you might end up feeling like you've just completed an epic journey through retail U.K. Shops range from specialty stores that sell designer wear and jewelery to music gaming and computer shops. There are book shops that cater to the serious literary buffs, academic books and the not-so-serious pulp fiction enthusiasts. Birmingham has its share of arcades and modern malls and boutiques.

Trendy Mall Boutiques and Department Stores

At the heart of Birmingham itself is the architecturally beautiful Selfridge Department Store flanked by the popular Bullring and Debenhams that give the shopper over 140 shops to choose from. Here you can find many internationally famed designers like Hugo Boss, Armani and DKNY. Harvey Nichols, who is indigenous to Birmingham, can also be found with these other famous international designer boutiques at The Mailbox, the exclusive waterside shopping and dining area in Birmingham. You can pop into the many bars, cafes and restaurants to take a load off a day of retail therapy or recharge yourself for the next bout of retail Olympics. The City Plaza, Palisades and Pavilion Central are all shopping malls located in the center of Birmingham. Beatties and the House of Fraser are some of the many department stores that one can find in the city.

Outdoor Markets and Antique Shops

Birmingham has been holding outdoor markets since 1166. Besides the farmer’s market, there is also an antiques market where tourists can find one-of-a-kind pieces to buy.

Tourists will find that there is much more offered when buying souvenirs--something other than t-shirts and mass-produced key rings. Quaint little shops, such as the Pink Tulip, Shaia's and Henhouse Antiques, make Birmingham a shopping paradise where you'll undoubtedly find everything you need. You can find more personal and well-crafted products at places like Mountain Brook, where you'll find intriguingly named shops like Dandé Lions. Places like Cherrydale Point and Haywood Mall are ideal when you only need to get specific items and drive away just as quickly.