Business Traveller's Guide to Birmingham
Business trips aren't all back-to-back meetings and answering emails from hotel rooms. Birmingham has grown into one of the UK's biggest business destinations, attracting professionals from across the country thanks to its thriving commercial district, excellent transport links and impressive food and drink scene. The best part- it's a city that's easy to enjoy once the working day is done!
From grabbing a coffee before your first meeting to unwinding with colleagues after work or squeezing in a spot of shopping before your train home, Birmingham offers plenty of opportunities to make the most of your stay.
Here's our guide to experiencing Birmingham like a seasoned business traveller.
Start Your Morning Right
A productive day starts with a good coffee, and Birmingham certainly doesn't disappoint. Independent cafés sit alongside familiar favourites throughout the city centre, making it easy to fuel up before heading into the office.
If your meetings are around Colmore Row, you'll find plenty of breakfast spots nearby, from artisan bakeries to cafés serving fresh pastries, breakfast rolls and expertly brewed coffee. It's a much better alternative to rushing straight from the train to the boardroom.
For those arriving early, a stroll through Cathedral Square offers a peaceful start before the city reaches full speed. Just a few minutes from Birmingham's main business district, it's the perfect place to clear your head before the day begins.
Explore Colmore Row After Work
When meetings wrap up, Colmore Row comes to life.
As Birmingham's financial and professional hub, it's packed with stylish bars, restaurants and social spaces that are ideal for catching up with colleagues or entertaining clients.
For cocktails with a bit of theatre, The Alchemist remains a popular choice, while Society Birmingham offers a relaxed atmosphere with independent street food vendors and a great selection of drinks. If you're looking for somewhere to continue the conversation over dinner, the surrounding streets are full of excellent restaurants catering to every taste- such as Blacklock, Pasture, Gaucho and the Ivy Temple Row.
It's all within walking distance too, meaning there's no need to jump in a taxi after work. Simply finish your day and enjoy everything the city centre has to offer.
Make Time to Explore the City
Business trips often leave little room for sightseeing, but Birmingham makes it easy to fit in a little exploring between meetings.
The Bullring & Grand Central is one of the UK's most popular shopping destinations, with over 200 shops, cafés and restaurants just a short walk from the city's business district. It's ideal for picking up a last-minute gift, replacing something forgotten at home or simply enjoying a change of scenery after a day at your desk.
If you have a little more free time, wander through the historic Jewellery Quarter or enjoy a walk along Birmingham's canal network, which offers a surprisingly peaceful escape from the busy city centre.
Getting Around Couldn't Be Easier
One of Birmingham's biggest advantages for business travellers is how well connected it is. Travelling into the city by rail is quick and convenient, with Birmingham New Street, Birmingham Moor Street and Birmingham Snow Hill stations all within easy walking distance of the commercial centre.
New Street connects Birmingham with London, Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh and dozens of other major cities, while Moor Street and Snow Hill provide excellent regional links across the Midlands. Once you've arrived, most of the city centre can be explored on foot, making meetings, dinners and evening plans easy to fit into your schedule.
Less time commuting means more time making the most of your trip.
Stay Somewhere That Works Around You
A successful business trip starts with choosing the right place to stay, and that's where aparthotel Birmingham comes in.
Offering more space than a traditional hotel and greater flexibility than a rented apartment, aparthotel Birmingham is designed with modern business travellers in mind. Stay for one night or several weeks without worrying about council tax, utility bills or lengthy contracts, giving you complete freedom throughout your trip.
Rise and shine with a freshly ground Costa from the on-site convenience store before heading out for the day, while the 24-hour concierge is always available if you've forgotten an essential or need a helping hand. Back at the hotel, The Hub provides a stylish co-working space with super-fast broadband and private meeting facilities, making it easy to stay productive outside the office. Frequent visitors can also make use of secure on-site storage lockers, saving you from carrying business essentials backwards and forwards every week.
Better still, aparthotel Birmingham is perfectly placed for making the most of the city. Colmore Row is just around the corner for after-work drinks at favourites like The Alchemist and Society Birmingham, while Birmingham city centre, the Bullring and Grand Central are all within easy walking distance. Birmingham Snow Hill Station is less than five minutes away on foot, Birmingham Moor Street is around 10 minutes away and Birmingham New Street can be reached in approximately 15 minutes.
The next time work brings you to the city, make your stay as productive as your meetings. Book your stay at aparthotel Birmingham and enjoy flexible accommodation in the heart of Birmingham, with everything you need for business and everything you want from the city right on your doorstep.