Bling, Birmingham and The Bullring

The Bullring is a natural starting point for anybody shopping in Birmingham. It has over 140 stores spread across three different levels. The building has become an iconic city landmark. Transformed over the decades into a rich and vibrant retail centre, The Bullring is bookended by Harvey Nichols and Debenhams.

If you want to get a real feel for the people and the city itself then you must incorporate its indoor markets into your retail therapy session. The Rag Market offers a unique shopping experience with collections of dynamic fabrics and rich displays of fresh produce. It's an excellent way to spend a couple of hours and is a hit with student shoppers in particular.

An undoubted star of Birmingham's vivacious canalside is The Mailbox. Bounteous boutiques are on offer with designer stores at every turn. The Mailbox seems to have an inexhaustible amount of clothes to choose from and an array of style and fashion to forget yourself in.

Away from the bustle of the city centre is the renowned Jewellery Quarter. Home to hundreds of talented retailers and workshops, it's really interesting to wander through the very heart of Birmingham's jewellery making industry picking up beautiful trinkets along the way.