10 Best Things To Do In Summer In Birmingham

A cold coffee is practically the unofficial uniform of a Birmingham summer, and Bullring has no shortage of places to sort one.

Blank Street

Location: Level 1, Unit 35, Grand Central.

Blank Street keeps its menu short and its coffee just like you need it in the morning.

The cold brew and iced matcha are the obvious summer picks, and there is always a fresh-baked treat by the till if you need something to carry out.

It’s the sensible first stop before the city wakes up.

Joe & The Juice

Location: Lower level, Bullring.

Joe & The Juice is built around freshly blended juices and proper coffee.

The Iron Man and Hangover Heaven juices have a loyal following, and the gluten-reduced sandwiches and shakes turn a quick stop into a light breakfast.

Starbucks

Location: Upper level, Rotunda Square, Bullring.

Starbucks is the familiar fallback, and in a Birmingham July, the cold drinks are the point.

Iced lattes, cold brews and Frappuccino blends make up the reliable order, with seasonal specials for the more adventurous.

There are breakfast and fresh bakery options too, for when a drink alone will not do.

EL&N

Location: 146-148 New Street.

EL&N brought its Instagrammable café look to Birmingham.

The all-day menu covers Shakshuka and French toast, though plenty of people come purely for the pastries, bagels and speciality coffee.

Nothing says new season like a wardrobe overhaul, and Bullring’s high-street names make a one-trip job of it:

H&M

Location: Lower and Middle levels, Bullring.

H&M spreads across two floors, mixing trend-led fashion with homeware and beauty.

The clothing ranges for men, women and kids turn over fast, which is half the fun and half the danger.

Zara

Location: Moor Street, Bullring.

Zara fills two floors with the kind of trend-led fashion that sells out before you have made up your mind.

Womenswear, menswear and kidswear are all here, and the automated collection and returns points take the faff out of click and collect.

Subdued

Location: Lower ground floor, Bullring.

Subdued, the Italian label, landed at Bullring in spring 2026, and the queues on opening week told you everything you need to know.

Its denim, linen and matching sets are ideal for festival-minded people who are looking for something to wear in the heatwaves.

Lululemon

Location: Moor Street, Bullring.

Lululemon brought its technical gear to Bullring not long ago, and summer is when it makes the most sense.

The kit covers yoga, running, training, tennis and golf, whether you are chasing a personal best or just want leggings that survive a spin class.

Hollister

Location: Su308, Bullring Shopping Centre.

Hollister deals in easy, casual apparel, accessories and fragrance, all with that beachy Southern California style.

Part of the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. family, it leans into relaxed warm-weather pieces that do not try too hard.

UNIQLO

Location: New Street side, Bullring.

UNIQLO opened its three-floor Birmingham store in late 2025, the city's first in years.

The Japanese brand's LifeWear range covers men, women, kids and babies, and the lightweight summer basics are exactly what a Birmingham heatwave calls for.

Sunshine is the cue to rethink the routine, with lighter textures and SPF being the priority. Bullring covers it from the big chains to the K-beauty specialists:

Boots

Location: Middle level, Bullring.

Boots is the dependable all-rounder, with pharmacy services, health essentials and beauty buys side by side.

The leading brands make it an easy SPF and summer-skincare top-up, and you can book a beauty consultation or in-store appointment while you are at it.

Superdrug

Location: Lower level, Bullring.

Superdrug stacks fragrance, makeup, skincare and haircare alongside a surprising amount of services.

There is an ear piercing service, a Brow & Lash Bar and a Nail Bar offering treatments such as acrylics and beard threading, plus a hair salon, a health clinic and a travel clinic open Monday to Friday.

Moida K-beauty

Location: Bullring & Grand Central, Moor Street Queensway.

Moida K-beauty is the Korean beauty specialist, spanning skincare and makeup through to hair and body care.

The team runs personalised consultations and knows its way around glass-skin results and long-term skin health, which is handy when you are after a lightweight summer SPF or a moisturiser that behaves in the heat.

PURESEOUL

Location: Level 5, Bullring & Grand Central.

PURESEOUL holds the UK's largest selection of K-beauty, covering Korean skincare, makeup and haircare.

Its team knows the trends inside out, which helps if you want a summer SPF or a new moisturiser and have no idea where to begin.

When the heat tips from pleasant to oppressive, Bullring’s indoor entertainment is the obvious retreat, and all of it doubles as a wet-weather backup.

Lane7

Location: Levels 6 and 7, Bullring.

Lane7 is a grown-up games hall, running bowling, karaoke, shuffleboard, beer pong, darts, retro arcade classics and shooting pods under one roof.

You can order a cocktail and take your pick of the lineup.

Disclaimer: After 7 PM it turns adults only, so bring physical ID. You can also book ahead.

TOCA Social

Location: 11 St Martin's Walk, Bullring.

TOCA Social pairs the world's first interactive football experience with a full kitchen and bar.

Between games you can work through American diner classics, Latin American favourites and Asian street food, with cocktails for the adults and a dedicated kids' menu for everyone else.

Booking is worth it on evenings and weekends, when it gets full.

Treetop Golf

Location: Ground Level, Bullring.

Treetop Golf is jungle-themed indoor mini golf, with two 18-hole courses, Tropical Trail and Ancient Explorer, that throw in obstacles and the odd surprise.

No booking needed, so you can wander in and tee off whenever.

Afterwards, Pizza Cabana, The Thirsty Toucan and Jungle Buzz Café are right there for the post-round debrief.

Sandbox VR

Location: Unit 25A, Grand Central.

Sandbox VR is full-body virtual reality, a long way from a headset on the sofa.

Your group can take on zombies, far-off worlds or intergalactic missions together, then hand the round over to the UK's first fully robotic bartender for a themed cocktail or mocktail.

There is no food, though catering can be arranged for events, and you can book ahead or chance a walk-in.

Watch out for its robot bartender too!

Birmingham does outdoor eating better than its reputation suggests, and St Martin's Square is the proof:

Banana Tree

Location: Upper Mall West, Bullring.

Banana Tree serves bold Pan-Asian street food from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and beyond, with a wooden patio for warm-day dining.

The Katsu curries and pad Thai noodles do the heavy lifting, backed by all-day 2-for-1 cocktails and mocktails, a Bottomless Brunch and a pick-your-own kids' menu. 

Chaophraya

Location: Lower & Middle level, Bullring, St Martin's Square.

Chaophraya runs its Thai kitchen across two floors opposite St Martin's Church, with a spacious alfresco terrace that comes into its own in summer.

The kitchen turns out rich curries, sharp salads and proper desserts, with vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free options across the board.

The terrace looks straight out over the church and Selfridges, which is a fair view for the price of a curry.

Bill's

Location: Middle level, Bullring.

Bill's does comfort food with a twist, and its sunny terrace makes it a fixture once the weather turns.

The menu runs from brunch classics to cocktails and mains, including truffle chicken, spicy duck curry and those famous stacked burgers, all with gluten-free and veggie options.

Doors open at 8 AM, which makes it as good for a slow breakfast as for dinner.

Zambrero

Location: Central Street, Grand Central.

Zambrero offers fast, fresh, Mexican-inspired food made to order, which is ideal for refuelling between activities.

You can build a burrito, bowl, taco or quesadilla, and through its Plate 4 Plate scheme every burrito or bowl you buy funds a meal for someone in need.

It is tucked on Central Street away from the square, so think grab-and-go over a long lunch.

Brown's Bar and Brasserie

Location: Spiceal Street, St Martin's Square, Bullring.

Brown's is a classic brasserie on St Martin's Square, and its outdoor tables are a draw the moment it warms up.

You can expect signature cocktails and carefully made dishes, whether you are in for a celebration dinner or an unhurried brunch. It also takes Bullring Gift Cards.

Haidilao Hotpot

Location: Lower level, St Martin's Square, Bullring.

Haidilao Hotpot brings China's best-known hotpot chain to Birmingham, and its cool, theatrical dining room is a blessing on a sticky afternoon.

Inside you’ll find customisable broths, a sauce station, robot servers and complimentary snacks while you wait, with staff happy to walk first-timers through the whole dip-and-swirl routine.

Location: Trinity Road, Aston, Birmingham B6 6JD.

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Aston Hall is one of the last great Jacobean houses in the country, finished in 1635 and ringed by the public parkland of Aston Park.

In summer, its draw is the green space itself: the Green Flag park and gardens are free to roam, while there is a charge if you want to step inside the Hall.

Pro tip: the Hall only opens on selected days, currently Friday to Sunday, and it shuts on Aston Villa home match days, so check the times before you make the trip.

Location: Starts and ends at Moor Street Station, Birmingham (Digbeth).

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The Digbeth graffiti trail is a free, self-guided loop through Birmingham's creative quarter, where old factory walls double as an open-air gallery.

The circular route runs about 3 miles from Moor Street station, a stone's throw from the Bullring, threading through the Custard Factory and the streets around it.

Pro tip: the murals change often and the occasional piece vanishes overnight, so go in daylight for the photos and treat a missing one as part of the fun.

Location: Library of Birmingham, Centenary Square, Broad Street, B1 2ND.

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The Library of Birmingham ‘hides’ two free rooftop terraces, both planted gardens with wide views over the city.

The Discovery Terrace on Level 3 is the busier of the pair, looking out over Centenary Square, while the Secret Garden higher up on Level 7 trades the bustle for winding paths and tucked-away benches.

Pro tip: the terraces keep short hours, currently Monday to Saturday during the day, and close outside those for maintenance, so time your visit and take the lift up early before the queue builds.

Location: Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3TR.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens is a 15-acre Victorian garden in Edgbaston, laid out back in 1829 and home to four glasshouses, a Japanese Garden, a bandstand and more than 30,000 plants.

It runs as an independent charity, and the wide lawns are made for a summer picnic, your own food included, which makes it an easy half-day a short ride out of the centre.

Location: Brindleyplace, Birmingham (off Broad Street).

A canalside stroll at Brindleyplace is about the easiest free thing you can do in the sun, all flat towpaths and slow-moving water.

Two short walking routes start here, a 15-minute circular and an 18-minute loop that takes in the canal and the City Centre Gardens before doubling back, both gentle enough for an amble, not a route march.

Plan your summer at Bullring & Grand Central

However you carve up your summer in Brum, Bullring & Grand Central is a natural base for all of it, from the morning coffee to the long lunch in the sun.

You can plan your visit to Bullring here to sort the best way in by car, train, bus, taxi or bike.

If you are driving in, you can register for smart parking, which does away with paper tickets and shortens the queues, and that is one less thing to think about.