Birmingham Is The City England Ignores For A Reason
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Birmingham Is The City England Ignores For A Reason

Thank you for having me, Birmingham. It's been fun and all, but I understand now why everyone seems to ignore you when they talk about England.

61
Birmingham Is The City England Ignores For A Reason
Amy Aed

I was born and bred in Wales, which is almost entirely made up of mountains and coastline and little townhouses. In the cities, Wales offers vibrancy rarely rivaled by London.

Maybe I was just expecting too much from Birmingham, or maybe the city really is as bland as it had always seemed.

Don't get me wrong, Birmingham isn't all completely horrendous. There's a small square with some pretty buildings and a mall, and probably something else. But having spent several weeks in Aston with high hopes to explore and prove everyone back home wrong, I realize that actually, everyone was right in the first place.

Brum really is an utter shitehole.

My bucket list for this year consisted of several super fun things, such as scuba diving and exploring at least six new countries, and writing for magazines I love - but it also consisted of smaller accomplishments. One of these was titled "explore a new English city."

My friends at the university suggested cities such as Manchester and Leeds, but as some of my favorite people have lived and spent so much time in the area, I decided that Birmingham would be the city I would venture to.

Do I regret it? Not at all.

I just feel as if I would have rather spent two days there, rather than weeks on end. It didn't help that so many places were closed off for reconstruction, or that I'm not that into window-shopping for days on end.

Honestly, it was just very disappointing. I realized pretty quickly that there's a reason why England seems to ignore its second largest city, and why no one has ever returned from Brum with genuinely exciting stories and endless photographs.

The city almost creaks with lifelessness from the second you arrive, like a cardboard cut-out of a real, genuine place.

Leaving Birmingham and driving back to Wales saw the outside scenery gradually get more green and vibrant and full. It was like I'd finally exhaled after holding my breath for days.

So whilst it was interesting to see somewhere new, I can also finally say that I understand the lack of hype about the city. A day would be alright, but considering it's such a big city, I think that puts into perspective the sheer lack of appeal. Thank you for letting me stay, Birmingham, but I can't say I'll return in a hurry.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

71051
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

132620
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments