Cultural Cogitations in the Second City

For my first full outing of 2026, I find myself bound for Birmingham to catch up with Bookworm Bygrave ready to immerse ourselves in the city's cultural highlights. There might be reindeer, there might be exhibitions, there might even be dipping gravy...

- Rudolph's Remarkable Glittery Nose -

Trip Log: Saturday 3rd January 2026 whereby overnight snow to the west of Wolverhampton has us changing tack from our original Telford intentions. A Birmingham rendezvous sounds sensible, especially if there's scope to visit a couple of Second City attractions I'd not covered previously, so we arrange to meet by the Bull Ring bull statue just after 11 o'clock. The first bit of business on our revised itinerary is to seek out the remaining reindeer sculptures we hadn't hitherto accounted for, even if this does mean me having to brave department stores and busy shopping malls. I might not be in my natural environment but the enduring of escalators does pay off when we track down Rudolph inside Selfridges, complete with a very sparkly snout.

- The Bookworm meets Blitzen -

In fairness, Selfridges does have other compensations thanks to the presence of Build a Bear mascots, Paddington's marmalade sandwiches bench and a giant yellow helper gnome called Gordon (possibly the most popular member of the store's workforce). Chai latte tea is a frothily fun novelty when we partake of cake at the Medicine Bakery concession - my Pistachio Rocky Road slice doesn't skimp as regards chewy marshmallow pieces - and it's lovely listening in as Emily recounts details of spending New Year with her family. Next up come the slightly less prestigious surroundings of Primark where Blitzen takes some finding, requiring a mooch past a Disney Cafe and up onto the top floor. A superhero look to this design includes a lightning bolt while the trail once again looks to raise awareness for the Children's Hospital Charity.

- New Nativity at St Philip's Cathedral -

With an admiring nod to Vixen as sited within the Burlington Arcade, we progress to St Philip's Cathedral where I'm trying to remember if I've ever fully set foot inside it before. We're initially lured in by a lobby Christmas tree adorned with paper-like peace doves, then the spectacle of the full interior takes over. Whilst it may lack the medieval majesty and sheer size of Hereford or Gloucester's equivalents, this is a special space purpose-built in the English Baroque style. Four stained glass windows designed by the emiment Pre-Raphaelite artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones are nothing short of magnificent while the resident organ boasts a variety of knobs to control the swell, pedal and choir settings. We're particuarly drawn to the New Nativity figures of Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and the Shepherds as crafted by Melanie Tomlinson; they've been freshly installed for the current festive season, reinforcing a true sense of Christmas.

- Ozzy Osbourne Exhibition Entrance -

After a curiosity-curing call at the Arcade Bar (a place dominated by immersive Formula One racing simulations with a full-sized car suspended from the ceiling), we continue our cultural remit care of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery off Chamberlain Square. Having first opened in 1885 thanks to donations from the Tangye family of industrialists, the gallery complex offers an insightful peek into the city's history as well as housing world-renowned collections. We weave up an entrance staircase studded with mosaic inserts to reach the Round Room - currently featuring 'One Fresh Take' to give a sense of how art allows us to view the world differently - and then explore the tribute exhibition to Ozzy Osbourne. This is a fascinating retrospective on the musician's career, with gig photos, framed platinum discs and chosen quotations from a man who merely saw himself as an ordinary guy from Aston.

- Seeking the Staffordshire Hoard -

'Ozzy Osbourne; Working Class Hero' generated such public interest that it was extended by more than three months, although the display is due to close on Sunday 18th January. Two of the gallery's other big draws also require our attentions, namely the Pre-Raphaelite Collection and the Staffordshire Hoard. The former contains captivating works by the likes of Ford Madox Brown, John Everett Millais, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and the aforementioned Burne-Jones then the latter presents astounding historical artefacts as found in a field near Hammerwich back in the summer of 2009. To see some of the craftsmanship up close is a real thrill, and we are both genuinely amazed at the level of skill involved in producing exquisite gold, silver and other precious items using Anglo Saxon technology mostly dating from the 7th century. I'm debating whether Emily would be well suited to a gilded bristled helmet with swords!

- Several Queens Victoria -

Elsewhere, we ponder intricate buttons and a recreated 1930s kitchen among the History of Birmingham displays, and reflect on the contentious nature of some of the Elephant Room's objects, whether these be taxidermy of rare birds or items plundered under the darker aspects of the British Empire. The Made in Birmingham area is fun, presenting a greasy spoon menu peg board and an A-Z of local connections - I especially approve of 'C is for Cob', quite right! The splendour of the Edwardian Tearoom is an ideal setting for a relaxing hot chocolate as we commandeer a stately sofa and chat about all that we've seen. A quintet of replica statues of Queen Victoria in Britannia-styled helmets stands on the mezzanine level having originally been conceived for the Birmingham 2022 Festival alongside the Commonwealth Games.

- The Bookworm Gets Schlossed -

All these cultural contemplations do help you to work up a thirst so Albert's Schloss is happily on hand nearby for a sophisticated take on an Alpine-themed bar. Fireboxes, live music and hints of continental style add to the flavour while the beer options are very tempting, resulting in me dabbling in a dark Dunkel brew courtesy of Erdinger. Birmingham is busying up with its famed Saturday nightlife as we progress to Brindley Place for the Cosy Club, savouring a relaxed meal of Smash Burgers or Cod in a creamy caper sauce - I declare myself rather partial to the idea of dipping gravy whereas Emily approves of her chunky chips. News that Wolves have remarkably beaten West Ham 3-0 for their long-awaited first win of the season filters though, prompting a closing Craven Arms celebration over a glass of Monty's Mischief. We chat pubcrawls with friendly folks at an adjacent table then reluctantly catch our trains home. Whether in sunshine or snow, Birmingham makes for magical memories. Cheers!