Great Western Arcade Birmingham | Visit Birmingham

Great Western Arcade Birmingham

Great Western Arcade Birmingham

Located in the heart of Birmingham's financial district near Snow Hill train Station is a small shopping arcade.

It's been used as a cut through for commuters traveling from Colmore Row to Temple Row for years and has a fairly unassuming facia belying the fascination to be found inside. The grade 2 listed arcade was built in 1876-1877 by the great train engineers of the day Great Western and designed by W.H. Ward.

You could say it is somewhat reminiscent of Crystal Palace Exhibition Centre but on a very tiny scale. It was here before and will probably be here long after the modern shiny replacements of today's Birmingham. The Colmore Row side was severely bombed during the second world war, the modern replacement façade is the reason why you barely notice its there and is the reason why it remains one of Birmingham's hidden gems and one of the few places you can find an independent shoe shop..

Walking through the Colmore Row entrance you enter this beautiful example of Victorian architecture its worth bringing your camera as its a wonderful example, a cathedral of windows and intricate ironwork cascade to the eclectic mix of shops below. You can buy a lot of cool bits and pieces here anything from a peaky blinders hat to a macaroon with your face printed on it.

Follow the colourful geometric floor tiles past a diverse yet delightful selection of shops. Look right you got a mini Greggs for your early morning vegan sausage roll, blink and your at Loki Wines - With the most amazing selection of Bourbon Whiskey this side of Kentucky.

They also regularly organise wine tasting sessions where you can get to try some of the stores fabulous selections. Continuing through the arcade, look to the left you have a specialist bread shop The Bread Collection is famed for it’s sourdoughs and from experience bakes some amazing  tasty varieties including rye bread, walk a little further and your at Anderson and Hill  a traditional delicatessen with a selection of cold cuts and award winning cheese to die for.

One of the businesses here Miss Macaroon has a unique selection of French Macaroons with some of the most tasty modern flavours you will find on the market today. They have provided macarons to some of the world’s big businesses.

They also reinvest all of their profits in training and employing long term unemployed young people in retail and catering so buy buying a box your helping the community around you which is a nice philosophy, treat others when you treat yourself. Other interesting shops in the Great Western Arcade include The Designer Exchange which sell pre owned designer handbags at considerably reduced price compared to retail.

Nip in to One Spa to revive yourself with massage and facials, manicures and pedicures. Projekt 21 is a really cool streetwear shop selling a mix of skateboards and fashion. Other great shops and restaurants include Jaeger Outlet, Sushi Passion, The Pen Shop, The Whiskey Shop, Ikon Barbers Bistro 1847 and Cora Hair And Beauty,

​Next up read about: Birmingham Botanical Gardens

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