Grand Central
Grand Central
4.5
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Address
Neighborhood: Ladywood
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1,752 within 3 miles
Attractions
461 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
414 reviews
Excellent
200
Very good
162
Average
29
Poor
7
Terrible
16
Richard B
3 contributions
Jan 2022
I have never been impressed by this station. Before the rebuild, New Street was a cramped and claustrophobic experience, but it was a logical design and navigating between platforms was straightforward and quick. The retail and food outlets were perfectly adequate for the requirements of passengers, either starting their journey with time to spare, or those like myself who were changing trains.
This rebuild has resulted in a much worse layout for the rail passenger, especially those changing trains. The feel of the place is now of a shopping and eating area, with the inconvenience of a major rail station to accommodate. Changing between trains has become a time consuming exercise. Finding which route to take between platforms, the repeated hassle negotiating barriers, especially when carrying luggage, and if you make a mistake and find you can’t reach the required platform having to retrace you’re steps back out the barriers and find the right one, all just too irritating.
This has to be the worse rail station in the country; poor design, poor signage, excessive barriers to negotiate, no logic to the layout. Maybe a lovely shopping centre, but certainly not fit for purpose as a rail station
This rebuild has resulted in a much worse layout for the rail passenger, especially those changing trains. The feel of the place is now of a shopping and eating area, with the inconvenience of a major rail station to accommodate. Changing between trains has become a time consuming exercise. Finding which route to take between platforms, the repeated hassle negotiating barriers, especially when carrying luggage, and if you make a mistake and find you can’t reach the required platform having to retrace you’re steps back out the barriers and find the right one, all just too irritating.
This has to be the worse rail station in the country; poor design, poor signage, excessive barriers to negotiate, no logic to the layout. Maybe a lovely shopping centre, but certainly not fit for purpose as a rail station
Written January 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NBLondon
London, UK490 contributions
Oct 2021
It's certainly better than the awful tat that was there previously but now it's starting to fall short. Shops had to close early on the Sunday we were there but the cafes and restaurants were all closed or closing by 5.30pm even though the place was busy (before anyone says anything, cafes are generally not constrained by Sunday trading laws). So there was nowhere to have a meal, snack or coffee or even just sit (there's very little public seating in Grand Central, and Bullring had closed by then too). With John Lewis gone, the remaining shops and restaurants are standard High St staples. So yes, it's still a much better gateway to Birmingham than before, but it's starting to show some cracks and they really do need to up their game.
Written October 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
therichastill
Stevenage, UK3,319 contributions
Jul 2023 • Solo
Grand Central is a shopping centre above Birmingham New Street station. It is also connected to the Bull Ring shopping centre.
It has a GIGANTIC food court where you can get a wide variety of different food to eat there or take with you on your journey.
There are also a number of stores you can visit if you want to do some shopping too. It's a good place to visit when you are in the area.
It has a GIGANTIC food court where you can get a wide variety of different food to eat there or take with you on your journey.
There are also a number of stores you can visit if you want to do some shopping too. It's a good place to visit when you are in the area.
Written August 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
andypjames83
Hednesford, UK5 contributions
Nov 2022
Having travelled to Birmingham by train we decided to have a good look around Grand Central after we returned from the Christmas market and shopping in the Bullring. We decided to eat at Mrs Chews Chinese Kitchen, which was lovely. The vegetable boa buns were perfect, my fiancee's vegetable fried noodles were very nice and my spinach noodles with fried tofu and mushrooms was lovely.
Having eaten and shopped, we decided to use the rest rooms before we left, and this is where my experience left much to be desired. There was dried blood on the cubicle walls and door, feaces on the toilet roll dispenser, urine and toilet paper on the floor and graffiti on almost every flat surface.
This visit to Birmingham would have been a very good one if it wasn't for the final memory of the day being that awful cubicle.
Having eaten and shopped, we decided to use the rest rooms before we left, and this is where my experience left much to be desired. There was dried blood on the cubicle walls and door, feaces on the toilet roll dispenser, urine and toilet paper on the floor and graffiti on almost every flat surface.
This visit to Birmingham would have been a very good one if it wasn't for the final memory of the day being that awful cubicle.
Written November 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Warby
Bicester, UK3,740 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
Still much improved but John Lewis shutting may be the start of a decline. Hope not as a nice entrance to the city if you arrive by train. Full of restaurants and easy access to the Bull Ring
Written May 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LauraDaveJames
Solihull, UK5,020 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
This was the first time we had visited the city centre for a long while. Unfortunately Grand Central has suffered because of the closure of John Lewis. Some other shops have also closed but many are still open and the food court looks as vibrant as ever. We were there on a Tuesday and it was busy but far from crowded. It is still an impressive space and hopefully showing signs of bouncing back.
Written September 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tracey G
Halesowen, UK2,215 contributions
Nov 2020 • Couples
A lonely desperate area. After the euphoria of its opening Grand Central is now becoming a sad area. No people due to Covid. Shops shut and to crown it all the centre piece John Lewis gone!
Sad. Sad sad for the second city
Sad. Sad sad for the second city
Written November 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bexxcx
Milton Keynes, UK1,011 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
The new Grand Central is linked to the Bullring so its shopping galore as soon as you step foot off the train. Its nice, bright and airy, and hard to get lost since its circular for the most part. It is super busy though.
Great place to explore if you've got time to spare before catching a train?
Great place to explore if you've got time to spare before catching a train?
Written January 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Docmatt
Birmingham, UK1,590 contributions
Dec 2018 • Solo
The best train station outside London. Great places to meet and eat with some shopping too. Lovely and bright and clean. A pleasure to walk through.
Written December 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nick J
Birmingham, UK128 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
This is supposed to be, primarily, a major train station. Not one penny has been spent on improving the train service. If you want to visit the new shops you have to travel through the same old, subterranean dungeon that's been there for decades. In fact, the situation is worse because, ironically, more visitors are coming to see the shops - and are being crammed on to the same tatty platforms and late-running trains...
The layout of the new waiting areas is an absolute mess. The different coloured lounges (what?) and multiple barriers create a confusing and frustrating maze.
Still, at least you get an organic coffee, What a joke.
The layout of the new waiting areas is an absolute mess. The different coloured lounges (what?) and multiple barriers create a confusing and frustrating maze.
Still, at least you get an organic coffee, What a joke.
Written October 18, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
When was the shopping centre completed
Written November 28, 2019
It is fully open to my knowledge
Written November 28, 2019
How about a parking? Is there any within walking distance and how much is it?
Written October 29, 2019
Lots of parking car parks really safe and convenient. A lift takes u straight to the shopping centre. You can have a car valet while you're shopping. For a full afternoon you'd be looking at about £10
Written November 1, 2019
Which exit from Grand Central Station is the best way to walk towards Travelodge Central Bull Ring?
Written January 20, 2019
Hi My Grand Central was in Liverpool so your are asking about Birmingham. Although I have been to Birmingham a couple of times recently ..... not sure which exit from the station takes you to the Travellodge ..... but we found Birmingham quite easy to navigate ..... if in doubt ask at the info desk
Written January 20, 2019
hi are there any lifts in Grand Central? I need to use my mobility scooter :(
Written April 3, 2018
Hi are there any actual lifts in Grand Central? I will be on my mobility scooter and need to get up to John Lewis :)
Written April 3, 2018
I wouldnt park in Bham cheaper to catch bus and tram what goes outside
Written March 17, 2018
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