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Post by tuigirl on Aug 24, 2022 17:54:58 GMT
Hi there, big question. I am going for a company / work travel to Birmingham this autumn. Very much looking forward to it (helping out at our stall at a conference and visiting our UK branch) and our UK colleagues have been very nice. However. I have been told in VERY clear terms that I am NOT to walk around Birmingham on my own, not dare to go out at night and basically Birmingham is crime central. I have never felt particularly threatened in any of the large cities I have been at so far (lived in Munich and Vienna, traveled around Sydney and Auckland and even walked around London). So is Birmingham indeed that much more dangerous? Are there frequent muggings? People killed in broad daylight?
What is the story? Someone here who can enlighten me?
I just really would like to know if I should pack a bulletproof vest or if a stab vest would be better.... ( that part was a joke. Kind of. Except if you really think that would be advisable).
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Post by Timelord007 on Aug 24, 2022 17:57:35 GMT
Just make sure your with someone street savvy Birmingham is a very rough town & if you don't know we're your going you can get into trouble.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2022 18:14:53 GMT
Just make sure your with someone street savvy Birmingham is a very rough town & if you don't know we're your going you can get into trouble. Birmingham’s a city, not a town. I can’t comment on it’s condition. It looked alright during the Commonwealth Games.
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Post by tuigirl on Aug 24, 2022 18:31:25 GMT
Just make sure your with someone street savvy Birmingham is a very rough town & if you don't know we're your going you can get into trouble. Birmingham’s a city, not a town. I can’t comment on it’s condition. It looked alright during the Commonwealth Games. Did you feel save? Were you around on your own? Or in a group?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2022 18:32:46 GMT
Birmingham’s a city, not a town. I can’t comment on it’s condition. It looked alright during the Commonwealth Games. Did you feel save? Were you around on your own? Or in a group?
I’ve never been to Birmingham. I saw it in the Commonwealth Games on television.
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Post by tuigirl on Aug 24, 2022 18:34:54 GMT
Just make sure your with someone street savvy Birmingham is a very rough town & if you don't know we're your going you can get into trouble. Well, I am basically just traveling from the airport to the hotel / conference and then to our UK branch lab.
But still the adviced me to not go out on my own.
I just have never been to a place where I had been warned that I could not go out on my own. I am a very independent person, so I find this a little disconcerting. And no, I was not planning on taking a casual stroll through the red-light districts at 2 am.
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Post by anothermanicmondas on Aug 24, 2022 20:01:25 GMT
I went to anime conventions in Birmingham in 1992-1995 and have had the odd shopping trip there (every time going by myself) and have never had any problems (Though I have not been out at night there - just daytime and early evening) My brother and father went to university there and have not mentioned any problems there has been the odd news story of violence there (often race and/or gang related) I think it's normally not too bad as long as you don't go into a bad area or get mistaken for a gang member, though I would not consider myself an expert. (I have not heard about any riots going on at the moment)
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Post by bonehead on Aug 24, 2022 20:30:22 GMT
I worked in King's Heath in Birmingham for about 18 months, and have socialised a bit in the City Centre in the day and at night. It's vibrant and occasionally loud, but I've never had any trouble.
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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on Aug 24, 2022 20:33:57 GMT
We were there 11 years ago on our Dr Who themed honeymoon- We spent the night there as part of our tour. Seriously, the tour guide told us to pretty much stay on the block and when it gets dark to come back. When the tour bus stopped in front of the hotel there was a line of people out front selling there wares so to speak, and others who clearly were selling pharmaceuticals. Could have changed since then, bit probably best to be with someone if out at night.
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Post by Timelord007 on Aug 24, 2022 20:58:33 GMT
Just make sure your with someone street savvy Birmingham is a very rough town & if you don't know we're your going you can get into trouble. Birmingham’s a city, not a town. I can’t comment on it’s condition. It looked alright during the Commonwealth Games. Trust me how it looked during the games is very different in the city, the games had security, I know Birmingham well and it is not a place to visit if you don't know were your going. Some parts OK others best stay clear of.
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Post by Timelord007 on Aug 24, 2022 20:59:58 GMT
Just make sure your with someone street savvy Birmingham is a very rough town & if you don't know we're your going you can get into trouble. Well, I am basically just traveling from the airport to the hotel / conference and then to our UK branch lab.
But still the adviced me to not go out on my own.
I just have never been to a place where I had been warned that I could not go out on my own. I am a very independent person, so I find this a little disconcerting. And no, I was not planning on taking a casual stroll through the red-light districts at 2 am.
I know city well parts are OK while other parts are unsafe, my advice stay in hotel unless your with somebody who knows the ins/outs of the city.
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lidar2
Castellan
You know, now that you mention it, I actually do rather like Attack of the Cybermen ...
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Post by lidar2 on Aug 25, 2022 10:15:49 GMT
I have been there for work trips in the past, including overnights. Last time was November 2019 when I was in (I think) Solihull, which I'm told by locals is the nice part of Brimingham. Left my hotel around 7pm ish, walked in an area with offices/shops to a restaurant to eat and walked back around 9pm ish. No problems at all.
Around 2010 I was in the City Centre staying in a hotel and went for a walk, probably around 8/9 pm. Mainly in the City Centre, main shopping area. It was summer and still light, with some shops still open. Again, no problems at all. I would not have been heading for the pubs and clubs and would be avoiding that part of town, more due to personal preference than safety concerns, but I had no bother.
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Post by Ela on Oct 13, 2022 16:52:38 GMT
Did your trip happen yet, tuigirl, or is it yet to happen? Curious to know how it will turn out for you.
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Post by tuigirl on Oct 13, 2022 17:29:31 GMT
It has not happened yet. I will be there in the first week of November. Have to represent the company at a wildlife Vet conference. I am pretty excited.
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Post by Ela on Oct 13, 2022 21:16:06 GMT
Hope it goes well for you!
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