Bullring & Grand Central are two main shopping malls in Birmingham, connected by a walkway. Together, they are not only the central commercial passage of the city but also the largest shopping mall in the entire country. Why is this place remarkable, apart from its impressive size? And why would tourists come here even if they don’t plan shopping?

The shopping malls are located in the area where the main markets and fairs of Birmingham were held since the mid-12th century. In the Victorian epoch, the first public monument in Birmingham was erected here, a bronze statue of Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, which became the center of public life and still is a local landmark. At the end of the 18th century, the first roofed market appeared within the market square, uniting scattered retail shops. However, the place fell into decline after World War II. Another major restructuring and significant expansion of the trading space took place in the sixties of the last century.

The Bullring shopping mall as we know it today was opened in 2003. It is designed in the blobitecture style and consists of two main buildings: East and West Malls, connected by a shopping arcade. The facade of the building is decorated with circular discs, which light Bullring up with colors in the evening and at night. The ceiling is decorated with glass, which creates an illusion of weightlessness.

The Grand Central shopping mall was opened in 2015. It is located above the Birmingham New Street railway station.

The total area of the two buildings is 2,085,000 square feet. There are more than two hundred shops, and you won’t stand a chance of seeing them all in one day.

The shopping mall looks especially impressive next to old English architecture, particularly against the backdrop of the church of St. Martin.

Bullring & Grand Central are not only shops and food courts, for you can also see curious objects here. In addition to the statue of Nelson, there are three light wands of different heights on Rotunda Square; a statue of a running bull, which has become a popular tourist attraction; and a glass fresco of 120 square meters that you can see from the railway station.