Bull Ring
The Bull Ring is Birmingham's historic market area at the southern edge of the city centre, now home to the Bullring shopping centre, the Selfridges building and the city's markets. Markets have been held here since the Middle Ages, around the parish church of St Martin in the Bull Ring.
In practice
The area has been rebuilt more than once. A concrete 1960s shopping centre, tied into the inner ring road, became a symbol of failed planning and was demolished; its replacement, written as one word, Bullring, opened in 2003. Its best-known building is the Selfridges store wrapped in thousands of aluminium discs. Below it are the Bull Ring Indoor Market, the Rag Market and the open market, and the bronze bull statue is a favourite meeting point. The centre connects to Grand Central and New Street station.
Why it matters to newcomers
"Meet you by the bull" means the statue at the Bullring. The markets are the place for cheap fresh food and fabrics; the shopping centre is busy at weekends. Digbeth, with its food halls and venues, is a short walk downhill.
Related
- Brum - the city around it
- Digbeth - the district just beyond
- Spaghetti Junction - the other monument of the motor age
Source: Bullring & Grand Central.