City announces campaign to showcase the best of Birmingham over the festive season.
Birmingham has announced its 2014 national Christmas campaign entitled ‘Christmas now trending in Birmingham’, as it sets to entice visitors from across the UK this festive season.
Led by the city’s leisure tourism programme Visit Birmingham and 15 city partners including Retail Birmingham and London Midland, the Christmas campaign aims to build on the success of last year’s seasonal showcase, kick-starting with the launch of a dedicated microsite www.christmasinbirmingham.com.The new site highlights the host of festive activities and events taking place throughout the region, and is brimming with seasonal offers and tips to help visitors plan their perfect Christmas break in Birmingham.
Visitors are encouraged to share their experience using the Twitter hashtag #ChristmasInBham, inspiring others to sample the region’s Christmas spirit first-hand.
There is an array of outstanding productions and family-friendly attractions on offer across the city and wider region. From Drayton Manor Park’s Christmas-themed Thomas Land and Cadbury World’s magical themed grotto, to the Black Country Living Museum’s Victorian Christmas Evening, Birmingham has a broad spectrum of entertainment lined up throughout the festive period.
From Thursday 13th November until 22nd December, the Frankfurt Christmas Market – the largest outdoor Christmas market in the UK, will be returning for its 14th year. Complete with hand-crafted gifts and toys, tasty German bratwurst, indulgent chocolate crepes, and traditional Gluhwein, Birmingham’s annual Christmas spectacle boasts over 190 stalls.
As well as stocking up on gourmet gifts, revellers can take a ride on the vintage-style Christmas carousel or visit the Market’s stage for a range of traditional Christmassy carols. Ice Skate Birmingham’s popular outdoor ice rink will also return from 16th November to 5th January, open daily from 10am to 10pm. Located in Centenary Square, visitors can enjoy this festive winter sport in the midst of the beautiful city centre surroundings.
Emma Gray, director of marketing services at Visit Birmingham, said: “Birmingham offers one of the country’s most exciting festive backdrops. With a world-renowned food scene, family friendly attractions and shopping to suit every taste and budget, Birmingham is the perfect place to visit this Christmas. The city is also home to Europe’s largest authentic German market outside Germany and Austria, which continues to attract audiences from all corners of Europe.
“Last year the city drew a record 34 million visitors. With an outstanding programme of events taking place this year, we look forward to welcoming even more tourists to sample what we have to offer this festive season. We hope Visit Birmingham’s new website will inspire everyone planning to visit Birmingham this Christmas.”
The city’s seasonal shopping offer extends beyond the Christmas market, with a range of festive offers from big-name stores, boutique independent retailers, and award-winning artisan eateries during the Christmas period. Alison Hammond and Emma Willis – both from Birmingham – are spearheading a new Christmas shopping campaign by Retail Birmingham, designed to promote the extensive range of shopping experiences available in the city centre.
Jonathan Cheetham, Chair of Retail Birmingham, the Business Improvement District for Birmingham city centre’s retail heart, explained: “Birmingham is the largest retail centre outside the capital, boasting over 1,000 shops within a 20 minute walk. From the iconic Selfridges, Bullring and The Mailbox, to vibrant independent retailers and hubs such as the Great Western Arcade, the city’s diverse retail offering amounts to the ultimate Christmas shopping destination.
“Following the busy Christmas season, 2015 is set to bring one of Birmingham’s busiest and most exciting periods in over a decade. With new additions such as the £150 million Grand Central shopping centre with its £35 million flagship John Lewis store, and the £50 million refurbishment of the Mailbox, residents and visiting shoppers will be spoilt for choice.”
As part of this year’s Christmas campaign, Visit Birmingham has joined forces with travel partner London Midland, which operates a frequent train service into the heart of Birmingham.
London Midland’s Senior Marketing Manager, Penny Allen commented: “e’re very happy to announce that in December we’ll be introducing more than 13,000 extra seats every day in the off-peak; helping people travel in and out of Birmingham more comfortably for a festive day out.”
For further information on Birmingham’s festive programme, seasonal transport deals, and Christmas competitions and offers, visit www.christmasinbirmingham.com. You can also join the conversation on Twitter using the Christmas hashtag #ChristmasInBham
