Birmingham guide
🇬🇧 Packing List
What to pack for Birmingham
In December, Birmingham is typically cold, expect showers (3°C - 7°C). Pick the month you travel and the list changes with it.
Birmingham essentials
- Birmingham is a casual city. Smart-casual is fine for most restaurants and bars. Some Brindleyplace and Mailbox bars have a smart-casual door policy at...
Documents
- Photo ID
- Passport (valid 6+ months)
- Visa / e-visa printout
- Return / onward flight tickets
- Travel insurance policy
- Hotel booking confirmations
- Passport-size photographs (2-4)
- Photocopies / phone photos of passport and tickets, stored separately
Clothing
- Casual day outfits
- One smart-casual outfit for dinners
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Warm insulated coat
- Thermal base layers
- Warm hat, gloves and scarf
- Warm socks
- Light rain jacket or poncho
- Compact umbrella
- Undergarments and sleepwear
- Enough outfits for 7 days (6 sets)
- One dressy evening outfit for celebrations
- Warm layers for outdoor Christmas markets
Toiletries & health
- Toothbrush, toothpaste, and toiletries
- Sunscreen (SPF 30+)
- Personal medication with prescription
- Basic first-aid: band-aids, painkillers, ORS
- Hand sanitiser and wet wipes
- Lip balm and moisturiser for cold, dry air
- Birmingham tap water is safe — Severn Trent supply drawn from Elan Valley reservoirs in Wales. Good Food Hygiene ratings (FSA...
Electronics
- Phone and charger
- Power bank
- Camera (optional)
- Power adaptor: Type G plugs, 230V.
Money
- Debit / credit cards
- Local currency: British Pound (GBP)
Local know-how
- Local SIM: EE, Vodafone.
- Curry house overcharging in the city centre tourist restaurants — for authentic and fair-priced Balti curry go to the...
- Peak season in December: keep bags zipped and don't flash jewellery
- December highlights: Frankfurt Christmas Market (largest outside Germany!)