Discover Birmingham with megabus

As the second largest and youngest city in the UK, Birmingham is bursting with increasingly trendy hotspots. A city which brilliantly mixes old and new - Birmingham has brought us many icons over the years including Black Sabbath, the world’s first Odeon, the Balti, and obviously who could forget, HP sauce.

Whether strolling through the bohemian hangout of Digbeth or uncovering the (not-so-hidden) gem that is the Jewellery Quarter, which boasts over 700 independent jewellers – the city is buzzing with shops, bars, museums, and restaurants. Spoilt for choice is an understatement.

Birmingham, also known as Brum to locals, has been the star of several much- loved TV and films - with multiple smash hit productions utilising areas of the city as its backdrop. The impressive roster of the small and big screen includes, gangster and whiskey fuelled Peaky Blinders, cult watch police drama Line of Duty, Netflix’s adaptation of Imran Mahmood’s novel You Don’t Know Me, and the much-anticipated upcoming release, Mission Impossible.

We will kickstart our Showstoppers tour at The Queen’s Arms, a location featured in the incredibly popular BBC series Line of Duty. The grade II listed pub sits just on the edge of the Jewellery Quarter, right by the stunning St Phillip’s Cathedral. In an iconic scene from season 1 - Detective Inspector Steve Arnott can be seen questioning ex-co-workers over a far from relaxing pint, as he delves deeper into the corrupt antics of DCI Tony Gates. A scene put down in the history books of top British gritty dramatisations.

Next, we will venture to Grand Central train station, the transport hub of Birmingham. Amongst the hustle and bustle, onlookers recently spied Tom Cruise as Field Agent Ethan Hunt, showcasing his martial art skills in multiple action scenes in Mission Impossible. If you’re a shopaholic or food lover, then Grand Central is your Meccah. Connected to the Bull Ring, visitors can step off the train and within seconds be surrounded by lively bars, delicious restaurants, the best of UK’s high street brands, and of course the incredibly instagrammable 6-tonne bronze bull statue.

The final stop on the Showstopper tour of Birmingham is Waterloo Street, where Netflix’s thriller You Don’t Know Me was filmed. Located in the heart of the city centre right by Birmingham New Street, Waterloo Street boasts several bars, pubs, and even Michelin star restaurants. Adam’s Restaurant was featured in the show during several restaurant scenes, however we’re not so sure that the characters had much of an appetite after the drama surrounding Kyra and Hero unfolds.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this whirlwind guide to Birmingham and it stands you in good stead for your own show stopping adventure. Share your favourite silver screen locations with us on social using #megabusshowstoppers.

To book your trip to Birmingham, just use our handy journey planner at the top of the page.

See more places on our Showstoppers tour: