Well I never thought I would say this, but Birmingham’s Grand Central rail station/ shopping centre is very impressive and, personally, I think it is better than St Pancras! There is a real buzz and energy as passengers pass along the wide concourse below the mezzanine floor of restaurants, fast food outlets and shops, John Lewis taking the prime position under this incredible dome. During the day, the dome lets in natural light but in darkness the lighting is great – can’t wait to see it over the Christmas period. As a native of Birmingham originally and very familiar with the old New Street station, I was completely surprised by the scale of the transformation. I did think the name might be a bit pretentious, but I would make the 3 hour train journey just to come in and visit all that is on offer – especially Caffe Concerto for great coffee and an indulgent slice of chocolate cake. You can even understand the train announcements loud and clear!
