Visit ‘Birmingham’s answer to Central Park’ and you’ve probably never heard of it

A father sat quietly on a bench watching his son run across the grass, while a nearby worker in hi-vis lay down to sunbathe, and a group of students sat pointing out the world on a park bench. I was right in the heart of Birmingham city centre, just a seven minute walk from the choir arena, and yet it felt like I was in an oasis of lush greenery. Could this be Brum’s best kept secret?

Eastside City Park offers a long rectangle of pretty planting, unusual trees, and wide, flat paths that are easy to navigate with wheelchairs and strollers. After being bombarded by noise, roadworks and lively bodies on my way here from the choir arena, the change in atmosphere was palpable as soon as I entered this paradise.

It was instantly quiet, as if the trees absorbed the sounds of the city, creating a barrier to the outside world around us. I walked through them, enjoying the ornamental grasses, red pokers, sculptures, and the sun reflecting off the bark of oriental-looking birch trees perched on metal pergolas. There was barely a sound apart from the soothing chirping of birdsong.

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A bunch of school kids arrived, spilling out in a long line to head to the Thinktank, and I thought what a great introduction to Birmingham this is for kids. These kids were likely to go home telling mum and dad that Birmingham was a big green park full of fabulous things to see like bonfires and engines. What a view to have over our wonderful city.

For anyone who ever thought Birmingham wasn’t particularly family friendly, I’d say go to this 14,000 square foot sanctuary. There are plenty of benches to relax on, grass to throw rugs on and picnic tables for lunch, meaning you don’t have to spend a fortune to dine with the kids. It also gives them a safe space to run.

The park is framed by Millennium Point, Thinktank and Birmingham City University. A free photography exhibition was displayed outside the university doors which was wonderful to see. You can walk around Millennium Point without having to pay (there are toilets here too) and there is a lovely cafe on the second floor that serves great coffee and pastries, all baked in house. We bought a take away coffee and a croissant filled with Biscoff to enjoy in the sun. More on Mulino Cafe later.

The fourth part is all the ongoing HS2 work on Curzon Street, but this has been boarded up so it’s not too noticeable and it’s surprisingly quiet too. The road here is closed for works, so it may be quieter now than when the road reopens.

A perfect rectangle, this could be Birmingham’s answer to Central Park, a green lung at the center of our sprawling concrete jungle. It will be interesting to see how it feels once all the HS2 work is done.

There is a brightly colored food and drink kiosk called Platform 2 (although it was closed when we visited) and a small children’s playground, which is free to enter and includes musical play equipment, climbing ropes, food in whisper and a texture hunting wall. soft, bump-friendly flooring. This could be improved, perhaps with a swing and a slide, but it was still fun for the kids and a nice treat for them after shopping at the bullring.

It’s worth noting that the Thinktank offers free entry to its wonderful science garden after 3pm Wednesday to Sunday during term time and from 3pm every day during the school holidays. With over 30 hands-on exhibits, there’s plenty of fun things to do here for all ages.

What stood out was the total lack of trash in this park. There was an abundance of bins, which made it easy for people to keep the space clean. Nothing was overlapping or worn. There was a bit of graffiti on the food stall bins and shutters, but nothing major.

This was encouraging as the £11.75m park has been open for 11 years and still looks as good as new. The only sad part is that the water features are no longer in action, but they are still being maintained so it doesn’t look like a crisis. In fact, the curved benches gave it a zen quality.

I sat on the park bench, sipping a delicious coffee, watching the trains go in and out of Moor Street Station – just a five minute walk away – listening to their rumble in the distance, finding no noise or distraction. It was a nice escape from the hectic city center. I wholeheartedly recommend giving this park a try.

Where to find Eastside Park

Entrances to the park are on Curzon Street and Cardigan Street. It is an easy walk from Moor Street Station and the choir arena. Buses 4, 6, 45, 60, 74, 94, 95 and X8 pass by the park. It is also just a short walk from Digbeth and New Street Station.