The Mailbox

One of the things that I like to do when I’m showing people around the city of Birmingham is take them to The Mailbox. It’s a small shopping centre with many branded upmarket boutique shops; that’s nestled between the train station and the canal. At its rear is a selection of restaurants that overlook the city’s canal network and there’s even a cinema. But the best bit is having a TV studio inside of it. There’s always something different to see in the public area, even without booking onto a tour. You can see inside the radio recording studios and there’s a hands-on section too. In the past there’s been a present the weather exhibition complete with blue screen and reverse directions in front of the autocue. This time there was a virtual Walking with Dinosaurs tour while David Attenborough narrates what you see; and there’s a helpful assistant to make sure that you don’t crash into things. Upstairs you can see through the glass into the newsroom; there’s a broadcast walk of fame; a Peaky Blinders costume exhibition, and this tin can.