Now, Birmingham... Let's talk Health. I have reviewed my Dentist and my Doctor, but there are a host of other places in Birmingham which are striving to keep us fighting fit. For my services which are not teeth related, I use the multiple places in Boots. Boots (as you will already know) is a chain pharmacy and beauty store - available in train stations, city centres and most places where you may need to grab a pack of paracetamol or some plasters. This boots, however, offers a whole host of other services you may need for a range of health needs. Upstairs are your beauty counters, hygiene products and gifts (the discount on gifts after christmas is particularly good - offering 50% - 70% off), but on the lower floor are it's other services. If you pop on the escalators and head downstairs you'll find an optician, an NHS walk-in, a doctors surgery, Birmingham Uni dentists and a sexual health clinic. With the doctors surgery and dentist, you will need an appointment. The optician will see walk-ins (depending on how busy they are) and the sexual health clinic and NHS centre are totally walk-in led. This, obviously, can lead to long waiting times - but if you desperately need a doctor and can't get an appointment at your local clinic, this place is a lifesaver (probably quite literally). As well as the various medical services I have mentioned, Boots offers a "stop smoking" clinic and other health led initiatives. When I first moved into Birmingham City Centre I had no idea where my local health services would be (I was dreading having to catch a bus out of town), so for all of those who work or live in the City - this place is your one stop shop for when you're feeling off or need some supplies. read more

This is a great little Boots situated in the centre of town. It's got all you need from a general Boots store; cosmetics, perfume, toiletries. food and it has a pharmacy. There's also the more seasonal items. Currently there are sunglasses and lotions located towards the back of the store. It's never been overly busy when i've been there even at 5pm on a weekday which is perfect if you want to spend a bit more time browsing. The meal deal is a good price (£3.49 at last check) and it includes a sandwich/wrap, a drink and a snack (up to the value of £1.25 so go for the larger ones!). The service is always quick as there's never really a queue which is great if you're in a rush. read more

To the lovely ladies in Pharmacy in Boots, New Street Birmingham- thank you. I had spent an hour or so trying to get a prescription sorted. Central Boots sent me to the Bull Ring without checking product availability, the Bull Ring didn't have the product and they found it at New Street. The ladies were so kind and chatty as I was a bit stressed by then. I hope you have a great Christmas. read more

Let's be honest...paying a weekly visit to any branch of boots in town (in the county?) is something that most of women do. I can't live without my "Boots fixing". But the mecca of all Boots is placed in the city centre. It`s a huge one and you probably have been to this for several reasons. First time I've been there was when I was a student in Birmingham and I need to see get see a doctor. I was really impressed with the service. Very busy one, but with ans excellent service. I also used this Boots for several Interpretation jobs and again, I was always welcomed. The Chemistry is so busy and sometimes the service is a bit slow but again, nothing to be upset about it. But what make always go back for more is, obviously, the beauty products. I can spend hours looking for all products that I need ( or don't need sometimes) and I can`t get enough. It's a popular branch so we always know there are queues. To be honest, I never was stuck in queues in this Boots. Even this summer when there were people everywhere in the city centre. Love the variety of perfumes in the display and now that i have new adds to my family ( my lovely twin nieces) I always check the baby accessories there. I may buy loads of things from this Boots to take with me to Brazil in September. I love this Boots and to be honest, it's a therapeutic place to me. even if I have no cash to splash, I pass by there anyway, check all stuff I want to buy, make a mental note of it and go home with my mood changed. It works. read more

Boots is the most wonderful drug store/chemist/beauty shop I've ever been to. You Brits take it for granted that you can find one in whatever town you're in, and go in and find all the health and beauty supplies you need. But being an outsider, I can appreciate what a truly well-stocked piece of girly goodness Boots is. A typical chemist, offering prescription filling, cream for your corns and a host of vitamins; Boots is also a retailer of finer-end beauty items such as Toni & Guy straightening irons, a large selection of perfumes and more posh body creams than you can comfortably walk around in. The Bullring Boots is a decent size, though it is always busy, so finding what you want can take a bit of aisle-wiggling. They have a very good selection, and being a bigger store, will most likely carry what you want. I usually buy my perfume here, as it's slightly less expensive than other retailers, though they aren't carrying my new favourite, the D&G Body line (how does Claudia Schiffer still look that good??). I usually buy Boots brand hair items -- their £10 ionic hairdryer, £13 ceramic-plated large straighteners and £13 large tube curling tongs are each some of the best hair styling items I've used, and at such an unbelievably low price. Of course, everyone knows about Boots points, one of the more profitable shopper reward programmes going. I bought a fab new Barry M pot of eye glitter with my last set of points, though my husband asked me if I was going to a 1970s party, so perhaps I'll see if I can get my points back... read more

Be careful when getting glasses from this store. The sales people there will happily rip you off, as it happened to me yesterday. After the eye test, they will start showing you glasses from the most expensive end to the lower end of the price range. So far, that's standard in all opticians. But I did not expect them to add all kinds of unnecessary extras (like the most expensive UV protection option) on top of the already expensive glasses. The sales woman did not care to explain what she did, nor explain that these are _options_ not mandatory things, and thus I ended up with a large bill. She just made it look as if it is all normal, and only after checking the leaflets they showered me with at home (apparently to tell later that they dutifully informed me, bah!) I realised the rip off. Once your card is swiped, you cannot cancel the order anymore, as Boots claims that everything is automated and they have no influence about it anymore. The whole sales experience left me feel totally ripped off and I would not go back to that store, even if they were the last one in town. They will screw you over whenever they can - so avoid at all cost! read more

If you apply for a boots card, you get 3 points to the £1. Plus offers for you / current in store offers. Great way to save money if you shop there often! Reasonably priced for products, have a good makeup counter/s. The points are definitely making it even more worthwhile to shop there read more

Busy chemist. Store layout a bit cramped and at an angle, but has everything for a chemist and quick lunchtime snack.