Rotunda FAQs

Check-in is at 15:00 (3pm). However, if you arrive in Birmingham earlier, you maybe able to drop your bags off with us at any time after 08:00 (8am) until your apartment is ready.

Check-out is noon. 

Yes you may well be able to check-in earlier or out later! Please get in touch in advance and we will do our very best to accommodate you. The only caveat is that as we tend to be fully booked a lot of the time, it may not be possible to let you know until your arrival day. Please be aware late check-outs and early check-ins are rarely possible on Saturdays due to the tight turnaround time.

You just need to bring two things to check-in: 

• the credit/debit card you used to pay when booking (or will use if you have chosen to pay on arrival)
• one form of photo ID (your driving licence or passport).

• To check-in you first need to enter the building. There is a pad to the right of the entrance door for the Rotunda. Please press the bell button, so that we can let you in.
• You collect your keys from one of our team at reception in the lobby.
• The security tag attached to your key fob will allow you 24-hour access from then on during your stay.
• You can check in anytime from 15:00 (3pm) – sometimes earlier
• For those of you who took advantage of our cheaper Pay Now rates, we will need to see the card you used to pay with online, along with your photo ID.
• All other bookings must present photo ID (passport or driving licence) and a credit card for payment.
• Please note that we are unable to accept cash payments at Rotunda (but you can pay by BACS in advance or on the day or indeed take cash to a bank and pay it into our account – please contact us for details).

If you are arriving at Rotunda late, although the building is staffed 24/7, our Guest Relations team finishes at 22:00. It would be helpful to us to know if you are arriving after this time, so we can ensure that your check-in with our building’s security team is as smooth as possible. Thank you.

We have devoured all government and tourism sector guidance for hotels, serviced apartments, aparthotels and self-catering accommodation and put in place many new measures including cleaning protocols, social distancing and more contact free services. You can read all about the specific measures we are taking.

Birmingham city centre has been designated a Clean Air Zone since 14 June 2021 which means drivers of older cars will have to pay a fee for bringing their car into the centre, including the car park for Rotunda.  Please check your vehicle’s status and pay via the Brum Breathes website

The majority of new vehicles are exempt, however, if you have petrol vehicle older than 2007 or a diesel car pre 2014 is it likely you would need to pay the levy – please do check prior to travel via the Brum Breathes website.

The current charge to enter the zone is £8 for 24 hours from midnight to midnight, this means if you arrive at 3pm on Monday and leave at 12noon on Tuesday, the total charge would be £16.00.

You can pay online using the Government’s payment system or you can call the Government’s Clean Air Zone team on 0300 029 8888.

You must pay during the allocated 13-day payment window which is:

• 6 days before the day you use your vehicle in the Clean Air Zone
• on the day you use your vehicle in the Clean Air Zone
• 6 days after (up to 11.59pm hours on the sixth day) you used your vehicle in the Clean Air Zone

If you do not pay within the allocate timeframe, you will receive a Penalty Charge Notice in the post of £120, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.

Here are the directions to get to Rotunda from both New Street and Moor Street stations. They are both less than a four-minute walk away.

• From New Street Station, once through the ticket barriers follow the signs for Moor Street and Bullring. This route will bring you past the back of our circular building which you will spot has black Bullring branding across the top (Rotunda is part of the Bullring estate). When at the base of the building (the large round tower), walk up the steps and follow the tower around to the left, past Zara. Our entrance is immediately next door.
• From Moor Street Station, cross the road out of the station towards the shops and turn to your left. You will see a ramp that will take you past ARKET and up into Rotunda Square. In front of you is Zara. We are next door to Zara (to the right).

Getting to Rotunda on foot is super easy. Rotunda has been described as ‘the pin in the centre of the map of Birmingham’.

Our building entrance is on the pedestrianised part of New Street, right next to the main Bullring shopping centre entrance.

Now that’s super-central!

To get to Rotunda by car, enter postcode B5 4EG into your sat nav or Google Map for the Bullring car park.

Directions

Once you. have entered the car park,  follow the signs for West Mall and park as close to the lift-lobby as you can. Then take the lift to level 2. Once you come out of the lift head for Goldsmiths (on your right). With Goldsmiths on your right, walk straight ahead and exit the Bullring.

You will see the Bronze Bull in front of you and the Rotunda entrance is directly ahead (on your left) located next to Zara Women

Clean Air Zone

Birmingham City Centre is now a Clean Air Zone. 

Please check your vehicle and pay via the Brum Breathes website

The majority of new vehicles are exempt, however, if you have petrol vehicle older than 2007 or a diesel car pre 2014 is it likely you would need to pay the levy – please do check prior to travel via the Brum Breathes website.

The charge to enter the zone is £8.00 for 24 hours from midnight to midnight, this means if you arrive at 3pm on Monday and leave at 12noon on Tuesday, the total charge would be £16.00

If you’re arriving by taxi or want to unload your luggage, our nearest drop-off point is on Worcester Street (Sat nav postcode B2 4BB) which is at the back of Rotunda near its loading area and an unofficial drop off area for New Street Station.

Please note, some guests have reported that drivers may be hesitant to drive to this area as it is marked “Access only” but access only is exactly what you are doing and it is perfectly legal to drive and drop off here.

We recommend the Bullring Centre Car Park (this is one of four Bullring car parks but it is the closest to Rotunda), which can be accessed on Smallbrook Queensway (Sat Nav/Google Maps postcode B5 4EG).

We offer discounted rates of £15 per night in any of the Bullring shopping centre’s car parks. 

• When you check-in at Rotunda please let us know you have parked here and we’ll switch your ticket for one of ours.
• Our ticket will cover you for the length of your stay, so you can park as soon as you arrive in Birmingham. You will have up to 22:00 (10pm) on your departure day to use your ticket, so you can fit in a full business or shopping day.
• Payment for parking is always taken on arrival. We don’t take it in advance, just in case your travel plans change.
• PLEASE NOTE: If you want to come and go in your car throughout your stay, it may be cheaper to pay-as-you-go.
• Also, the car park closes at midnight and doesn’t reopen until 6am, Monday to Saturday and 8.30am on Sundays. If this doesn’t work for you, do let us know and we’ll help you find an alternative place to park (although we won’t be able to offer any discounted rates).

It is very quick and easy to get to the NEC or Birmingham Airport from Rotunda. There are ten or so trains an hour from Birmingham New Street train station to Birmingham International where the NEC (National Exhibition Centre) and Airport are located. It is a ten minute journey and tickets cost roughly £4 for a single ticket or around £5 for an open return. The Rotunda is a three minute walk to New Street Station and it takes five minutes to walk from Birmingham International to the NEC or Airport – the route is covered so there is no chance of getting wet in inclement weather. In total the trip takes 18 minutes door-to-door.

Yes, we have a special package for families called Cool for Kids which includes a complimentary gift for your children, additional cereals, a popcorn maker as well as a sweet treat. You can add this to your booking when you checkout. Read more about on our family-friendly breaks in Birmingham page.

Absolutely, yes our apartment hotel is suitable (ideal even!) for business guests. We offer free super fast Wi-Fi, a really comfortable bed, a power shower and all the amenities you would find at home.

All our apartments are suitable and appropriate for hosting small business meetings. There is no additional charge for using your apartment for this. Check out our business pages for more information.

If you don’t find your answer above or if you have any questions, please contact our friendly Guest Relations team.

Rotunda is perfect for a romantic break in Birmingham. The views are magnificent and both sunrise and sunset can be quite magical and extremely romantic. As we are so high up you can feel as though you are sleeping in the clouds. We have had a lot of engagements and marriage proposals at Rotunda – planned and unplanned! Our Roadster Penthouses are also a popular choice for couples getting married as the 20th floor balconies make a perfect photo backdrop for pre and post wedding ceremonies.

So many couples book a table in a restaurant and then cancel it and either cook or order food in because the views are so romantic and mesmerising.

We’ve written a blog on how to plan the best surprise romantic break in Birmingham.

Staying Cool at Rotunda is a brilliant place to stay if you are planning to visit the 2022 German Christmas Markets in Birmingham. We are located right at the beginning of the market on New Street from where it winds its way up to Victoria Square.  And once you have finished the markets you are ideally placed for all the best Christmas shopping and retail experiences in the city: Selfridges, the Bullring and Grand Central as Rotunda forms part of the Bullring estate. You can shop until you drop! Read our blog all about planning your trip to the 2022 Birmingham Christmas Markets.

The 2022 Birmingham Christmas markets are anticipated to place from early November to around 22nd December (open daily from 1pm – 9pm). Read our handy guide to everything you need to know about planning your visit to the 2022 German markets in Birmingham. 

There are four different apartment types to stay in: Minis (studios), Clubmans (one bedroom), Maxis (two bedrooms), Penthouses (two bedrooms). You can see all four types on our Birmingham page.

We think Rotunda is the best place to stay in Birmingham but don’t just take our word for it! We have been consistently ranked in the top three on TripAdvisor since we opened in 2008. We are a recommended place to stay by The Guardian, The Independent, The Telegraph, Cool Stays, The Times and the New York Times and in many other top ten places to stay lists. We’re also included in travel guides such as Frommers and The Rough Guide. We want all our guests to have a fantastic experience with us, whether it is their first or tenth stay.

Absolutely! Our ‘Mini’ Studios are rated Visit England 4 Star Gold, our ‘Clubman’ one beds are 5 star and our ‘Maxi’ two bed and Penthouses are rated 5 star gold.

We’re accredited each year by Visit England’s Official Quality Assessment and Star Ratings team who carry out a detailed inspection of all of our apartment types at which point we are scored against a criteria specific to serviced accommodation like ours.

We also hold accreditations for Quality Assurance and Compliance from The Association of Serviced Apartment Providers, our industry trading body.

We accept all major credit and debit cards including Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

We don’t accept cash on the premises.

But you can pay in advance by BACS or an international bank transfer – just contact us for further information.

Please note all deposits are taken by credit/debit card (verified by chip & pin) at check in.

You can also take cash to the bank (a 100 metre walk away) and deposit it in our bank account as an alternative way of paying before you check-in. This is usually instant but obviously you have to wait until we receive the funds beforehand!

If you are being dropped off by taxi at Rotunda or wish to unload your luggage, our nearest drop-off point is on Worcester Street (Sat Nav postcode B2 4BB). This is down the side of the Rotunda, in front of the building’s loading area. This part of the road is “access only” but it is perfectly legal to drive up to it to unload. 

We are spoilt for choice in Birmingham on the food front.

You can enjoy the 300 plus restaurants and bars in the centre of Birmingham including five Michelin starred restaurants. The Rotunda is your perfect base for a culinary adventure. You can find a list of our favourite places in and around the city in our Dining Out guest guide.

• The closest options are located on Spiceal Street, which is just 100-metres away from your Rotunda apartment hotel. Here you will find the Selfridges Food Hall, Wagamama, Byron, Browns and other well known options.
• Alternatively, with full kitchen facilities in each serviced apartment, why not add some of our fab dining in options when you book? Just give us 24-hours notice before your arrival to ensure we can have everything waiting for you.

Style Birmingham has produced a handy guide to al fresco dining.

Yes we do provide breakfast! We provide complimentary muesli and granola, fresh milk (vegan alternatives available – just ask), English breakfast tea, bean to cup espresso coffee, green tea, peppermint tea, hot chocolate and juicing oranges & grapefruits.

Should you wish to rustle up a larger breakfast, add on our dining in extras when you book  — you’ll find everything from smoked salmon bagels to all the ingredients for a Full English (veggie and vegan options available too).

Yes, of course you can bring your own food. It’s one of the great things about of staying in a serviced apartment in Birmingham. You have so much flexibility and can really make yourself at home. Feel free to bring food with you from home or pop out to one of the local supermarkets or delis.

Having a well-equipped kitchen in your apartment means that you can eat what you like when you like. You’ll find a small M&S food hall at Grand Central (part of New Street train station) and a larger Sainsbury’s store at 17 Union Street about 250m away. There is a large food hall in the basement of the larger M&S store at 42 High Street and you should also check out the Selfridges Food Hall in the iconic Bullring store, just 300 metres away. The latter is great for foodie presents too.

We don’t have a bar or restaurant on site but you are spoilt for choice in the neighbouring streets – see our Dining Out guide. 

We’ve also written blogs on Birmingham’s Michelin starred restaurants and some 5 hidden restaurant gems.

Every apartment also has a brilliant kitchen and you can add fab dining in food and drink options to your booking. 

We’ve also worked with one of Birmingham’s best chefs, Alex Claridge, who has devised some exclusive recipes for us – Cooking Cool.

You only need to pack your own clothes and beauty products.

We provide our own range of aromatherapy hand-blended toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, body and hand wash), fluffy white towels and bathrobes.

Your serviced apartment also has an iron, an ironing board and a full-size hair dryer. With all of this and a washing-machine on hand, you can travel light.

We also provide cooking essentials (balsamic vinegar, rapeseed oil, pepper and salt) as well as a complimentary light breakfast of fresh orange or grapefruit juice, granola plus teas and espresso coffee.

An aparthotel in Birmingham, like Staying Cool at Rotunda, offers a range of self-contained serviced apartment types within one building. We offer studio (Mini), one bedroom (Clubman), two bedroom (Maxi) and penthouse (Roadster) apartments.  Our aparthotel forms part of an iconic residential building so guests will really get the sense of what it is like to live in the heart of the city centre.

You check-in and out as you would in a regular hotel but also  get to enjoy the space and freedom of having your own apartment. Daily maid services are available free of charge and mini bar items are topped up too. Hand-blended aromatherapy toiletries, fluffy robes and towels are also provided.

You will find a very well stocked kitchen!

Essential ingredients including rapeseed oil, balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper. Plus teas, coffee, hot chocolate, fresh milk, jumbo oats and granola plus oranges and grapefruit for the juicer. Penthouses come with popcorn kernels and a popcorn maker.

From full-size ovens, microwaves and citrus juicers through to mixing bowls and pizza wheels, our apartments come fully stocked with all utensils, crockery and appliances. If you are staying a while and there is an essential piece of cooking equipment that you can’t live without and we don’t supply it we will do our best to get it for you.

We don’t have traditional inter-connecting rooms but all of our Maxi and Penthouse serviced apartments have two en-suite bedrooms so you can have your own private sleeping and bathing quarters. We can also make sure your apartments are directly next door to each other – either two Mini studios or a Mini and a one bedroom Clubman.

We’re a Grade II listed building so there is no air conditioning. However the floor-to-ceiling windows open fully and, as we are so high up, there is usually a breeze to keep you cool. Plus we put fans in every apartment. 

Yes we do take a security deposit. If you are staying in one of our Maxi or Penthouse apartments (sleeps four), we take a £250-£500 security deposit and for the Mini and all Clubman apartments  (sleeps two) £125-£250, at check-in. This is taken as a pre-authorisation (not a payment) on your credit or debit card. This is released on your departure day. 

Although banks are brilliant at taking our money straight from our account the moment we make a purchase, when it comes to releasing pre-authorisations they are far less keen. Therefore the pre-authorisation may take a few days to be removed.

You can change or cancel your booking free-of-charge anytime up until 12 noon one day before your arrival date if you have chosen a Flexible rate. Prepay rate bookings are non-refundable or exchangeable as the rates are so much cheaper. The best thing to do is to contact us in either case.