Birmingham travel guide

 The second largest city in the UK, Birmingham is a unique and exciting destination. The city has evolved from its industrial past to become bigger, better, and bolder than ever.




Exceptional shopping centers, world-class galleries, great festivals and events, and an amazing network of canals and waterways - Birmingham offers visitors a pleasant surprise at every turn.

What Birmingham lacks in historic attractions, it more than makes up for with art galleries like the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Ikon, and Aston Hall and museums and cultural centers like the Thinktank, the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, and Cadbury World.

Whether you're planning a family vacation or a romantic city break, there are lots of excellent reasons to consider a stay in Birmingham.

Top 5 Reasons to Visit Birmingham

1. It's a City of Contrasts

Where else would you find a contemporary landmark right next door to a Victorian church built on a 13th-century site? The iconic Selfridges department store building is the gateway to the Bullring Shopping Centre and it's adjacent to St Martin in the Bull Ring, the city's oldest church.

2. Creativity Takes Center Stage

If you enjoy contrasts, you'll love the Custard Factory, a network of colorful buildings next to a 40-ft green wooden man. Its unique blend of art galleries, venues, and retail spaces includes a glassmaker, a craft brewery, a '50s-style beauty salon, and an award-winning audio shop. After a busy day, end your visit at the Mockingbird Cinema.

3. It Has More Green Spaces than Most

Birmingham has an amazing 571 parks, more than any similarly sized European city. Ten are recipients of Green Flag Awards and five Premier Parks - Cannon Hill Park, Kings Heath Park, Sutton Park, Lickey Hills Country Park, and Handsworth Park - are outstanding. 250-acre Cannon Hill is one of the most popular and it's a great mix of conservation and formal areas, woodland, and sports grounds where you can enjoy activities like tennis, bowls, and boating.

4. Birmingham Has More Canals than Venice

It's true. There are more canals in Birmingham than Venice and, considering the city is landlocked, that's quite impressive. The city's waterways also include picturesque lakes and reservoirs where you can fish, sail, or windsurf or try your hand at canoeing or kayaking.

5. It Also Has All Kinds of Bars

There are bars to appeal to all tastes whether you're looking for a trendy hipster hang out like the Church Inn, a friendly LGBT pub near Hurst Street, or a cool music pub like the Hare & Hounds or the Flapper. The city is also home to another type of bar - the chocolate bar. Visit Cadbury World and discover all you ever wanted to know about the UK's favorite chocolate brand and its fascinating history.


What to do in Birmingham

1. Symphony Hall: Cultural Centerpiece

Birmingham's renowned classical concert hall remains the hub of culture in the city. The venue has staggering acoustics and puts on cutting edge productions year-round. The Repertory Theatre and the Library of Birmingham complete the trifecta of institutions for art and knowledge, inviting tourists for a variety of shows and events. Nearby, the Hall of Memory is a moving War Memorial preserved since the 1920s.

2. Victoria Square: Social Heart of Birmingham

This pedestrian square is at the center of the city, and from the architecture to the contents of the buildings, tourists will not be disappointed. Statues and fountains dot the square, while the Birmingham Town Hall looks over the social scene down below. Visitors make their way between the cafés and the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, where a gorgeous collection of local art is to be found alongside internationally renowned artists. Walk Colmore Row to reach the equally epic Birmingham Cathedral.

3. Museum of the Jewellery Quarter: A Day in the Life

Considered one of the best free attractions in all of Europe, this small independent museum was once the family-run jewelry studio of Smith and Pepper. The workshop is perfectly preserved and a historical emblem of the entire jewelry district, inviting visitors to step back in time and learn about the industry. An intimate look into the daily life of craftsmen in England's jewelry capital is accentuated by a dazzling display of the incredible work produced in those very streets.

4. Bullring Shopping Centre: At the Bull Ring

Back in the Middle Ages, this part of Birmingham was the site for regular markets. Today, two new shopping centers have maintained that history into the present day. The Bullring is now the busiest shopping center in the United Kingdom, welcoming tens of millions of patrons each year. Even if you aren't in the market for anything, the futuristic architecture is worth checking out.

5. The Barber Institute of Fine Arts: Culture for All

This museum houses the works of countless masters, and that's only the half of it. Within the Art Deco building of the University of Birmingham, visitors can also enjoy a theater host to exciting programming. Anyone is invited to be a student at these events, and tourists would be remiss not to take advantage. Alongside more classical collections of oil paintings and etchings, the museum also holds a unique coin collection that includes Roman and Byzantine treasures.


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