The Birmingham Travel Guide takes a look at the various attractions, local places of interest and offers useful tourist information for visitors. Birmingham is located in the West Midlands and is the second largest city in the UK after London, the city has been subject to a huge redevelopment and refurbishment programme in recent years. Birmingham has a good selection of museums, exhibition spaces and sports venues and galleries for visitors to enjoy.
Overview and Attractions
Birmingham played a major role in the industrial revolution and prior to this period the Bull Ring, played host to open-air and covered markets; it has been at the centre of the city since. The Bull Ring is now one of the largest and most comprehensive shopping complexes in Europe.
Birmingham has a famous Jewellery Quarter where visitors can find a community of jewellers, the area is famed for jewellery since 18th century when goldsmiths and jewellers set up their businesses in the area. The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter is in a former workshop of the Smith & Pepper factory, it makes for an interesting visit especially for jewellery fans.
For those that love shopping Birmingham offers a blend of arcades, malls, friendly markets and the Jewellery Quarter. For visitors Birmingham’s shopping facilities offer plenty of places to shop, with high street shopping, malls and designer boutiques, the city has been referred as the regional shopping capital and a retail haven.
Central to the shopping experience in Birmingham is the Bullring, Birmingham’s largest shopping destination and provides one of the most comprehensive shopping experiences you could wish to have. The Bullring has more than 26 football pitches worth of shops, boutiques and restaurants in the centre of the city. There are a huge variety of shops here, to suit all tastes and budgets, whatever your interest.
The Bullring has become a favoured place not only to shop but to meet up with friends and to eat. It has helped to regenerated some of Birmingham’s traditional streets in to a place that is now modern and thriving. The public transport has been updated around it; the Bullring marks a renaissance in the centre of the city. With an impressive mix of historic buildings and contemporary architecture, the Bullring is the face of the new Birmingham.
Aston Hall is a Grade 1 listed building located in a 50 acre park. Aston Hall was built between 1618 and 1635 for Sir Thomas Holte, in 1643 the house became damaged in an attack by Parliamentary troops, the scars left by the cannon-shot can still be viewed on its Great Stairs. The house is now displayed as a series of period rooms containing paintings, textiles, furniture and metal work from the collections of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. Aston Hall by Candlelight is a bi-annual event which takes place on the mansion. Here over 500 candles light the building each night with actors recreating the 17th Century Christmas festivities.
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery has been established for over 100 years, the museum and art gallery has gained a fine reputation and displays artworks and artefacts that are considered world class. There is a huge collection here to admire containing everything from Renaissance era masterpieces to Middle-Eastern treasures 1,000s of years old. The Museum is most admired for its Pre-Raphaelite paintings and drawings; the museum boasts one of the largest collections in the world.
Visitors will also find Bronze Buddha’s and Egyptian Mummies in this diverse place. The collections include fine art from the 14th century, ceramics, metalwork and historic collections, including local archaeology. There is also the wonderful Edwardian Tea Room and its sumptuous cakes and a year-round programme of activities and temporary exhibitions.
Thinktank is Birmingham's science museum and is made up of ten themed galleries of interactive and informative exhibits. This is a modern museum where you can investigate locomotives to aircraft to taste buds; it combines science and entertainment and has something for just about everyone. Kids City is Thinktank's most popular gallery is a place where families with children can learn and play. It now features a Health Centre where children can role-play at being doctors or play in the baby clinic among others.
The Medicine Matters gallery showcases the medical advances in which the city of Birmingham has played a major role. Displays here include showing how TV programs are checked to make sure they will not cause seizures, how doctors can predict if you will develop cancer and how scientists can work out how your brain functions. Thinktank also has a Planetarium for visitors to see.
For chocoholics you can enjoy the taste of Cadbury's chocolate whilst discovering its history and origins at Cadbury World. The venue is packed with chocolate information and fun, for an event everyone will remember. Visitors can learn about the story of chocolate right from its discovery by the Aztecs in South America to how it is currently made. You can watch a copy of the production line and chocolate fans will be pleased to know you can taste the end product too! There is also a massive chocolate shop and refreshments. It can get extremely busy during the school holidays so it is recommended that pre-booking is done to avoid disappointment.
Birmingham's Sea Life Centre takes visitors on an inspiring undersea voyage, it has over 60 displays of freshwater and marine life, creating a great exhibit for visitors of all ages. There is also a huge one million litre ocean tank. Walk through the 360 degree transparent tubular underwater tunnel and marvel at the giant green sea turtles, reef sharks and tropical reef fish. The many exhibits teach you everything you wanted to know about marine life, the oceans.
The Weoley Castle ruins are more than 700 years old and are the remains of the manor house that once stood proudly here. Excavations have shown the castle’s occupants would have been wealthy, with various finds from the house have included glass from Syria and kitchen equipment. The site has been inhabited from the 12th century; the site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument of national importance, meaning it is now protected from further damage and development. There is a viewing area with information panels that is open to the public at weekends. Visitors can take a tour of the ruins and learn more about this fascinating and historic house.
The Crescent Theatre, located in Sheepcote Street is one of Birmingham's oldest theatre companies with a good reputation for providing quality entertainment at reasonable prices. The Theatre offers a great experience to all its visitors. In addition to the auditorium, the Crescent theatre has the Theatre Bar and the Coffee Bar that overlook the canal. Both of these offer a wide selection of refreshments in a wonderful relaxed environment.
If you are a fan of dining then Bank Restaurant in Birmingham is worth considering. Regarded as cool with its modern decor and design, it has terraces that overlook the 19th century canal to add to the dining experience. The food is acclaimed and very much at the heart of the restaurant. You can enjoy a great British dining experience here with a wide ranging menu of British classics and contemporary dishes.
For those seeking some great nightlife you can experience the ‘old school’ with a visit to Flares night club. This is a fun and vibrant venue with a great atmosphere. It attracts an eclectic crowd that includes everyone form students to the mature clubber looking for 70’s grooves and some 70's inspired fun.
The club has a well stocked bar and the live DJ’s play all the disco favourites from when disco ruled the world. The interior is retro boasting a under light dance floor that is very 70's that help create an authentic atmosphere of disco fun.
Birmingham is located toward the centre of England in the Midlands region making it within easy reach for the north and south of the UK with good road, rail and air links from Birmingham Airport. Whilst the city has had an unflattering image in the past, it is worth looking beyond that as the city has a lot to offer. It has a number of interesting places to visit and explore and its location means you are not too far from the relaxing countryside.
