Birmingham

This energetic city, thrumming with industrial heritage, is England's second-largest, offering a delightful mix of old and new. With its blend of cultural gems, historical intrigue, and modern energy, Birmingham is a city that surprises and delights.

Birmingham boasts a vibrant canal network. You can glide through the city center on a narrowboat, taking in the picturesque Brindleyplace district with its bars and restaurants. For a touch of greenery, escape to the sprawling Cannon Hill Park or explore the Birmingham Botanical Gardens' exotic plants and Victorian glasshouses.

Craving something more quirky? The Coffin Works, a museum dedicated to Birmingham's fascinating history of death and burial, promises a truly unique experience. And no trip to Birmingham is complete without a visit to Cadbury World! Unwrap the secrets of chocolate-making, sample delectable treats, and relive your childhood at this iconic attraction.

Bullring: A futuristic shopping haven with a curvaceous silver façade reflecting the city's forward-looking spirit.

Library of Birmingham: A striking glass structure, home to knowledge and creativity, with panoramic views from its rooftop terrace. In the heart of town near St Martin's Square it is Europe's largest city-center retail area with hundreds of stores, smothered in 15,000 aluminum discs that make it look like it's been bubble-wrapped. 

Canals and Green Spaces:

Brindleyplace: Stroll along the picturesque canals, where historic warehouses now house trendy bars and restaurants. Cannon Hill Park: A serene oasis with lakes, swans, and the majestic MAC Birmingham Arts Center.

Cultural Kaleidoscope:

Cadbury World: Chocolate enthusiasts rejoice! Discover Cadbury's sweet history in this family-friendly attraction.

Symphony Hall: Acoustically divine, it hosts world-class concerts and performances.

Jewellery Quarter: A treasure trove of artisan workshops, vintage boutiques, and hidden gems. The Jewellery Quarter is an industry hub, home to more than 100 retailers, diamond dealers, and workshops, as well as the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, with a preserved 1980s workshop. Georgian buildings line grassy St. Paul's Square, surrounding 18th-century St. Paul’s Church. Indie stores, trendy bars, and art galleries fill the resurgent area, along with modern Indian and Italian eateries.

Friendly Brummies: Warm-hearted locals, known as Brummies, welcome visitors with open arms. Their accent is a delightful blend of charm and industrial grit. 

My hotel choice: Macdonald Burlington

Map of Sights, Hotels, Restaurants

For more information see the Official Tourist Information website

Places

Broad Street: Neon lights, clubs, and live music venues keep the night alive.

O2 Academy: Catch a gig or dance.

Back to Backs, 55-63 Hurst St; 75min tour adult/child £8.65/5.25; tours by reservation Tue-Sun) Quirky tours of this cluster of restored back-to-back terraced houses take you through four working-class homes telling the stories of those who lived here between the 1840s and the 1970s.

Birmingham Cathedral, Colmore Row; by donation; h7.30am-6.30pm Mon-Fri to 5pm Sat & Sun). Dedicated to St Philip, this small but perfectly formed cathedral was constructed in a neoclassical style between 1709 and 1715

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery houses everything from Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces to samurai suits. Or walk through the Jewellery Quarter, a labyrinth of workshops where the tradition of exquisite craftsmanship thrives.

Digbeth Road, southeast from the center into the same-named quarter is a swath of old industrial buildings that are slowly being gentrified. Ground zero is the Custard Factory once the headquarters of Bird's which manufactured a wildly popular powdered form of eggless custard. These days, the vast premises on Gibb Street house art galleries, quirky shops, and cafes. Another artistic outpost is the Eastside Projects 86 Heath Mill Lane www.eastsideprojects.org another old factory now occupied by studios and galleries.

Gas Street Basin, canals that lap up against the first street in town to have gas lighting (a few blocks west of New Street Station).

Great Western Arcade, Topped with a glass roof, this tile-floored Victorian-era arcade is a jewel filled with mostly independent shops. btwn Colmore Row & Temple Row

Grand Central Birmingham: Atop the revitalised New St station, the gleaming Grand Central Birmingham shopping mall is anchored by a massive John Lewis department store. 

Library of Birmingham, is a stunning piece of architecture and includes an art gallery the National Film Archive and performance spaces.

Mailbox, another urban shopping complex, is more upscale and is near the canals at Wharfside Street.

Great Western Arcade just opposite Snow Hill railway station, houses smaller independent stores amid Victorian elegance. 

St Philip's Cathedral, down the street on Colmore Row is aglow in stained-glass windows by Pre-Raphaelite luminary Edward Burne-Jones (1833–98) who was born in Birmingham. Chamberlain Square. Free; fees for special exhibitions. Mon–Thurs and Sat 10am–5pm; Fri 10:30am–5pm; Sun 12:30–5pm.

Thinktank,  Birmingham Science Museum celebrates the city’s contribution to the world of railway engines and aircraft  and to the motor trade.

Victoria Square,  at the western end of New St  dominated by the stately facade of Council House built between 1874 and 1879  and the 1834 Town Hall.

Restaurants - see map

Adam's, Michelin-starred Adam's wows with intricately prepared and presented flavour combinations such as lamb

Andersen & Hill, in the Great Western Arcade serving New York–style deli cuts as well as a fine selection of cheeses (www.andersonandhill.co.uk; ✆ 0121/236-2829 Mon–Sat 10am–6pm/7pm on Thurs and Fri). 

Peel & Stone in the Jewellery Quarter under the railway bridge on Water Street makes great sandwiches as well as excellent salads (peelandstone.co.uk; ✆ 0121/572-1713 Mon–Fri 11:30am–3pm Sat 10am–2pm).

Aria Restaurant,  Hyatt Regency Hotel 2 Bridge Street fresh seasonal British fare at Aria our signature restaurant at Hyatt Regency Birmingham. Join us under the glass atrium for breakfast lunch dinnersample British cheeses sourced by our local cheese merchant right here in the West Midlands. 

Bistro du Vin, FRENCH/MODERN BRITISHThe romantic dining room of the Hotel du Vin (see above) seems like such a Parisian standard that you can't help but to be whisked away from downtown Birmingham. The high ceilings polished wood floors and walls crammed with prints and paintings are bathed in flickering candlelight to provide the perfect setting for home-style French cooking. Bistro classics like escargots steak frites and roast chicken (along with some British standards) are served by a knowledgeable staff well versed in the excellent wines. The well-stocked cheese trolley nicely tops off a meal. Church St. www.hotelduvin.com. ✆ 084473/64250. Mains £14–£25. Mon–Sat noon–2:30pm 5:30–10pm; Sun noon–4pm 6–9:30pm.

Canalside Cafe, 0121-643 3170; 35 Worcester Bar Gas St; h9am-11pm Mon-Sat to 10.30pm Sun) Narrow boats glide past the terrace of this 18th-century lock-keeper's cottage where the low-ceilinged interior is strung with nautical paraphernalia and warmed by an open fire.

Digbeth Dining Club: Street food galore! Feast on global flavors in this hipster hangout.

Lost & Found, www.the-lostandfound.co.uk; 8 Bennett's Hill; h11am-10pm Mon-Sat noon-10pm Sun; Fictitious Victorian-era explorer/professor Hettie G Watson is the inspiration for the botanical-library theme of this bar in an 1869-built former bank. Inside the domed entrance amid soaring columns and timber panelling its elevated seating is surrounded by plants books globes and maps.

Old Crown, in Digbeth at 188 High St. (www.theoldcrown.com; ✆ 0121/248-1368) is Birmingham's oldest place to drink dating to 1368 

Purecraft Bar & Kitchen, 0121-237 5666; www.purecraftbars.com; 30 Waterloo St; mains £9-18.50; hnoon-10pm Tue-Sat) Fabulous dishes created in Purecraft's open kitchen come with suggested beer pairings. The regularly changing menu might include Lawless Lager–battered fish and chips (

Purnell's, Michelin MODERN BRITISHThe mere mention of Glyn Purnell is enough to get foodies salivating and Birmingham is rightfully proud of this accomplished chef's presence in the city. 55 Cornwall St. www.purnellsrestaurant.com. ✆ 0121/212-9799. Menus from £32. Tues–Fri noon–4:30pm; Tues–Sat 7–9:30pm. Closed 1 week at Easter last week in July 1st week in Aug and 1 week at Christmas. 

The High Field, combines top quality pub food with modern brasserie dishes. This unique gastropub also has a wide range of draught beers ale on hand pumps

The Physician, Winner of the 'Best Pub in the County' National Pub & Bar award The Physician offers top quality food and great drinks in a relaxing atmosphere. 

Warehouse Café, VEGAN CAFE A meal or snack at this funky loft-like white-walled cafe on the first floor of the Birmingham headquarters of Friends of the Earth is almost mandatory on a foray into the artsy quarter of Digbeth. You can do a bit of globe-trotting on the inspired menu with nods to Greek tzatziki Moroccan couscous Malaysian laksa Italian risottos and even an English trifle and the laid-back surroundings encourage lingering over coffee or tea. 54-57 Allison St. www.thewarehousecafe.com. ✆ 0121/633-0261. Mains £8–£9. Mon–Sat 11am–10pm; Sun 11am–6pm.

HOTELS - see map

Macdonald Burlington Hotel, 4-Star Luxury, The Burlington Hotel in Birmingham couldn’t be better placed at the centre of one of the country’s most vibrant, historically significant and culturally rich cities. Originally The Midland Hotel, the Burlington was built in 1874 for the convenience of passengers arriving to the city by rail. Accessed through the elegant Burlington Arcade, the hotel is less than a minutes’ walk from Grand Central & Birmingham New Street train station - as convenient as ever for visitors to the city - and just a stone’s throw from bustling New Street. At the end of the road, you’ll find one of the UK’s largest and most impressive contemporary shopping centres – the Bullring.

Hotel du Vin, The Victorian-era Birmingham and West Midlands Eye Hospital lends itself surprisingly well to its new guise as one of the stylish outlets http://www.hotelduvin.com/

Staying Cool at the Rotunda, You’ll be the envy of your Brummie friends when you take up temporary residence in these serviced apartments that occupy the top floors of the restored and iconic 1960s Rotunda high rise http://www.stayingcool.com/

St Pauls HouseBOUTIQUE HOTEL,££ (map Google map; %0121-272 0999; www.saintpaulshouse.com ; 15-20 St Paul’s Sq; d from £99; paW) Overlooking a park in the Jewellery Quarter  this independent hotel has 34 fresh, contemporary rooms with welcoming touches,

Hotel IndigoBOUTIQUE, HOTEL£££ (www.ihg.com; The Cube, Wharfside St; d from £17

Radisson Blu, 12 Holloway Circus, Queensway, B1 1BT; http://radissonblu.com/en/hotel-birmingham. Smart hotel in a tall, sleek skyrise within a few minutes’ walk of the centre.

Staybridge Suites Martineau Place Corporation St, B2 4UW; http://ihg.com. Classic 1960s city-centre office block that has been cleverly converted into a hotel, holding 179 smart rooms.

Return to tour home page