SummaryBirmingham's renaissance in the last 20 years has transformed it from a quagmire of urban carbuncles into a vibrant and visually impressive city. Nothing is more symbolic of its long overdue resurgence than the futuristic Selfridges department store. Plans are also in place to develop the city's east side into a major new social and cultural quarter.
Apart from retail therapy, Birmingham offers vibrant nightlife, an eclectic cultural calendar and a revitalised canal network, making it a fantastic city break destination. Whether you want to sample Indian food in the Balti Triangle, stay at chic hotels such as the Malmaison Hotel & Spa and the Hotel Du Vin & Bistro, or sample new up-and-coming clubs, you won't be disappointed on this Midlands short break.
Visit Birmingham city guide and sightseeing
SummaryBirmingham's renaissance in the last 20 years has transformed it from a quagmire of urban carbuncles into a vibrant and visually impressive city. Nothing is more symbolic of its long overdue resurgence than the futuristic Selfridges department store. Plans are also in place to develop the city's east side into a major new social and cultural quarter.
Apart from retail therapy, Birmingham offers vibrant nightlife, an eclectic cultural calendar and a revitalised canal network, making it a fantastic city break destination. Whether you want to sample Indian food in the Balti Triangle, stay at chic hotels such as the Malmaison Hotel & Spa and the Hotel Du Vin & Bistro, or sample new up-and-coming clubs, you won't be disappointed on this Midlands short break.
Getting there/getting around BirminghamGeographically central, Birmingham is accessible from all over Britain. Trains and coaches - which have to negotiate the almost permanently jammed Midlands motorway network including the notorious Spaghetti Junction - are frequent. There are a number of UK and European flights to Birmingham's International Airport.
By road, it's accessible via the M6 (from north or south), the M40 (from Oxfordshire and the mid west) or the M5 (from the west).
Sightseeing around BirminghamStroll around St Philip's Cathedral or take a look at the etchings and sketchings in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, housed in a stunning Victorian building. Make time to visit Aston Hall, a beautifully maintained Jacobean mansion or head to the Barber Institute for Fine Arts or the lively Ikon Gallery with its bustling cafe and modern art collection. Don't miss Thinktank, a science museum or simply hang out in Victoria Square.
Birmingham family attractions, day trips and shopping experiences
Family attractions in BirminghamChocoholics should head to Bournville for a tour round Cadbury World where you can watch 800 bars of chocolate a minute being wrapped and dispatched. You'll learn about the history of chocolate-making while the kids enjoy the playground area.
Footie fans are well served with two Premiership teams - Birmingham City and Aston Villa - both based within minutes of the city centre. Kids may also like pony trekking at Woodgate Valley Country Park.
Day trips from BirminghamCrammed with all the white-knuckle rides you could wish for, including G Force, Apocalypse and Stormforce 10, Drayton Manor Theme Park near Tamworth is about a 30 minute drive from the city. There are tons of attractions for younger visitors in Robinson Land and even a 15 acre zoo.
To the west lies Ironbridge – the cradle of the Industrial Revolution and home to ten museums, surrounded by the rolling Shropshire countryside. The impressive Malvern Hills are less then an hour away. If you're after a bit of culture, head south to Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon and historic Warwick Castle. One step further are the Cotswold hills, featuring chocolate box villages and wooded valleys.
Shopping in BirminghamShopaholics will be in heaven. The £500 million development of the previously derided Bullring area claims to be Europe's biggest city centre shopping centre development and sprawls over an area equivalent to 26 football pitches. At its heart is the flagship Selfridges store. Architecturally it's been praised and scorned in equal measure, but has helped put the city squarely on the UK tourist map. Fans of designer gear should also visit the exclusive Mailbox area, home to Harvey Nichols.
New Street is where you'll find find high street names and there's the Jewellery Quarter featuring over 100 specialist stores, a museum explaining the area's 500-year-old history and a sign-posted historical walking trail.
Birmingham nightlife, restaurants, bars and clubs
Restaurants in BirminghamYou'll find anything that takes your fancy in Birmingham. French-inspired modern British cuisine earned Jessica's its Michelin star status in 2005. The canal-side restaurants along Brindleyplace are also popular, particular in the summer when al-fresco dining gives the city a continental atmosphere.
If you're a fan of spicy food, head to the city's renowned Balti Triangle near Sparbook. Home to Kashmiri cuisine, it has more than 50 restaurants. Visitors can even learn about spices and how to cook authentic Balti dishes on special cookery weekends.
China Town near the Aracadian Centre also has restaurants to suit every budget.
Nightlife in BirminghamWith more students than any other UK city outside London, it's no wonder there's a lively clubbing scene. From Bangra to Bach, house to hip hop, folk to flamenco, Birmingham's musical menu is second only to the capital in terms of diversity. Check the local paper for listings.
Brindleyplace, The Mailbox area, Broad Street (dubbed the Golden Mile) and the Arcadian Centre are a magnet for clubbers and drinkers. The Jam House near St Paul's Square offers sophisticated piano music while culture vultures should head to the Birmingham Hippodrome for arts and theatre.Birmingham city guide and sightseeing
SummaryBirmingham's renaissance in the last 20 years has transformed it from a quagmire of urban carbuncles into a vibrant and visually impressive city. Nothing is more symbolic of its long overdue resurgence than the futuristic Selfridges department store. Plans are also in place to develop the city's east side into a major new social and cultural quarter.
Apart from retail therapy, Birmingham offers vibrant nightlife, an eclectic cultural calendar and a revitalised canal network, making it a fantastic city break destination. Whether you want to sample Indian food in the Balti Triangle, stay at chic hotels such as the Malmaison Hotel & Spa and the Hotel Du Vin & Bistro, or sample new up-and-coming clubs, you won't be disappointed on this Midlands short break.
Getting there/getting around BirminghamGeographically central, Birmingham is accessible from all over Britain. Trains and coaches - which have to negotiate the almost permanently jammed Midlands motorway network including the notorious Spaghetti Junction - are frequent. There are a number of UK and European flights to Birmingham's International Airport.
By road, it's accessible via the M6 (from north or south), the M40 (from Oxfordshire and the mid west) or the M5 (from the west).
Sightseeing around BirminghamStroll around St Philip's Cathedral or take a look at the etchings and sketchings in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, housed in a stunning Victorian building. Make time to visit Aston Hall, a beautifully maintained Jacobean mansion or head to the Barber Institute for Fine Arts or the lively Ikon Gallery with its bustling cafe and modern art collection. Don't miss Thinktank, a science museum or simply hang out in Victoria Square.
Birmingham family attractions, day trips and shopping experiences
Family attractions in BirminghamChocoholics should head to Bournville for a tour round Cadbury World where you can watch 800 bars of chocolate a minute being wrapped and dispatched. You'll learn about the history of chocolate-making while the kids enjoy the playground area.
Footie fans are well served with two Premiership teams - Birmingham City and Aston Villa - both based within minutes of the city centre. Kids may also like pony trekking at Woodgate Valley Country Park.
Day trips from BirminghamCrammed with all the white-knuckle rides you could wish for, including G Force, Apocalypse and Stormforce 10, Drayton Manor Theme Park near Tamworth is about a 30 minute drive from the city. There are tons of attractions for younger visitors in Robinson Land and even a 15 acre zoo.
To the west lies Ironbridge – the cradle of the Industrial Revolution and home to ten museums, surrounded by the rolling Shropshire countryside. The impressive Malvern Hills are less then an hour away. If you're after a bit of culture, head south to Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon and historic Warwick Castle. One step further are the Cotswold hills, featuring chocolate box villages and wooded valleys.
Shopping in BirminghamShopaholics will be in heaven. The £500 million development of the previously derided Bullring area claims to be Europe's biggest city centre shopping centre development and sprawls over an area equivalent to 26 football pitches. At its heart is the flagship Selfridges store. Architecturally it's been praised and scorned in equal measure, but has helped put the city squarely on the UK tourist map. Fans of designer gear should also visit the exclusive Mailbox area, home to Harvey Nichols.
New Street is where you'll find find high street names and there's the Jewellery Quarter featuring over 100 specialist stores, a museum explaining the area's 500-year-old history and a sign-posted historical walking trail.
Birmingham nightlife, restaurants, bars and clubs
Restaurants in BirminghamYou'll find anything that takes your fancy in Birmingham. French-inspired modern British cuisine earned Jessica's its Michelin star status in 2005. The canal-side restaurants along Brindleyplace are also popular, particular in the summer when al-fresco dining gives the city a continental atmosphere.
If you're a fan of spicy food, head to the city's renowned Balti Triangle near Sparbook. Home to Kashmiri cuisine, it has more than 50 restaurants. Visitors can even learn about spices and how to cook authentic Balti dishes on special cookery weekends.
China Town near the Aracadian Centre also has restaurants to suit every budget.
Nightlife in BirminghamWith more students than any other UK city outside London, it's no wonder there's a lively clubbing scene. From Bangra to Bach, house to hip hop, folk to flamenco, Birmingham's musical menu is second only to the capital in terms of diversity. Check the local paper for listings.
Brindleyplace, The Mailbox area, Broad Street (dubbed the Golden Mile) and the Arcadian Centre are a magnet for clubbers and drinkers. The Jam House near St Paul's Square offers sophisticated piano music while culture vultures should head to the Birmingham Hippodrome for arts and theatre.
Getting there/getting around BirminghamGeographically central, Birmingham is accessible from all over Britain. Trains and coaches - which have to negotiate the almost permanently jammed Midlands motorway network including the notorious Spaghetti Junction - are frequent. There are a number of UK and European flights to Birmingham's International Airport.
By road, it's accessible via the M6 (from north or south), the M40 (from Oxfordshire and the mid west) or the M5 (from the west).
Sightseeing around BirminghamStroll around St Philip's Cathedral or take a look at the etchings and sketchings in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, housed in a stunning Victorian building. Make time to visit Aston Hall, a beautifully maintained Jacobean mansion or head to the Barber Institute for Fine Arts or the lively Ikon Gallery with its bustling cafe and modern art collection. Don't miss Thinktank, a science museum or simply hang out in Victoria Square.
Birmingham family attractions, day trips and shopping experiences
Family attractions in BirminghamChocoholics should head to Bournville for a tour round Cadbury World where you can watch 800 bars of chocolate a minute being wrapped and dispatched. You'll learn about the history of chocolate-making while the kids enjoy the playground area.
Footie fans are well served with two Premiership teams - Birmingham City and Aston Villa - both based within minutes of the city centre. Kids may also like pony trekking at Woodgate Valley Country Park.
Day trips from BirminghamCrammed with all the white-knuckle rides you could wish for, including G Force, Apocalypse and Stormforce 10, Drayton Manor Theme Park near Tamworth is about a 30 minute drive from the city. There are tons of attractions for younger visitors in Robinson Land and even a 15 acre zoo.
To the west lies Ironbridge – the cradle of the Industrial Revolution and home to ten museums, surrounded by the rolling Shropshire countryside. The impressive Malvern Hills are less then an hour away. If you're after a bit of culture, head south to Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon and historic Warwick Castle. One step further are the Cotswold hills, featuring chocolate box villages and wooded valleys.
Shopping in BirminghamShopaholics will be in heaven. The £500 million development of the previously derided Bullring area claims to be Europe's biggest city centre shopping centre development and sprawls over an area equivalent to 26 football pitches. At its heart is the flagship Selfridges store. Architecturally it's been praised and scorned in equal measure, but has helped put the city squarely on the UK tourist map. Fans of designer gear should also visit the exclusive Mailbox area, home to Harvey Nichols.
New Street is where you'll find find high street names and there's the Jewellery Quarter featuring over 100 specialist stores, a museum explaining the area's 500-year-old history and a sign-posted historical walking trail.
Birmingham nightlife, restaurants, bars and clubs
Restaurants in BirminghamYou'll find anything that takes your fancy in Birmingham. French-inspired modern British cuisine earned Jessica's its Michelin star status in 2005. The canal-side restaurants along Brindleyplace are also popular, particular in the summer when al-fresco dining gives the city a continental atmosphere.
If you're a fan of spicy food, head to the city's renowned Balti Triangle near Sparbook. Home to Kashmiri cuisine, it has more than 50 restaurants. Visitors can even learn about spices and how to cook authentic Balti dishes on special cookery weekends.
China Town near the Aracadian Centre also has restaurants to suit every budget.
Nightlife in BirminghamWith more students than any other UK city outside London, it's no wonder there's a lively clubbing scene. From Bangra to Bach, house to hip hop, folk to flamenco, Birmingham's musical menu is second only to the capital in terms of diversity. Check the local paper for listings.
Brindleyplace, The Mailbox area, Broad Street (dubbed the Golden Mile) and the Arcadian Centre are a magnet for clubbers and drinkers. The Jam House near St Paul's Square offers sophisticated piano music while culture vultures should head to the Birmingham Hippodrome for arts and theatre.
Mark Williams writes articles for hotels and guides for http://www.latebreakhotels.com
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