Barber Institute of Fine Arts
Praised by The Observer as 'one of the finest small art
galleries in Europe', the vivid red walls of the enchanting Barber
Institute of Fine Arts are adorned with some of the most celebrated
art from the 13th to 20th centuries. Browsing the robust artworks,
visitors are treated to the timeless talents of the old masters and
modern pioneers such as Monet, Manet, Gauguin, Van Gogh, and Degas.
Offering a fascinating collection of paintings, drawings, prints,
and sculptures, history enthusiasts can also venture into a bygone
age at the coin gallery, which hosts one of Europe's finest
collections of Byzantine coins. The Barber Institute's Gallery Shop
is a worthy stopover for some souvenirs and gallery-related
literature.
Barber Institute interior
Barber Institute
Alton Towers
Alton Towers is the UK's premier theme park aimed at the
thrill-seeking and young-at-heart, and can be a welcome excursion
for those who have overdosed on the culture and tranquillity of the
Cotswolds. Rides with names such as Nemesis, The Blade, Submission,
and Ripsaw are definitely not for the faint-hearted, but the park
does cater for the whole family with an adventure land and farmyard
for younger visitors, as well as a hugely popular Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory ride. For those exhausted by the day's antics,
Alton Towers operates its own hotel and there are plenty of spots
to grab a bite to eat.
Alton Towers
rogerbarker2
Balti Triangle
Any visit to Birmingham is incomplete without visiting the Balti
Triangle, the city's unique curry capital. Originating from the
large Kashmiri population, the Balti dish was officially discovered
in 1976. The word 'balti' means 'bucket', and refers to the
round-bottomed pan, similar to a wok, in which the dish is served.
A mouth-watering stir-fried curry with an amalgamation of spices
and fresh herbs, newcomers should forget their knives and forks and
mop up the sauce with a wad of aromatic naan bread. Located in the
Sparkbrook area, ten minutes from the city centre, the Balti
Triangle boasts over 50 restaurants dedicated to Eastern cuisine
and a smattering of shops, ranging from Asian clothes and fashion
to exotic foods and Bollywood merchandise.
Balti Cuisine
Miansari66
Selfridges Store
A Birmingham landmark, the Selfridges store at the Bull Ring
Market boasts a stylish design, proving that contemporary
architecture can thrive outside of trendy London. The knobbly
silver facade was inspired by Paco Rabanne's chain mail dresses.
Constructed with concrete, which was then painted a glowing blue
and adorned with 16,000 polished aluminium disks to create a
mottled outer 'skin', the contemporary construction cost just over
one million US dollars to build. Transforming Birmingham's urban
fabric, the store draws thousands of visitors each week to witness
its bizarre design and browse the designer goodies inside.
Selfridges exterior
Birmingham Municipality
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Boasting part of the largest collection of Pre-Raphaelite
paintings and drawings in the world, the breathtaking works of
luminaries such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Edward Burne Jones
can be found at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. The
spectacular Waterhall Gallery of Modern Art is littered with
impressionist masterpieces and is not to be missed on any trip to
Birmingham; while the same can be said of the Greek, Roman and
Ancient Near East Gallery, which never ceases to please. With fine
art from the 14th century onwards and an impressive collection of
archaeological finds documenting 400,000 years of history,
culturally-minded visitors will be entranced. The Edwardian Tea
Room provides a cosy space to discuss what you saw in the 40
galleries of this remarkable museum and serves warm beverages,
light snacks and scrumptious cakes. Entrance to the permanent
collection is free.
Birmingham Museum
JimmyGuano
Drayton Manor Theme Park
A short drive from Birmingham's city centre, the Drayton Manor
Theme Park offers an exhilarating alternative to shopping and
sightseeing. Loaded with more than 50 rides offering high-octane
thrills and a range of attractions, the park provides fun for all
ages. Visitors can drop 177 feet (54m) from the world's first
stand-up tower, take a watery plunge in a rescue boat down a
slippery 180º platform, fly around one of the parks two swirling
rollercoasters, or tackle the rapids with friends at Splash Canyon.
Family fun at Drayton Manor Theme Park has not been short-circuited
either, as a wide variety of child-friendly rides are provided. The
Thomas Land area (based on Thomas the Tank Engine) is wildly
popular among younger visitors.
Drayton Manor Theme Park
Steve Daniels
Birmingham's weather is typically English, if slightly more
temperate than the coast. Rainfall occurs all year round but is
heavier in winter. Average temperatures in summer (June to August)
range from 52°F (11°C) to 70°F (21°C) and in winter (December to
February) from around 34°F (1°C) to 44°F (7°C). Due to its inland
location snow does occur in the city centre during winter but has
become less frequent over the past few years. Tornadoes occur
intermittently.
Birmingham Airport
Location: The airport is situated eight miles (12km) southeast of
Birmingham.
Time: GMT (GMT +1 between the last Sunday in March and
the Saturday before the last Sunday in October).
Transfer Between Terminals:
The two terminals are within easy walking distance of each
other.
Getting to the city:
Buses to the city centre and surrounds can be caught opposite
the airport at the Bus and Coach Terminus. Birmingham city centre
can also be reached via Birmingham International railway station
connected to the airport by a free monorail system called the
Air-Rail Link. Trains run from Birmingham International Station to
Birmingham New Street Station and vice versa throughout the day but
are less frequent in the evenings and on weekends. Uber, and other
mobile app based taxi services are also available. For onward
travel, Birmingham International Station is connected to over 100
towns in and around the UK.
Car Rental:
Car rental companies include Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and
National. All car hire booking desks are located within the
arrivals lounge which can be found easily once through
security.
Airport Taxis:
Taxis are available from outside passenger terminals and take
about 15-20 minutes into Birmingham.
Facilities:
There are banks, bureaux de change, shops, restaurants, business
lounges, play areas for kids, baby changing facilities and a
tourist information desk in the airport. Disabled facilities are
good; those with special needs should contact their airline in
advance.
Parking
The airport's 'drop and go' area is adjacent to the departures
terminal and is free for the first 30 minutes. Car parks 1, 2 and 3
are best for short and medium-stay parking; they are located beside
the terminal building and charge per hour or per day. The long-stay
parking garages are located next to the second roundabout along
Airport Way, a ten-minute walk from the terminal. There are regular
shuttle-buses between the long stay parking lots and the terminal.
Long-stay parking is free for the first 15 minutes.
The best way to explore Birmingham is on foot as the
majority of the city centre is now pedestrianised and the canals
make for attractive walkways. The most popular form of transport
used in Birmingham and the West Midlands area are buses. There is
no central bus station, but a bus stop can be found on almost every
corner. Single fares, travel cards, and day tickets are available
for unlimited travel for a day. An exact fare is required if paying
by cash but cashless travel is also an option.
Black cabs can be hailed in the street or reached at
one of the many taxi ranks in the city centre, the main ones
situated at New Street Station, Stephenson Street, and Digbeth
Coach Station. New Street and Moor Street train stations provide
rail connections to destinations throughout the UK. For coach
transfers to other major towns and cities, National Express is a
good bet. Mobile app based taxi services, like Uber, are also
available.
Idiosyncratic in its language and Kashmiri cuisine,
Birmingham offers something new to travellers in England. From pubs
and canals to shopping and curry, the Brummies impart an impressive
spread. A student town atmosphere coupled with big city features
and sightseeing attractions ensures a holiday in Birmingham makes
for a rewarding UK travel experience.
A rich bounty of cuisine and culture make up the
world-renowned Balti Triangle, and the curvaceous Selfridges store
with its mottled futuristic 'skin' is not to be missed at the Bull
Ring centre, a commercial hub that has been in use since the Middle
Ages.
For a breath of fresh air, head to one of
Birmingham's five Green Flag-status parks, and enjoy the shade of
the city's dense oak tree cover. For those travelling to Birmingham
with kids, the Cadbury's factory will delight children and cocoa
lovers alike, and the Drayton Manor Theme Park will be fun for the
whole family.
A host of excellent art galleries and museums promise
to entertain culture vultures: the RAF Museum is interesting for
history fans; the small but fascinating Museum of the Jewellery
Quarter showcases a different side of the city; and the Birmingham
Museum and Art Gallery boasts one of the best Pre-Raphaelite
collections in the world.