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    • Birmingham

    Birmingham travel guide

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    Overview

    Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, Birmingham is shaking off its dreary reputation as a manufacturing city to reveal a modern, cosmopolitan hub. Situated in the geographical heart of England, the UK's second-largest metropolis is a mixed bag of cultures, dotted with a colourful array of continental eateries, modern shopping arcades, sweeping plazas, and vibrant markets.

    Much of the area now covered by sprawling Birmingham was originally the northern corner of the ancient Forest of Arden. Birmingham came to life in the mid-1800s as a major manufacturing town owing to the large deposits of exploitable coal and iron nearby.

    Despite heavy bomb damage during World War II's 'Birmingham Blitz', much industrial heritage is still present in 'Britain's canal city', which has even more waterways than Venice. Built over 200 years ago, the canals, which once bore the raw materials that would spawn the Industrial Revolution, are now principally used for pleasure, and provide a moody backdrop to the historic buildings, restaurants and pubs that are situated alongside the water, most notably at charming Brindley Place and the Gas Street Basin.

    Birthplace of the likes of JRR Tolkien, Robert Plant, Black Sabbath, and The Streets, the Brummies have done their fair share in creative contribution. An impressive live music scene now illuminates the evenings with an exhausting plethora of options available to travellers.

    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.

    Website: www.barber.org.uk
    Barber Institute interior 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.

    Website: www.alton-towers.com
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    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 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.

    Website: www.selfridges.co.uk
    Selfridges exterior Selfridges exterior Birmingham Municipality
    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.

    Website: www.draytonmanor.co.uk
    Drayton Manor Theme Park Drayton Manor Theme Park Steve Daniels

    Phrase Book

    English Pronounciation

    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.
    Website: www.birminghamairport.co.uk

    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.

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