
Birmingham
What you need to know before you go
Birmingham is a multi-faceted modern metropolis, where centuries-old churches stand alongside architecturally adventurous mosques, and where a diverse population fuels a famously eclectic dining scene. You can enjoy the city's growing art scene at places like the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, while shoppers will find one of the UK's finest shopping malls, The Bullring, in the city centre.
Birmingham is the birthplace of the Balti, so a fiery Indian feast should definitely be on your to-do list while you're in town. And the city heats up after dark, with an array of cosy real ale pubs, chic cocktail bars and pulsing nightclubs to crawl between.
What to see & do in Birmingham
Featured stories & fun stuffThe best things to do in Birmingham continually evolve along with the progress of this former-industrial city in the West Midlands. You can enjoy live theatrical performances staged in world-class venues. And if the weather's nice, you can head to one of the many urban parks surrounding the city centre. Plenty of seasonal events and festivals are held throughout the year, bringing different experiences for visitors to enjoy... Read more
13 Best Things to Do in Birmingham
Birmingham has been through more changes than most other British cities in the 21st century. Long gone are the dull concrete skyscrapers. Thanks to a host of regeneration projects, the best things to do in Birmingham take advantage of the...10 Best Road Trips near Birmingham
The best road trips near Birmingham give you an opportunity to escape the city's slick modern skyline and fast-paced...10 Best Sights and Viewpoints of Birmingham
The best viewpoints in Birmingham prove that the city isn’t the concrete jungle many presume it is. Several areas of...10 Most Popular Neighbourhoods in Birmingham
The best neighbourhoods in Birmingham have benefited greatly from urban renewal and a creative boom in recent years. Exciting streets...11 Best Things to Do on a Small Budget in Birmingham
Finding things to do in Birmingham doesn't have to break the budget, as you'll find museums, parks, libraries and theatres...10 Best Things to Do for Couples in Birmingham
The best things to do in Birmingham for couples range from world-class shows to romantic canal-side strolls. Exploring...10 Things to Do in Birmingham off the Beaten Track
Birmingham has plenty of hidden gems and lesser-known attractions to explore, giving you a different take on this exciting...11 Instagrammable Places in Birmingham
Birmingham has a bounty of beautiful spots, and you can capture this beauty for your Instagram whether you want modern...10 Things to Do Along Birmingham's Canals
Looking for cool things to do along Birmingham’s canals? Fun with a mix of history and picture-postcard moments await...
Where & what to eat in Birmingham
The dining scene in Birmingham has grown massively in recent years, with more high-end cuisine joining the diverse range of pan-Asian options that the city has long been known for. Thanks to the cosmopolitan nature of the city, classic highlights of dining in Birmingham include Chinese restaurants in Chinatown and Indian food along Curry Mile. Both of these options are highly recommended for a delicious meal in Birmingham... Read more
8 Best Birmingham Foods Everyone Should Try
The best Birmingham foods everyone should try include local staples that have been popular for decades, some of which date back from the 18th century. The city of Birmingham is well-known for its great variety of restaurants, with no...10 Places Where Locals Love to Eat in Birmingham
Eating like a local in Birmingham means tasting dishes inspired from all corners of the globe, particularly South and East...8 Best Restaurants in Birmingham
Birmingham's best restaurants are spread throughout the city centre, but you need to know where to look. Whether you’re in...
Where to shop & what to buy in Birmingham
Birmingham’s best shopping is found in and around the Bullring shopping mall and the pedestrianised roads leading off it, like New Street and Corporation Street. For discount and trendy vintage clothes, head to the Rag Market on the way to Digbeth – this area is popular with the large student population that calls Birmingham home. For something more precious, take a look around the aptly named Jewellery Quarter. This neighbourhood was... Read more
Where to go & what to do at night in Birmingham
Birmingham’s nightlife has plenty of variety, which includes fantastic live art and culture, a famous live music scene and innumerable pubs and bars. The area between New Street Station and Birmingham Chinatown is particularly good for nightlife exploits as you’ll find theatres, nightclubs, and bars to choose from. Another area of the city popular for nightlife is Brindley Place, where you’ll be able to enjoy a night of dining, drinking... Read more
13 Best Nightlife Experiences in Birmingham
Nightlife in Birmingham is a real highlight of the city. Thanks to one of the youngest populations in Europe and 3 esteemed universities, the people of Birmingham like to play as hard as they work, with plenty of different scenes...10 Most Iconic Pubs in Birmingham
The most iconic pubs in Birmingham include some of the city’s well-preserved public houses where drinks are enjoyed in...10 Best Places to See Live Music in Birmingham
Being the second largest city in England, Birmingham has a rich history of vibrant live music scenes. Its nightlife dates...
Useful information
This section contains important Birmingham information to help you get to know the UK's 2nd city while planning your travel itinerary. Birmingham plays a vital role in the culture and commerce of the country. Sitting in the West Midlands, the city has been a centre of industry for generations, which is something the locals take as a point of pride. The Industrial Revolution started not far from the city, which... Read more
Birmingham Travel Essentials
Our Birmingham Travel Essentials lays out the essential information you need to help planning your trip to one of the most popular destinations in the UK. No matter how frequently you travel, some questions will always need answers: What’s the...10 Fun Things You Didn't Know About Birmingham
Birmingham is known to many as an industrial city in the middle of England that has a charming, down-to...10 Best Festivals in Birmingham
Festivals in Birmingham are hosted throughout the year, celebrating the wide variety of cultures the city has to offer. You'll...
More information about Birmingham
Find diverse shopping, cutting-edge art and a global dining scene on a Birmingham city break. Book a Birmingham hotel to enjoy this lively West Midlands city.
Shopping central
Re-defining Birmingham’s cityscape near New Street Station is the curved exterior of the Bullring Centre, clad in gleaming discs like a sequinned dress. Housing 160 stores, the complex includes four floors of Selfridges and designer shopping like Armani and Hugo Boss concentrated in the stylish Mailbox mall. For vintage finds and organic food head to Digbeth’s Sunday Flea, in the Custard Factory art hub, south of the centre.
Culture hub
The innovative Ikon Gallery in the city centre Brindleyplace shows off the latest in contemporary art in a glorious neo-Gothic schoolhouse. Its sister gallery, Ikon Eastside, lies in regenerated Digbeth to the south. Behind the Victorian facade of the free-entry Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is the world’s largest pre-Raphaelite collection. Modern art masterpieces reside in St Paul’s Gallery, north of centre in the Jewellery Quarter. Book tickets at Symphony Hall to hear classical pieces performed by the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. The Electric Cinema’s global film programme and the Birmingham Hippodrome are popular with film buffs and theatregoers.
World cuisine
For sublime curries, the Balti Triangle of Sparkbrook, Balsall Heath and Moseley in south Birmingham is a must on a Birmingham city break. Take your own drink as most restaurants are unlicensed. Chinatown, near the Bullring, is crammed with great-value Oriental eateries. In the summer, nothing beats alfresco dining by Brindleyplace’s canals. For Michelin-starred food, order guinea fowl and Devonshire crab at city centre Purnell’s restaurant.
Family-friendly fun
Over 200 hands-on exhibits bring science and history alive at Thinktank at Millennium Point, north of the Bullring. Star-gaze inside its state-of-the-art Planetarium. At the National Sealife Centre by Brindleyplace, sharks, rays and sea turtles are among the residents of the million-litre ocean tunnel. Also don’t miss its Sensorama 4D cinema where you can even smell the seaweed. Four miles from central Birmingham is Cadbury World. Experience a virtual chocolate rain shower and stock up in the world's largest Cadbury store.
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