Life in Birmingham started in the 6th century as an Anglo-Saxon village on the banks of River Rea and today, it is the second most populous city in the United Kingdom. In the 12th century, it had acquired the royal charter to hold market which was later known as the Bull Ring which changed the outlook of Birmingham from a small village to a market town. By 16th century, Birmingham was supplying iron ore and coal. At the time of industrial revolution, Birmingham had earned the title of the “City of a Thousand Trades” and “the Workshop of the World.” During the Second World War, Birmingham suffered great damage due to heavy bombings but later underwent massive transformation with the building of large towers and restoration of old streets, the Bull Ring, the New Street station, buildings and canals. Birmingham now draws several tourists every year with attractions like Victoria Square, Royal Ballet, National Exhibition Center, Jewellery Quarter and the famous Cadbury World.
Birmingham makes your trip to the city really interesting by offering you numerous attractions to visit. Birmingham is house to numerous museums, historical monuments and buildings which are notable examples of the rich cultural heritage of the city.
Some of the famous sights in Birmingham are:
- Cadbury World- Cadbury World, a large chocolate factory in Bournville, gives ample information on the history of the chocolate while you enjoy some free chocolates.
- Aston Hall- Constructed between 1618 and 1635, Aston Hall is an unique example of Jacobean architecture.
- Sutton Park- Sutton Park spreads across an extensive area of over 900 hectares features marshes, lakes, wetland and woodland. An ideal place to enjoy various activities like golf, angling, cycling and bird-watching.
- Ikon Gallery- Ikon Gallery is a neo-Gothic building which is recognized to be home to contemporary art.
- Soho House Museum- Soho House Museum exhibits the works of Mathew Boulton, James Watt and Lunar Society.
In Birmingham, you can look out for stylish malls and arcades which have several designer boutiques, stores and shops. The main shopping streets in Birmingham include the New Street, High Street and Corporation Street.
Some main shopping centres in Birmingham where you can enjoy shopping activity are:
- The Jewellery Quarter
- The Pavillions
- The Mailbox
- The Pallasades
- Martineau Place
Several domestic as well as international flights to important European and UK destinations are available from Birmingham International Airport. Flights to other important cities like Delhi, Dubai, Islamabad, Luxor, New York and Toronto also fly from here. Trains from Birmingham New Street Station also connect Birmingham to other cities of the country. The city also has two more stations namely, the Snow Hill and Moor Street, which also offer some excellent train services. The Intercity buses from Digbeth Coach Station connect Birmingham to other major cities of UK.
To get around in Birmingham you can take the service of local bus which runs from some of the major locations in the city centre. You can also enjoy rail network services to the areas of Birmingham and West Midlands. Fares vary according to the distance you cover. But if you are in possession of special tickets like the Busmaster and Centro Daytripper you can comparatively enjoy cheaper travel. You can also rent a car, motorcycle, mopeds or take a taxi from the taxi rank to move around in the city. Unfortunately, the city is not bicycle friendly but still you can manage to discover it on foot.