Birmingham visitor information

An Introduction to Birmingham

Birmingham, in the West Midlands, is the most populous British city outside London with a population of 1,028,700. Birmingham was the powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution in England, which led to it being known as the workshop of the world or the city of a thousand trades. Although Birmingham's industrial importance has declined, it has developed into a national commercial centre, being named as the second-best place in the United Kingdom to locate a business. 

Things to do in Birmingham

The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is the main art gallery and museum in Birmingham. The council also owns other museums in the city such as Aston Hall, Blakesley Hall, the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Soho House, and Sarehole Mill, a popular attraction for fans of J. R. R. Tolkien. The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, housed in one of Birmingham's finest Art Deco buildings, is an art gallery and classical music venue and is often termed “one of the finest small art galleries in Europe”

Thinktank in the Eastside is one of the newest museums in the city, replacing the former Science and Industry Museum in Newhall Street. The Birmingham Back to Backs are the last surviving court of back-to-back houses in the city.

There are over 8,000 acres of parkland open spaces in Birmingham, the largest of which is Sutton Park covering 2,400 acres making it the largest urban nature reserve in Europe. Birmingham Botanical Gardens are a Victorian creation, with a conservatory and bandstand, close to the city centre. Winterbourne Botanic Garden, maintained by the University of Birmingham, is also located close to the city centre. Woodgate Valley Country Park is in Bartley Green and Quinton.

The city centre has numerous public squares including Centenary Square and the historic Old Square is located on Corporation Street. Brindley Place consists of three squares and the National Sea Life Centre.

Getting to Birmingham

By Road

Birmingham has direct links to the UK motorways M6, M5, M1, and M40.

By Rail

Birmingham is linked to Central London by frequent rail services. Regular InterCity services leave New Street station for London Euston and from Snow Hill station to London Marylebone. There are rail links running East and West, North and South making Birmingham easy to reach from all parts of the country.

By Coach and bus

Birmingham is the centre of the National Coach Network connecting with 500 destinations. The main bus oeprator in the area is Network West Midlands.

By Air

Birmingham International Airport has two terminals flying to over 40 scheduled destinations. The airport is situated eight miles south-east of Birmingham, just off the M42 motorway. With its own mainline railway station right next door, access to the city centre and London couldn't be easier.