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Discover Birmingham

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Bull Ring, Birmingham
Bull Ring

City guide

About Birmingham

Birmingham anchors the West Midlands as the historic heart of the United Kingdom. Britain's second-largest city has undergone a bold transformation from the gritty manufacturing 'workshop of the world' into a youthful, culturally diverse metropolitan hub.

Famed for having more miles of canal waterways than Venice, Birmingham's restored canal basins at Brindleyplace are filled with waterfront bistros. Between the shimmering curved facade of the Bullring, the striking geometric layers of the Library of Birmingham, and the artisan heritage of the Jewellery Quarter, the city balances industrial ingenuity with contemporary flair.

Best time to go
May through September provides the most comfortable conditions: pleasant daytime highs between 17 and 22°C, extended daylight, and bustling canal-side dining. Occasional rain showers are typical of the English Midlands, so carrying a compact umbrella is practical year-round. Winter brings cozy pub warmth and the famous Frankfurt Christmas Market.
From the airport
Birmingham Airport (BHX) is situated 13 kilometres east of the city. The free Air-Rail Link automated monorail takes two minutes to reach Birmingham International railway station, where frequent express trains reach Birmingham New Street in just 10 to 15 minutes. Taxis cost between 30 and 40 pounds.
Getting around
The central core connecting New Street Station, Centenary Square, and the Bullring is compact and walkable. The West Midlands Metro tram system connects New Street directly through the Jewellery Quarter to Wolverhampton. An extensive bus network handles outer suburban journeys.

What to see in Birmingham

  • Library of Birmingham and Centenary SquareA striking contemporary landmark wrapped in an interlocking ring filigree facade. Ascend to the elevated garden terraces for city panoramas and tour the historic wooden Shakespeare Memorial Room.
  • Jewellery QuarterA historic industrial conservation area producing around forty percent of British jewelry for over two hundred years, filled with working ateliers, museums, and cocktail pubs.
  • Brindleyplace and the CanalsThe vibrant restored canal junction district featuring waterside dining terraces, the National SEA LIFE Centre, and the Ikon Gallery of contemporary art.
  • Black Country Living Museum and Cadbury WorldTwo celebrated regional landmarks: the open-air industrial heritage museum famous as a primary filming set for Peaky Blinders, alongside Cadbury's historic chocolate factory in garden village Bournville.

Neighbourhoods

  • Jewellery QuarterA characterful heritage village within the city, centered around Georgian St Paul's Square, artisan coffee spots, and jewelry workshops.
  • DigbethThe industrial creative quarter filled with colorful street art, converted warehouses like the Custard Factory, craft breweries, and indie cinema spaces.
  • Colmore Business District and BullringThe civic and commercial downtown of Victorian banking halls, contemporary cocktail lounges, and the futuristic bubble facade of Selfridges.

Food and drink

Order an authentic balti: the signature curry style invented in Birmingham during the 1970s by Pakistani and Kashmiri chefs, fast-cooked and served sizzling in a thin steel wok alongside a massive tear-and-share naan. Visit the legendary 'Balti Triangle' in the south of the city, or sample one of Birmingham's Michelin-starred fine dining establishments.

Questions about Birmingham

Does Birmingham really have more canals than Venice?

Yes, Birmingham boasts around 55 kilometres of navigable canal waterways within its city boundaries, compared to roughly 42 kilometres in Venice, originally constructed to transport coal and heavy goods during the Industrial Revolution.

What is the historical connection to Peaky Blinders?

The real Peaky Blinders gang operated in the streets of Birmingham in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The regional history and authentic industrial backdrops are preserved at the nearby Black Country Living Museum.

Month by month breakdown

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