Population: 1.01 million

Land Area: 10,000 sq km

Location: Birmingham is a city in the West Midlands of England. It is the United Kingdom’s second largest and most ethnically diverse city and continues to be considered the country's "second city".

Time Zone: GMT / UTC and BST (British Summer Time). When it is noon in

Birmingham, it is 5pm in New York City.

Telephone Area Code: 0121

Weather

Month

High

Low

January

43F

36F

February

44F

36F

March

50F

38F

April

56F

42F

May

62F

47F

June

69F

53F

July

71F

56F

August

71F

56F

September

65F

52F

October

58F

46F

November

50F

42F

December

39F

13F

Local Seasons:

Birmingham doesn't have a peak season. The main theatres shut for the summer, but all other attractions remain open. Large conventions and exhibitions run year-round, and accommodation can be harder to find at these times. As a rule if visitors go between May and September they are more likely to get blue skies than during the colder winter months, but, as any Anglophile knows, the heavens could open at any time

Visitors come to enjoy the warmer weather, particularly from May through September, when Birmingham has plenty of fine, sunny and warm days. Birmingham's weather can also be changeable, and rainy days can often quickly change into sunny days in a moments notice. Early spring is another popular time to visit Birmingham when the weather is fairly mild, although some days during this time may be rainy and windy. Many of the trees begin to flower at this time of the year and Birmingham's parks and gardens are filled with spring colour.

Winters can be long and damp and there are fewer sunny days in November, December and January. It does get cold during the winter months, so make sure that you bring a warm overcoat, scarf and gloves. Snow is not uncommon and there are often many cold, clear, frosty days. The wettest weather tends to be in December, January and February, although there is also plenty of fine, sunny weather at this time of year. When visiting outdoor locations in Birmingham at this time of the year, an umbrella is always a useful item to carry. Whatever the Birmingham weather, there is always plenty to see and do in both the city itself as well as throughout the surrounding area. Getting There:

By Air

Birmingham International Airport (BHX)

Airport Way

Birmingham, B26 3QJ Tel: +44 (0)870 733 5511 Just 13 km / 8 miles south-east of Birmingham city centre, Birmingham International Airport (BHX) has good connections to the Birmingham area. Birmingham Airport offers a large choice of frequent scheduled airport flights to major European, North American and Asian destinations. Most other business and holiday destinations throughout the world can be reached with just one easy transfer from Birmingham International Airport (BHX).

Buses are readily available at Birmingham International Airport (BHX) and connect the airport to central Birmingham and the surround area. Bus stops are available outside of the airport's terminal buildings.

London Gatwick Airport (LGW)

West Sussex, RH6 0NP Tel: +44 (0)870 000 2468 Gatwick is London's second airport and is one of the busiest in Europe. Situated some 239 km / 148 miles from central Birmingham.

London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

West London, near Staines and Hounslow

Heathrow Point West, 234 Birmingham Road, Harlington, Middlesex, UB3 5AP Tel: + 44 (0)870 000 0123 London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is situated 176km / 109 miles from Birmingham.

Travel by Train

SkyRail services connect Birmingham Airport to Birmingham International Train Station and also the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre (NEC). This popular, free service provides a useful alternative to travel into central Birmingham from the airport and Birmingham International Train Station also has good connections throughout the country, with regular trains travelling to London and many other major cities and towns. Travel by Taxi

Black taxi cabs are readily available at Birmingham International Airport (BHX) and are located outside of the airport's terminal buildings. Taxis at Birmingham Airport provide a convenient and useful way to travel into Birmingham city centre and the taxi journey should take around 30 minutes, depending upon traffic. The airport taxi meters at Birmingham International Airport (BHX) start at a basic fare, but additional charges are usually made for luggage, late-night driving and travel on public holidays in Birmingham, so it can prove useful to ask the taxi driver about these before leaving. Some Birmingham Airport taxis are happy to accept credit cards. Located on to the main A45 Coventry Road, next to Junction 6 on the M42, Birmingham International Airport (BHX) has excellent connections to many major motorways, including the M1, M5, M6 and M40. Birmingham city centre is well sign posted from Birmingham International Airport (BHX) and can be reached in around 30 to 45 minutes by car, depending upon traffic. Coaches provide long-distance coach services from Birmingham International Airport (BHX). Operated by National Express Coaches, the airport's coaches travel to many major cities and locations, including London airports.

The city is also a hub of rail and coach traffic. Birmingham New Street Station is the city's major train station, with services running all over the country. From the coach station in Digbeth, buses link Birmingham with most parts of Britain. For local buses, go to the Bull Ring bus station.

How to Get Around:

The important city of Birmingham is well served by the public transport system and in situated at the heart of the United Kingdom. With an extensive public transport network, including Birmingham trains and Birmingham buses, and also numerous Birmingham black taxi cabs, travel throughout the Birmingham is simple. Renting a car is often the preferred method of travel for excursions from Birmingham and it is relatively easy to travel around the Birmingham area by car. There are a number of major roads and motorways situated on the outskirts of Birmingham, which provide fast routes when travelling both to and from Birmingham. Birmingham by Car

The district of Birmingham is served by a number of major motorways and Birmingham is situated at the heart of the United Kingdom motorway network. Birmingham has direct links to the M1, M5, M6, M40 and M42 motorways. Several roads in Birmingham are one way only and part of the city centre is restricted to buses and taxis only. Many tourists staying in Birmingham choose to rent cars and these are the best method of transport when travelling outside of the city, to explore the surrounding countryside and nearby towns. There are plenty of parking garages and off-street parking areas available in Birmingham, although many areas are restricted to residents only and parking permits are required. There is also a large park-and-ride service, where you can park your car on the outskirts of Birmingham, in Star City and travel into the centre by bus. Regular buses travel into Birmingham city centre from the park and ride car park every 10 minutes throughout the day. Birmingham by Foot

Birmingham is well pedestrianized and one of the best ways to travel around Birmingham is by foot. This is a popular way to see some of Birmingham's numerous tourist attractions, museums, art galleries and monuments. Getting around central Birmingham is very straightforward and many of the city's major sights and attractions are within easy walking distance of each other. Birmingham by Bus

Tel: 0121 200 2700 for additional information The Birmingham bus system cover central Birmingham well and is operated by Centro. Buses in Birmingham are heavily used by both locals and tourists alike and provide a particularly inexpensive way to travel in Birmingham and the surrounding areas. Birmingham buses and coaches travel to many other towns and cities in West Midlands, North Midlands and South Midlands and bus passes are available for set periods. Birmingham by Coach

Tel: +44 (0)870 580 8080 for additional information Birmingham is also at the centre of the national coach network, with direct links to around 500 different destinations. The main coach station in Birmingham is situated at Spencer House, in the central Dugbeth district of Birmingham. Birmingham by Train

Birmingham's is served my three main line train stations that travel to a wide variety of destinations throughout the country. Birmingham New Street Train Station, Birmingham Snow Hill Train Station and Birmingham International Train Station are all within easy reach of central Birmingham. Frequent rail services travel between Birmingham and London and this journey takes around one and a half hours. Advance seat reservations can be booked if required. Birmingham by Taxis

Black taxi cabs in Birmingham are one of the most convenient and popular ways to travel around the Birmingham area. They can be easily caught from the taxi ranks outside of the Birmingham International Train station and in Birmingham city centre at the Arcadian Centre on Hurst Street, or hailed from the street. Also in quieter areas of Birmingham, taxis and minicabs can be ordered by telephone and there are a number of reputable taxi firms that your hotel can recommend. Additional taxi charges in Birmingham are often made for luggage, travel late at night, extra passengers and travel on public holidays.

National Public Holidays

1st January - New Year's Day

Good Friday / Easter Monday - late March or early April

First and last Monday in May

Last Monday in August

25th December - Christmas Day

26th December - Boxing Day

(If Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the next weekday becomes a public holiday).