The city of
Birmingham is commonly known by its nickname Brum (from the local name
Brummagem) and its people as Brummies. Birmingham, the second largest city in
the UK by population, was at the heart of the UK's industrial revolution, and
its wealth was built upon the multitude of trades developed as a result. The
growth of factories and mills led to the need for a transportation network.
The resut was a massive canal network, which gave Birmingham over 32
miles of canals: more miles of canals, in fact, than Venice.
Much of the
city was destroyed during the Nazi Luftwaffe bombing of World War II.
Postwar replacement buildings were hastily erected, utilitarian structures that
added little in the way of beauty or charm to the city. Within the last ten
years, Birmingham has undergone a radical change. The majority of the post war
buildings have been replaced by appealing and harmonious architecture. Most of
the city center is now pedestrianised, and the canals have been cleaned up and
bordered by attractive walkways. The canals are now a major focus for
leisure projects. Canalside developments are giving the city a trendy cafe
society.
As a result of this
energetic building boom, Brummies have fashioned Birmingham into a convention
city that hosts 80% of all trade exhibitions in the country. New areas of green
space and the city's cultivation of a first-rate symphony and ballet company, as
well as art galleries and museums, have all made Birmingham fresh and
appealing.
Birmingham has over 200
parks where visitors can walk or jog. Cannon Hill Park has tennis courts,
bowling greens, nature trails and boating lakes, and if you like water but
prefer that others do the rowing, you can take canal trips from Gas St Basin in
the center of town.
Within easy walking
distance are a huge range of attractions including the National Sea Life Centre,
designer shopping at the Mailbox, the CBSO at Symphony Hall, contemporary art at
the Ikon Gallery, and major events and exhibitions at the National Indoor
Arena. These are interspersed with a lively mix of bustling bars and
restaurants.
The city centre is the
pedestrian precinct in front of the huge Council House. Head west from there to
Centenary Sq, the International Convention Centre and Symphony Hall, and the
development at Gas St Basin and Brindleyplace. Southeast of Council House, shops
are concentrated along pedestrianised New St and in the modern City Plaza,
Pallasades, and Pavilions shopping centres.
Birmingham
is the gateway to the north and is at the hub of Britain’s road network, so
exploring every last bit of the country is made very easy! Travelers don’t
even have to fly into London, as there is an international airport at
Birmingham.
Discover
Birmingham’s Balti Triangle! .
Fresh ingredients and a combination of spices are fast-cooked over a high
flame. The Balti is then served up sizzling with a huge portion of naan bread
on the side. The curry, whose origins are Kashmiri-Pakistani, was first mixed in
Birmingham by an immigrant, using a special pan. This spicy dish has become one
of the nation’s favorites in recent years. Birmingham is proud to be the home of
the Balti and boasts an area with over 50 Balti restaurants. Along with their
culinary delights the restaurants provide exciting shopping bargains for spices,
exotic fruits and vegetables, beautiful textiles, and the Balti bowls themselves
Aside from the Balti,
Birmingham displays a world of delicious flavors in its hundreds of restaurants,
cafes and bars.
Birmingham has an active
calendar of sporting events both on the domestic and the international scene.
Weekend events include the best in football, international & domestic cricket,
horse racing, golf and international tennis. There's no excuse for sports fans
to be bored in the first city to be awarded British City of Sport status. For
speed lovers, there is stock car racing in Brandon, horse racing at a variety of
racecourses and greyhound racing at Perry Barr. Winter-sports fans can practice
their skiing and snowboarding at Tamworth Snowdome, an indoor real snow slope.
Birmingham also has a rink for ice-skating.
Birmingham is thriving,
and its festival calendar testifies to that. There is Artsfest in September,
which is the UK's largest free arts festival featuring visual arts, dance and
music in various venues across the city. The world-renowned Crufts Dog Show
opens in March. Heritage Open Days in September give visitors free access to
historic properties that are not usually open or normally charge an entrance
fee. The Horse of the Year Show in October is a top equestrian event.
With more than 1 million
inhabitants, Birmingham has a vibrant nightlife and restaurant scene. Its three
universities, 6,000 acres of parks, nearby wildlife sanctuaries, and restored
canal walkways offer welcome, quiet places and set the scene for a vacation
combination of the lively and the serene that is sure to please.
Birmingham
