Birmingham Area Guide

Birmingham is the second largest city in England, next to London, with a population of 992,100. The city is a dynamic leisure and business centre, with a fantastically diverse cultural scene, bringing life and vibrancy to the city. The city gained its reputation during the Industrial Revolution as a major industrial centre due to a skilled work force and abundant local sources of coal and iron ore.

In recent years the city centre has been significantly renovated and restored, with the construction of new squares, shopping malls and bright modern buildings. Due to the city being one of the most culturally diverse in England there is an eclectic mix of restaurants, shops and nightlife. In fact Birmingham was voted the second best place to shop in England 2004, second to London's West End. Birmingham has also become famous for the excellent quality of its Indian restaurants, which are said to produce some of the finest Indian food in the UK.

There are many local attractions in the city including the National Sea Life Centre, with over 60 displays of freshwater and marine life. The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, features excellent exhibitions of local history, art and industry. The city's Jewellery Quarter has the largest concentration of dedicated jewellers in Europe and is well worth a look. St Philip's Cathedral, originally built as a parish church in the heart of the city, is beautiful and houses four impressive stained glass windows by Edward Burne-Jones.

Like the city itself Birmingham's nightlife is gaining an impressive reputation. Head to Brindleyplace on the canal side and choose from a whole host of cafes, pubs, bars and clubs. Alternatively the Acardian Centre on Hurst Street is another fashionable location with a lively Chinese and an Irish Quarter.

Useful Links

If you're looking for more general information about Birmingham Airport or the surrounding areas, then Airport Hotel Shop recommends the following very useful places:

• Birmingham Airport - Informative guide to Birmingham Airport
• Birmingham City Council - For general local inoformation on Birmingham
• Cadbury's World - Be the 'literal' kid in a candy store!
• Tourist Information - For more information on Birmingham and the surrounding areas
• Birmingham City Guide - A Guide to what's on and what's happening in Birmingham