Birmingham

Top-Class Shopping, Culture and Sport

The UK's 2nd largest city, Birmingham is one of its top cultural centres. Well-known for the M6 Spaghetti Junction interchange, it is a surprisingly green city with lots of open spaces.

Most city centre hotels in Birmingham are near New Street Station. To the east is the futuristic architecture of the new Bull Ring shopping centre, and just behind is Digbeth Coach Station. To the west is Victoria Square, home of the town hall and a German Christmas Market.

The Mailbox is one of the newest additions to the Birmingham shopping scene, and behind it is one of the canals converging on the Gas Street Basin. By one canal are the ICC (International Convention Centre) and the NIA (National Indoor Arena), both venues that host major events.

Just opposite is Brindleyplace, a canal-front complex of restaurants, bars and hotels near Broad Street – the main nightlife area. It is popular with students at nearby Birmingham University, whose clock tower is modelled on the one in Siena. Just south in Bournville is Cadbury World, and there are several hotels on Hagley Road to the north, which are available on Booking.com.

The city is also known for sports – Aston Villa and Birmingham City are the top football clubs, while Edgbaston Cricket Ground hosts international matches. Other Birmingham attractions include Hockley’s Jewellery Quarter and the NEC arena by Birmingham International Airport.