First-class Shopping, Culture and Sports

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

Most city center hotels in Birmingham are near New Street Station. To the east is the futuristic architecture of the new Bull Ring shopping center, and behind that is Digbeth Bus 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 Center) and the NIA (National Indoor Arena), both venues that host major events.

Just across the street 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 modeled 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 soccer clubs, while Edgbaston Cricket Ground hosts international matches. Other Birmingham attractions include Hockley’s Jewellery Quarter and the NEC arena by Birmingham International Airport.