Birmingham (England)

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Birmingham, in the Midlands, is Britain's second largest city, after London.

	birmingham (england) Travel Guide : 1 Understand 2 Get in 2.1 By plane 2.2 By train 2.3 By car 2.4 By bus 3 Get around 4 See 5 Do 5.1 Shopping 5.2 Cinema 6 Learn 7 Work 8 Buy 9 Eat 9.1 Budget 9.2 Mid-range 9.3 Splurge 10 Drink 10.1 General 10.2 Broad Street 10.3 Pubs 11 Sleep 11.1 Budget 11.2 Mid-range 11.3 Splurge 12 Contact 13 Stay safe 14 External links

Understand

Birmingham is Britain's 2nd city. It was at the heart of the UK's industrial revolution, and its wealth was built upon the multitude of trades that were spawned. This lead to a massive canal network, with more miles of canals than Venice (though they're very different types of canal).

Much of the city centre was destroyed during the Second World War, and the replacement buildings added little to the city. Indeed a standing joke among people is Spaghetti Junction - a mass of intersecting motorways and local roads that can send a careless driver off in completely the opposite direction to that which he intended.

However, since the 1990s, Birmingham has been undergoing a radical change and many of the post war buildings have been replaced. The majority of the city center is now pedestrianized, and the canals cleaned up to make for attractive walkways. All cr to the City Council, as the city retains its industrial heritage while now appearing modern and forward looking.

Get in

By plane

Birmingham International Airport 1 (http://www.bhx.co.uk/) (BHX) is a major airport situated about 8 miles south-east of central Birmingham, serving the city and the rest of the West Midlands region with domestic, charter and international (mainly European, some North American) flights. The airport has a railway link that runs frequent trains to Birmingham's New Street Station (the main central station). The journey takes 10-20 mins.

• Routehunter.com (http://www.routehunter.com/airlines/europe/cheap-flights-from-Birmingham-to.html) Cheap flights to Birmingham

By train

Birmingham is at the hub of England's rail network. There are 3 stations in the city center: New Street - by far the largest, Snow Hill and Moor Street. Thus it's really simple to get to any other destination in the UK. You can check national timetables at National Rail Enquiries (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/), book rail tickets at The TrainLine (http://www.thetrainline.com/).

By car

Birmingham is surrounded by motorways. The M5 will take you to the South West, either the M42 then M40 or the M6 then M1 will take you to London and the South East. In the other direction the M1 will take you to Leeds and the North East. The M6 will also take you towards the North West, Manchester and Scotland, or, via the M54, to north Wales.

Within two hours driving time of Birmingham are Manchester, Liverpool and London, making it an excellent central base to visit all of the major cities in England. It is also within an hour of Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon.

By bus

You can take coaches from the rather dingy Digbeth Coach Station to most destinations within the UK. The coach station is just South of the Bull Ring shopping center on the A34/ Stratford Road.

Get around

The local bus system is extensive and buses are fairly frequent. For more outlying areas you can take a train. These run from all three of the city center's stations, depending on destination. You can see a map of the local rail network (http://www.centro.org.uk/Rail%20Network/trains/network/fnetwor.html), or check local train timetables (http://www.centro.org.uk/Rail%20Network/trains/Times2.asp) (both at Centro (http://www.centro.org.uk/) - the local transport authority). You can also check bus timetables and routemaps in the West Midlands at Travel West Midlands' website (http://www.travelwm.co.uk/).

See

• National Indoor Arena (NIA), King Edwards Road (in the city center) 0870-909-4144 or 780-4444, (box office <cs.boxoffice@necgroup.co.uk>). Has hosted many national and international sporting and entertainment events such as The Eurovision Song Contest, Disney on Ice, opera and pop concerts. http://www.necgroup.co.uk/visitor/thenia/

• International Convention Centre (ICC), Broad Street (in the city center), 780-3333 (<icc-conferences@necgroup.co.uk>). One of the country's leading conference and events centers. http://www.theicc.co.uk/home/

• Symphony Hall, (located within the ICC), 780-3333. Opened in 1991 and is recognised as one of the best auditoriums in the world. http://www.necgroup.co.uk/visitor/symphonyhall/

• National Exhibition Centre (NEC), (a huge complex south east of the city), 0870-909-4133 or 780-4133 (box office <cs.boxoffice@necgroup.co.uk>) The seventh largest and busiest exhibition centre in Europe, staging more than 180 exhibitions each year in its 21 halls totalling 200,000 square metres, ranging from world-famous public shows such as Crufts Dog Show and the British International Motor Show to international trade exhibitions like IPEX and Spring Fair, Birmingham. http://www.necgroup.co.uk/visitor/thenec/

• NEC Arena, (located within the NEC) 0870-909-4133 or 780-4133 (box office <cs.boxoffice@necgroup.co.uk>). Hosts many national and international sporting and entertainment events in its 12,300 seat auditorium. http://www.necgroup.co.uk/visitor/thenecarena/

• Aston Hall A large and beautiful Jacobean house to the east of the city center. Every two years, for a week or so during the winter months, it opens its doors for candle-lit evening tours. http://www.bmag.org.uk/aston_hall/

• Think Tank, Millenium Point, Curzon St. (in the city center), tickets 202-2222 (group tickets 202-2244). Daily 10AM-5PM, last admission 4PM. A museum of Science and Discovery for learning and fun through exploration, engagement and historic artefacts. Many of the exhibits are interactive and will appeal to younger visitors. http://www.thinktank.ac/

• IMAX(r) Millenium Point (same location as the Think Tank), tickets 202-2222 (group tickets 202-2244, <findout@imax.ac>). http://www.imax.ac/index.htm

• Sarehole Mill One of the few remaining mills in Birmingham and is cred as the inspiration for the Shire in Tolkien's in Middle Earth. http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/sarehole

• Cadbury World The famous chocolate factory's visitor centre, located in Bournville, a southern suburb of the city. Especially good for little kids, as exhibitions are bright and colourful, but the more historical and technical bits will appeal to adults as well. http://www.cadburyworld.co.uk/EN/CWORLD/Experience/

• Nature Centre A small zoo, adjacent to Cannon Hall Park (http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/cannonhillpark), featuring only smaller, European species. http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/naturecentre

Do

Shopping

During the last few years Birmingham has developed enormously as a regional shopping centre, with the old Bull Ring complex (once a notorious architectural eyesore) being demolished to make way for a large shopping centre that includes Selfridges.

Cinema

• the Electric Cinema 2 (http://www.theelectric.co.uk/), 47-49 Station Street, tel 0121 643 7879, mailto:info@theelectric.co.uk, £10 sofa seat, £6 standard ticket, £4 concessions - the oldest still-operating cinema building in the UK (opening in 1909), famous for its Art Deco interiors and bar, the cinema now features sofa seating, waiter service and the best in independent and intelligent mainstream films

Learn

Birmingham has three universities Birmingham University (http://www.bham.ac.uk/), Aston University (http://www.aston.ac.uk/) and the University of Central England (http://www.uce.ac.uk/).

Work

With the vast number of shops, bars and restaurants in the city there is never a shortage of job vacancies and you are certain to see vacancies advertised in the windows of shops in the city centre. There are also a lot of 'temping' agencies in Birmingham able to find temporary office, driving and other jobs. Another source of job vacancies would be the job centre in the city.

Buy

To the north of the city center is the Jewellery Quarter (http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/jq), containing literally hundreds of jewellery shops, workshops and wholesale outlets. The City Centre houses numerous shopping centres, including The Bull Ring (http://www.bullring.co.uk/) and the Pavilions shopping centre,

Eat

Balti Balti Balti - this is the home of baltis. Find out more here (http://www.thebaltiguide.com/). You can find just about anything you're looking for in the city centre though, with Greek, Italian, and Chinese cuisines representing a few of the more popular choices. The latter can be found in abundance in the centre's Chinese quarter.

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Town centre: Aria Restaurant (http://www.birmingham.regency.hyatt.com/birmi/restaurants_01.html)
• Town centre: Metro Bar & Grill (http://www.metrobarandgrill.co.uk/)
• Town centre: Opus Restaurant (http://www.opusrestaurant.co.uk/)

Drink

General

Dress code is rather common in Birmingham, so be careful to check out each night's policy. It is also advisable not to go in large groups of males as some have experienced one or other of their party invariably getting refused for not having the correct type of shoes/coat/trousers/face etc.

Broad Street

Broad Street, the No 1 party street of Birmingham, has a large range of clubs, bars and pubs.

• Those looking for a cheap student night could do worse than check out Snobs which plays a mix of indie music.
• For a more eclectic mix of music and people take a look at the Medicine Bar in the Custard Factory just off the A34 in Digbeth - it's the big blue building!
• Just around the corner is a club called Air, host to nationally recognised nights such as 'God's Kitchen'.

Pubs

There are pubs and then there are pubs. If you are looking for the average drink, virtually any pub will do. If you are a real ale aficionado, there are several nice pubs to visit:

• City Centre
  • Bull, 1 Price Street, B5 6JU. Phone: 0121 333 6757. Situated in the Gun quarter, quiet and comfortable.
  • Figure of Eight, 236 Broad Street, B1 2HG. Phone: 0121 633 09 17. Large city centre pub belonging to the Wetherspoon chain.
  • Old Fox, 54 Hurst Street, B5 4TD. Phone: 0121 622 5080.
  • Old Joint Stock, 4 Temple Row West, B2 5NY. Phone: 0121 200 1892. Superbly decorated pub in a former bank, Grade II listed. Multi-award winning establishment.
  • Old Royal, 53 Church Street, B3 2DP. Phone: 0121 200 3841. Single bar with large-screen TV. The pub is popular with office workers.
  • Wetherspoon's, Unit 31, Paradise Place, B3 3HJ. Phone: 0121 214 8970. Close to the International Convention Centre, the central library, art gallery and museum.

• Digbeth
  • Anchor, 308 Bradford Street, B5 6ET. Phone: 0121 622 4516. Victorian pub near Digbeth Coach Station. Grade II listed.
  • Woodman, 106 Albert Street, B5 9LS. Phone: 0121 643 1959. Grade II listed. Opposite the Thinktank at the Millenium Point.

• Harborne
  • Bell Inn, 11 Old Church Road, B17 0BB. Phone: 0121-427 0931. Next to St Peter's Church, this cosy and quiet pub gets busy because of its attraction.

Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

• Close to the university: Awentsbury Hotel (http://www.awentsbury.com/), 15 Serpentine Road,Selly Park, offers mid-range B&B in a quiet environment within 10 minutes walk from the university.
• Town centre: Travelodge Birmingham Central (http://www.travelodge.co.uk/find_a_hotel/hotel/hotel_id/109/BirminghamCentral). Affordable hotel in the very heart of the city.

Splurge

• Town centre: Hyatt Regency Birmingham (http://birmingham.regency.hyatt.com/), 2 Bridge Street, B1 2JZ. Phone: 0121 643 1234
• Town centre: Crowne Plaza Birmingham (http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hd/bhxct;jsessionid=H5S11KAEOYGFWCTGWAJSJ0QKM0YBIIY4), Holliday Street, B1 1HH. Phone: 020 79 37 93
• Town centre: Birmingham Marriott Hotel (http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/BHXBH), 12 Hagley Rd, B16 8SJ. Phone: 0870 400 7280

Contact

The National Dialling code for the city is 0121, followed by a three digit Area code, followed by a four digit number. A fully specified Birmingham number will be in the format 0121-200-2000. The minimum requirement is 200-2000 within the National Dialling code area.

Stay safe

Birmingham has its share of gun crime problems, but these shouldn't affect you unless you make yourself part of the larger drug gang problem. The city centre is well policed and is a very safe environment. Common sense should keep you safe, avoid deserted areas. Areas of the city to avoid include Aston, Newtown and Lozells. However other areas that were considered rough like Smethwick on the outskirts to the West, are becoming more and more desirable areas as they are redeveloped. The areas of Harborne, Bearwood and Warley, on the outer ring road have the highest rising house prices in the UK currently.

As in the rest of the UK, in any emergency, call 999 and ask for Ambulance, Fire or Police when connected.

External links

• The official destination website for Birmingham (http://www.birmingham.org.uk/)
• Birmingham City Council's website (http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/)

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