Birmingham Local Information: 10 top things to know... more

  • 1. History of Birmingham

    Birmingham was declared a city in 1889. The Cadbury family company set up in the Bournville area of the city in the late 1800s. The Cadbury company’s international success made the region famous. Birmingham was known as the “City of a Thousand Trades” because it was a leading producer of pens, buckles, buttons, jewellery and guns. It played an important part in the Second...Read more World War because it had four aircraft factories. Ammunition, armoured vehicles and trucks were also produced in the city. As a result, Birmingham was bombed many times and a lot of its buildings were destroyed and many people killed. The city was rebuilt during the 1950s and 1960s and in the 1990s it was given another major facelift. Read less

  • 2. Now in Birmingham

    Birmingham is the UK’s second largest city and is home to the National Exhibition Centre, which is the biggest exhibition centre in the UK. It is also a city known for its great shopping facilities. When industry declined in the 1970s, Birmingham suffered. The service industry has since taken over and many old factories and industrial buildings have been turned into entertain...Read morement or art venues. Cadbury World is now a family attraction in the Bournville area of the city where the company began. Read less

  • 3. Events in Birmingham

    Birmingham is home to Aston Villa Football Club and Birmingham City Football Club, so football matches are always high on the list of events in the city. The Baby Show and BBC Gardeners’ World Live are just two of the famous annual events to take place at the NEC. Birmingham’s Gay Village hosts the annual Gay Pride festival. The annual New Generation Arts Festival celebrate...Read mores fashion, music and art at venues around the city centre. Read less

  • 4. Attractions in Birmingham

    Visitors flock to Birmingham for a variety of reasons. As well as Cadbury World, the NEC and the city’s football clubs, there is the Thinktank science museum, National Sealife Centre and the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Many visitors enjoy the National Trust Back to Backs - the last of the city’s back-to-back housing courts. These have been set up to demonstrate what ...Read morelife was like for people living in these properties from the 1840s to the 1970s. The historic Jewellery Quarter of the city has museums, jewellery shops, art galleries and listed buildings to enjoy. Read less

  • 5. Things To Do in Birmingham

    The BBC gives members of the public a chance to see themselves on TV at its Public Space at BBC Birmingham in the city centre. You can try reading an autocue to present the news or weather while friends and family watch you live on screen in another room. The huge IMAX 3D cinema in the city centre is an option for those who need a rest from all the shopping and sightseeing. The...Read more beautiful Birmingham Botanical Gardens are based in the Edgbaston area of the city. Read less

  • 6. Business in Birmingham

    Birmingham has become known as a meeting place, offering venues for every type and size of event. It is a thriving shopping city with centres galore to choose from. The Bullring hosts all the high street names, has 25 restaurants and is one of the largest shopping centres in the UK. Other centres include The Mailbox, The Pallasades, Pavillions and The Great Western Arcade. The ...Read morelist goes on, and markets and stalls fill in the gaps. Read less

  • 7. Transport in Birmingham

    Birmingham has its own international airport. By road Birmingham links to the M5 from the south west, the M40 then M42 from the south, the M1 and M6 from the south east and the M6 from the north. Birmingham New Street train station has good links to the rest of the country’s rail network.

  • 8. Entertainment in Birmingham

    The Birmingham Royal Hippodrome is a respected venue for ballet, comedy, dance, kids’ shows, musical and opera. The Birmingham Royal Ballet (formerly Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet) is based in purpose built premises at the Hippodrome and performs regularly there when it is not touring around the world. There are many music venues including the LG Arena, the National Indoor Ar...Read moreena and the O2 Academy Birmingham. Read less

  • 9. Famous Landmarks in Birmingham

    Probably the most famous Birmingham landmark is the NEC, which was opened in 1976 and has become an image associated with various annual events. The famous Jewellery Quarter is an area steeped in history with many listed buildings.

  • 10. Interesting Facts about Birmingham

    There are another 29 Birminghams in the world and one crater on the Moon called Birmingham.

Close Window
Thumb

Special Offers

Top Business Reviews

Birmingham Events

  • 01 July 2013 - 31 July 2013

    Sandwell Arts Festival

    The Sandwell Arts Festival runs for two weeks in July and takes place in a variety of venues across the region. The festival is a celebration of dance, music, visual arts, literature and performance. Local people are invited to perform and take part in events over the

  • 18 May 2013 - 01 April 2020

    Premier Inn

    Housed within an attractive redbrick building, the Redditch West Premier Inn is conveniently located close to some excellent local attractions. Guests enjoy first class service, comfy rooms and great pub food in an onsite Brewers Fayre restaurant. Award-winning Premier

  • 01 June 2013 - 30 June 2013

    Judgestock

    Judgestock is an annual one-day music festival in June. The event, which has been taking place in West Bromwich since 2004, is held in the town’s The Public art space. Three stages provide live music throughout the day: the Theatre Stage, the Main Stage and the Out

  • The Baby Show

    The annual Baby Show event in May attracts visitors from all over the country, all hoping to get advice, hear the latest trends and buy everything they need for their little ones. The show, at the NEC, gives parents or parents-to-be a chance to shop for their baby equip

  • See more events
  • Add an event

Birmingham Marketplace

Birmingham Blog

Birmingham News