Birmingham

Overview

Britain's second city was the workshop of the world, and it still wears that history proudly: more miles of canal than Venice, a Jewellery Quarter of red-brick workshops and Victorian civic buildings at its heart.

Decades of regeneration have added a striking library, a big food scene and a creative quarter in Digbeth. It's compact, friendly and easy to reach by train, and it makes a good base for the Cotswolds and Stratford-upon-Avon.

Things to see

• 

  Library of Birmingham

  A gleaming building wrapped in metal rings, with roof gardens offering free views over Centenary Square.

• 

  Jewellery Quarter

  Hundreds of jewellers still work here, alongside a preserved workshop museum and handsome Georgian St Paul's Square.

• 

  Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

  Home to one of the great Pre-Raphaelite collections and finds from the Anglo-Saxon Staffordshire Hoard.

• 

  Birmingham Back to Backs

  The last surviving court of workers' houses, furnished to show how families lived across a century and a half.

  Tickets and tours

• 

  Cadbury World

  The chocolate makers' visitor attraction in Bournville, the leafy model village built for its workers.

  Tickets and tours

Things to do

• 

  Walk the canals

  Start at Gas Street Basin with its narrowboats and follow the towpaths past old warehouses and new waterside bars.

• 

  Eat a balti

  Birmingham popularised the balti, and the curry houses of the Balti Triangle in Sparkbrook still serve it sizzling in the bowl.

• 

  Explore Digbeth

  Street art, the Custard Factory creative hub, independent breweries and some of the city's best live music venues.

• 

  Day trip to Stratford-upon-Avon

  Shakespeare's birthplace and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre are under an hour away by train.

Where to stay

• City centre and Brindleyplace

  Canal-side hotels close to the main stations, Broad Street bars and the Symphony Hall.

  Hotels in City centre and Brindleyplace

• Jewellery Quarter

  Characterful and slightly quieter, with good restaurants and a short walk into the centre.

  Hotels in Jewellery Quarter

• Digbeth

  For nightlife, music and street food, though it can be noisy at weekends.

  Hotels in Digbeth

Getting around

The centre is compact and walkable, and the West Midlands Metro tram links the Jewellery Quarter, Snow Hill and New Street. Buses and local trains cover the suburbs.

Birmingham Airport has its own station, Birmingham International, with trains to New Street in about 10 to 15 minutes. Direct trains from London Euston take around 80 minutes.

When to go

Summer (May to September) is best for canal walks and outdoor eating, though rain is possible any time. The Frankfurt Christmas Market fills the centre in late November and December.

Plan your trip to Birmingham

• HotelsBooking.com
• Tours and ticketsGetYourGuide
• FlightsKiwi.com
• Attraction ticketsTiqets
• Airport parking, lounges and transfersHoliday Extras
• Flight and hotel dealslastminute.com
• Car hireAuto Europe
• Adventure travel insuranceWorld Nomads
• Mobile data (eSIM)AiraloCode DAN9406 for money off
• GuidebooksAmazon

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Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.

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