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Town/City Name
Birmingham
County
West Midlands
Population
1.149 Million
About Birmingham
Birmingham is widely known as England’s second city and is situated in the heart of the country. Birmingham (Brum as its often abbreviated) is the largest UK city, next to London and boasts the youngest population of any city outside of Europe with over 40% of its inhabitants to be aged under 25 years old. A term often used is "Brummie" or "Brummies" which refers to the people of the local area, with a local dialect and accent.
The Bull Ring is known all over the world and is one of the largest shopping centres in the UK, when you visit the bull Ring in Birmingham you will experience an amazing shop till you drop day out, with fantastic attractions.
There are hundreds of mouth-watering places to eat and drink with cuisine and cocktails from every culture from around the globe. Birmingham’s best-known restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes and coffee shops are all within walking distance of the bustling city centre and local transport systems.
The city has benefited from a redevelopment in recent years, the Bullring was completed in 2003, the Mailbox, Brindley Place and the ICC were all renovated making Birmingham a hub for shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, museums, and art galleries.
Birmingham holds the accolade of being the very first town of manufacturing and was known world-wide as the City of a Thousand Trades once it finally achieved city status back in 1889.
Ozzy Osbourne, UB40 and Duran Duran all reached international stardom and are all the proud musical products of Birmingham.
Birmingham is twinned with Chicago.
Places to eat in Birmingham, Restaurants in Birmingham
Places to drink in Birmingham, Pubs and Bars in Birmingham
A brief history of Birmingham
Birmingham’s history starts in 8000BC during the stone and bronze ages.
In the first Century Birmingham was central to the network of Roman roads.
The name Birmingham originates with and an Anglo-Saxon clan and comes from the word Beormingas meaning ‘his people.’
Birmingham is known as the first manufacturing town in the world with thousands of highly skilled and specialised tradesmen, and the rise of the iron industry.
Birmingham gained city status in 1889 by Queen Victoria.
During the English civil war Birmingham was strongly parliamentarian which led to several Royalist attacks the main one being the Battle of Birmingham in 1643.
Joseph Chamberlain and his son Neville Chamberlain both mayors of Birmingham, the latter becoming prime Minister were both born and raised in Birmingham.
Birmingham became the centre of philosophical and scientific thinking; this led to the Midlands Enlightenment and creation of the Lunar Society of Birmingham and also provided the link between the scientific and industrial revolutions.
In 1974 the city suffered horrific attacks by the IRA which led to the Birmingham six being imprisoned for life, they were later acquitted, this case is known as one of the worst miscarriages of justice in our country’s recent history. The actual criminals were never caught!
Birmingham has 6 universities makes it the largest centre of education in the UK outside of London.
Birmingham has many claims to fame when it come to invention, the Steam Engine was invented in Birmingham in the 16thcentury as was Lloyds bank.
In the 19th century the postage stamp, a modern universal postal system and the first man-made plastic was all developed in the city.
The 20th century saw microwave oven, key components of radar and outlines of the first jet engine were all Birmingham based developments.
The new library is the largest in all of Europe.
The main train station in Birmingham known as Grand Central had an overhaul in 2016 costing £335 million, the station holds over 60 shopping stores and restaurants.
Birmingham will host the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Popular things to do in Birmingham
- Go for a ride on the Canal https://www.bosworthcruises.com/
- Take a look at the spectacular Botanical Gardens https://www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk/
- Glimpse in to an underwater worlds and at the Sea Life centre https://www.visitsealife.com/birmingham/
- Go shopping in at the independent Custard Factory https://digbeth.com/spaces/custard-factory
- Take a stroll around the Sarehole Mill https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/sarehole
Free things to do in Birmingham
- Birmingham museum & art gallery is not to be missed https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag (CLOSED FOR 2021)
- Take a free walking tour around the city http://www.realbirmingham.com/
- Visit the largest library in Europe https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/libraryofbirmingham
- See the sights at Brindley Place https://www.brindleyplace.com/
Great for kids in Birmingham
- Treat your sweet tooth at Cadbury World
https://www.cadburyworld.co.uk/en - Take a look in to the past at the Black Country Museum
https://www.bclm.co.uk/ - Expand your mind at the Thinktank Science Museum
https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank - Go for a walk around Sheldon Country Park
https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/sheldonpark
Dog friendly bars
- The Physician
- Qunito Lounge
- Boston Tea Party
Dog friendly restaurants
- The Head of Steam
- The Rose Villa Tavern
- Digbeth Dining
Did you know?
The Anchor for the Titanic was built in Birmingham.
Oxygen was discovered in Birmingham by Joseph Priestly in 1774.
Birmingham has more Canals than Venice.
The hidden gems of Birmingham
The Library of Birmingham hides a secret garden on the 7th floor roof top in a free oasis to escape the bustling city.
Unique to Birmingham
JRR Tolkien was born and raised in Birmingham and many characters form the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings were based on places and people from the City.
