With the East Midlands Airport nearby and a city centre that’s being revived through a succession of big-budget renovation projects, Birmingham is reinventing itself as a popular visitor destination. The one-time industrial hub now plays host to dozens of luxury hotel destinations, with big brands such as Millennium Hotels opening up new hotels in Birmingham. If you’re planning a visit to this one-time industrial hub, then here are the attractions you can’t miss out on.
Back to Backs
This collection of terraced houses isn’t your typical National Trust property, but it gives a stark insight into the world of the workers during the industrial revolution, when factory owners and industrialists would pack as many families as possible into a tiny area. Court 15 Inge Street is now a heritage area, which illustrates what living conditions were like for many of the residents of Birmingham during the 19thcentury.
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Get your culture fix at this remarkable venue, which is located under the clock tower known affectionately to locals as ‘Big Brum’. BMAG houses a huge range of permanent exhibitions, including Renaissance fine art, modern masterpieces and more. There is also a packed calendar full of temporary exhibits to tempt visitors. Like most of Birmingham’s cultural venues, BMAG was built with the gains from the industrial revolution, and the sign above the door reads: By the Gains of Industry, We Promote Art’.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
These beautiful landscaped gardens close to the city centre have been open since 1832, and are the perfect place to take a picnic or enjoy a stroll when the weather is balmy. Designed by leading garden planner and horticulturist J C Loudon, they include a large range of plants, including several more exotic specimens housed in a conservatory near the top of the site.
Cadbury World
Cadbury may have passed out of British hands, but it’s still a UK institution and you can discover the history of this iconic brand at Birmingham’s Cadbury World. An exhaustive museum of chocolate, which looks at every part of the manufacturing and producing process from wrappers to advertising campaigns, the attraction is a must-see for kids and adults alike. End your tour at the shop, where you’ll have the chance to tuck into a Cadbury’s chocolate bar and even buy misfits at reduced prices.
Birmingham Bullring, courtesy of This Is Bright Eyes
