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Why we love Birmingham

Britain’s second largest city, Birmingham is an industrial hub with a vibrant, creative heart. There’s a whole host of quirky adventures waiting to be discovered in the city – from cultural festivals to unique street art tours. Find a funky scene at the Custard Factory, home to up-and-coming designers, artists and independent cafes and bars. Or satisfy your fashion fever at the Bullring, Mailbox Malls and the achingly cool Grand Central complex.

From cruising down the city’s forgotten underground canals with an expert guide to checking out the home of the infamous Peaky Blinders, or celebrating the city’s eclectic cuisine with an unforgettable meal on the Balti Triangle, Birmingham’s blindingly brilliant!

Things to do in Birmingham

Known as the ‘Black Country’ for the soot produced by its iron foundries, this open-air museum brings local history to life.

Step into history at the Black Country Living Museum

The Black Country Living Museum

Boat Dock at The Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, West Midlands
Black Country Living Museum

From Michelin’s Best Young Chef 2021 to street food and Instagrammable cocktails, Digbeth is full of culinary delights.

Tuck into Digbeth’s food scene

West Midlands Growth Company

Two women sat at a table beside the bar, raising glasses
Digbeth

Birmingham Mela

13th - 14th July 2024

Experience the sights and sounds of the UK’s biggest South Asian music festival, held every summer.

Spice things up at Birmingham Mela

VisitBritain/Mela Festival

Crowd of people in front of a stage at the Mela Festival watching a performance
Birmingham Mela

Visit Bullring & Grand Central for top-notch shopping and dining, with leading fashion brands and restaurants galore.

Shop til you drop at Bullring & Grand Central

VisitBritain/Andrew Pickett

Three young people sat at a dining table with high views
Bullring & Grand Central

Featuring contemporary art from all over the world, this internationally-acclaimed venue focuses on works by indigenous and migrant creatives.

See what’s on at Ikon Gallery

Ikon Gallery/Handover Agency

Ikon Gallery Birmingham Photo by Handover Agency (3).jpg
Ikon Gallery

Did you know that Birmingham has more canals than Venice? Take a closer look on this adventure…

Book Bustling Birmingham Kayak Tour – Roundhouse Birmingham

VisitBritain/Storyman

Birmingham

Two men kayaking on canal through central Birmingham
Bustling Birmingham Kayak Tour – Roundhouse

With bowling, American pool, beer pong and more, this adults-only playground is full of competitive fun.

Visit Roxy Ball Room

The Roxy Ballroom

A row of Crazy Pool tables in Roxy Ballroom in Birmingham, a mash-up of crazy golf and pool
Roxy Ball Room

You’ll swing, leap and climb through the trees, braving wobbly rope bridges and thrilling zip wires.

Discover Go Ape

Go Ape

An underneath shot of a person on a zipwire at Go Ape in Birmingham
Go Ape

From Shakespearean plays to stand-up comedy, live interviews and classical ballet, this venue has it all.

What’s on at The Rep

Graeme Braidwood

A musical performance on stage at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre
The REP

This art gallery, music venue and events space celebrates the vibrant cultures of Central and Eastern Europe.

Get to know Centrala

Centrala

Birmingham

Groups of people attending art show at Centrala in Birmingham
Centrala

This striking building features a theatre space, observation deck and peaceful wildlife gardens.

Discover Birmingham Library

VisitBritain/Storyman

People posing for selfie in front of the Birmingham Library
Birmingham Library

Calling all chocoholics! Every inch of this Bourneville museum is dedicated to our favourite treat.

Visit Cadbury World

West Midlands Growth Company

A boy, with curly hair, squeezing chocolate out of a bottle
Cadbury World

Hot, spicy and utterly moreish, the balti is a dish unique to Birmingham – and this area is the best place to try it.

Plan your trip to Balti Triangle

VisitBritain/Storyman

Birmingham, West Midlands

Woman sitting at table eating a curry
Balti Triangle

With chef Aktar Islam at the helm, this was the first Indian restaurant outside London to receive a Michelin star.

More about Opheem

VisitBritain/Nemorin

Group of friends, one wheelchair user, sat around a table
Opheem

With A-list performers, glittering cabaret and a vibrant parade, this is always an incredible show.

Visit Birmingham Pride

jenlgilmour

Nighttime light display, Birmingham Pride
Birmingham Pride

Also known as Gay Village, this city-centre area is famous for its LGBTQIA+ scene – with clubs, pubs and bars galore.

Explore Hurst Street

VisitBritain/Simon Winnall

Smiling lesbian couple. Blonde haired woman with black hat
Hurst Street

From gospel singers to famous rock legends, this magnificent venue hosts live music of all descriptions.

What’s on at Symphony Hall

VisitBritain/Motionhouse Iain_Jamieson

Birmingham

A crowd of people at a festival watching acrobats performing in the air in front of Symphony Hall, Birmingham at sunset
Symphony Hall

With street food, craft stalls, twinkling lights and live music, this is a little slice of festive Frankfurt.

Discover Frankfurt Christmas Market, Birmingham

visit_birmingham

Light display at Frankfurt Christmas Market, Birmingham
Frankfurt Christmas Market, Birmingham

From big-name stars to hot new talents, this line-up features stand-up, slapstick, musicals and more.

Book Birmingham Comedy Festival

Dave Freak

Birmingham Comedy Festival (autumn)
Birmingham Comedy Festival

This horticultural haven features four glasshouses, filled with plants and trees from all over the globe.

Explore Birmingham Botanical Gardens

West Midlands Growth Company

Two women walking on grass past a pergola
Birmingham Botanical Gardens

This isn’t only the heart of Birmingham’s canal network: it is a historic hotspot for drinking and dining.

More about Gas Street Basin

VisitBritain/Storyman

People kayaking through Gas Street Basin, Birmingham, West Midlands
Gas Street Basin

Fishing, sailing, rowing, bird-watching: this forest-fringed wetland is full of outdoor adventures.

Discover Edgbaston Reservoir

rossiniarthur

Paddleboarding on Edgbaston Reservoir
Edgbaston Reservoir

Cruise through underground tunnels to discover fossils, wildlife and relics of the Industrial Revolution.

Tour Dudley Canal and Caverns

Dudley Canal and Caverns

A tour group being guided through a tunnel underneath Dudley Canal
Dudley Canal and Caverns

This city retreat offers state-of-the-art floatation tanks, to ease away the stresses of everyday life.

Book The Floating Spa

Video by Rob Abdul from My Love Photography

A floatation tank being prepared for a spa treatment at The Floating Spa in Birmingham
The Floating Spa

This extensive spa hotel features 12 biothermal rooms, a swimming pool, beauty salon and more.

 Relax at The Belfry Hotel & Resort

The Belfry

A group of women receiving a treatment at The Belfry Spa in Birmingham
The Belfry

For sightseeing tours, dinner cruises and private waterway charters, you’ve come to the right place.

Discover Sherborne Wharf Canal Tours

Sherborne Wharf

A barge sailing down a canal in Birmingham, near Sherborne Wharf
Sherborne Wharf canal tours

Alongside top designer and high-street shops, this mall features festivals, movies and great dining too.

More about Mailbox Birmingham

West Midlands Growth Company

Red brick building next to tall office building beside canal
The Mailbox, Birmingham

Independent boutiques rub shoulders with cocktail bars, beauty salons, artisan bakeries and more.

Visit Great Western Arcade

Great Western Arcade

An upstairs view across the Great Western Arcade in Birmingham
Great Western Arcade

Follow a self-guided bike trail at your own pace, and enjoy insightful history snippets on video, too.

Explore Secret Birmingham Cycle Tours

ecobirmingham

Two people cycling on a path in the countryside surrounding Birmingham
Secret Birmingham - cycling tours

Delve deeper into the city’s most fascinating and culturally-enriching corners, on these expert-led walking tours.

More about Positively Birmingham Walking Tours

Positively Birmingham

A tour group posing alongside a statue in Birmingham as part of a Positively Birmingham walking tour
Postiviely Birmingham walking tour

It’s 100% vegan, but this restaurant’s menu is enough to tempt even the most dedicated meat-eater…

Grab a table at BA-HA

BA-HA Birmingham

Two chefs opening up shop at BA-HA in Birmingham, a vegan food stall
BA-HA

Great cocktails, street food and ball games: is there a better combination for a winning night out?

Book The Floodgate

The Floodgate

Birmingham, England

A woman looking down a curling lane at The Floodgate in Birmingham
The Floodgate

Spectacular shows and attractions, spellbinding storytelling and exhilarating experiences make Warwick Castle one for bringing history alive.

Book tickets for Warwick Castle

gary718/Shutterstock

Warwick, England

A hot air balloon floats over Warwick Castle in Warwickshire, England.
Warwick Castle

Known as the ‘Black Country’ for the soot produced by its iron foundries, this open-air museum brings local history to life.

Step into history at the Black Country Living Museum

The Black Country Living Museum

Boat Dock at The Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, West Midlands
Black Country Living Museum

From Michelin’s Best Young Chef 2021 to street food and Instagrammable cocktails, Digbeth is full of culinary delights.

Tuck into Digbeth’s food scene

West Midlands Growth Company

Two women sat at a table beside the bar, raising glasses
Digbeth

Birmingham Mela

13th - 14th July 2024

Experience the sights and sounds of the UK’s biggest South Asian music festival, held every summer.

Spice things up at Birmingham Mela

VisitBritain/Mela Festival

Crowd of people in front of a stage at the Mela Festival watching a performance
Birmingham Mela

Visit Bullring & Grand Central for top-notch shopping and dining, with leading fashion brands and restaurants galore.

Shop til you drop at Bullring & Grand Central

VisitBritain/Andrew Pickett

Three young people sat at a dining table with high views
Bullring & Grand Central

Featuring contemporary art from all over the world, this internationally-acclaimed venue focuses on works by indigenous and migrant creatives.

See what’s on at Ikon Gallery

Ikon Gallery/Handover Agency

Ikon Gallery Birmingham Photo by Handover Agency (3).jpg
Ikon Gallery

Did you know that Birmingham has more canals than Venice? Take a closer look on this adventure…

Book Bustling Birmingham Kayak Tour – Roundhouse Birmingham

VisitBritain/Storyman

Birmingham

Two men kayaking on canal through central Birmingham
Bustling Birmingham Kayak Tour – Roundhouse

With bowling, American pool, beer pong and more, this adults-only playground is full of competitive fun.

Visit Roxy Ball Room

The Roxy Ballroom

A row of Crazy Pool tables in Roxy Ballroom in Birmingham, a mash-up of crazy golf and pool
Roxy Ball Room

You’ll swing, leap and climb through the trees, braving wobbly rope bridges and thrilling zip wires.

Discover Go Ape

Go Ape

An underneath shot of a person on a zipwire at Go Ape in Birmingham
Go Ape

From Shakespearean plays to stand-up comedy, live interviews and classical ballet, this venue has it all.

What’s on at The Rep

Graeme Braidwood

A musical performance on stage at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre
The REP

This art gallery, music venue and events space celebrates the vibrant cultures of Central and Eastern Europe.

Get to know Centrala

Centrala

Birmingham

Groups of people attending art show at Centrala in Birmingham
Centrala

This striking building features a theatre space, observation deck and peaceful wildlife gardens.

Discover Birmingham Library

VisitBritain/Storyman

People posing for selfie in front of the Birmingham Library
Birmingham Library

Calling all chocoholics! Every inch of this Bourneville museum is dedicated to our favourite treat.

Visit Cadbury World

West Midlands Growth Company

A boy, with curly hair, squeezing chocolate out of a bottle
Cadbury World

Hot, spicy and utterly moreish, the balti is a dish unique to Birmingham – and this area is the best place to try it.

Plan your trip to Balti Triangle

VisitBritain/Storyman

Birmingham, West Midlands

Woman sitting at table eating a curry
Balti Triangle

With chef Aktar Islam at the helm, this was the first Indian restaurant outside London to receive a Michelin star.

More about Opheem

VisitBritain/Nemorin

Group of friends, one wheelchair user, sat around a table
Opheem

With A-list performers, glittering cabaret and a vibrant parade, this is always an incredible show.

Visit Birmingham Pride

jenlgilmour

Nighttime light display, Birmingham Pride
Birmingham Pride

Also known as Gay Village, this city-centre area is famous for its LGBTQIA+ scene – with clubs, pubs and bars galore.

Explore Hurst Street

VisitBritain/Simon Winnall

Smiling lesbian couple. Blonde haired woman with black hat
Hurst Street

From gospel singers to famous rock legends, this magnificent venue hosts live music of all descriptions.

What’s on at Symphony Hall

VisitBritain/Motionhouse Iain_Jamieson

Birmingham

A crowd of people at a festival watching acrobats performing in the air in front of Symphony Hall, Birmingham at sunset
Symphony Hall

With street food, craft stalls, twinkling lights and live music, this is a little slice of festive Frankfurt.

Discover Frankfurt Christmas Market, Birmingham

visit_birmingham

Light display at Frankfurt Christmas Market, Birmingham
Frankfurt Christmas Market, Birmingham

From big-name stars to hot new talents, this line-up features stand-up, slapstick, musicals and more.

Book Birmingham Comedy Festival

Dave Freak

Birmingham Comedy Festival (autumn)
Birmingham Comedy Festival

This horticultural haven features four glasshouses, filled with plants and trees from all over the globe.

Explore Birmingham Botanical Gardens

West Midlands Growth Company

Two women walking on grass past a pergola
Birmingham Botanical Gardens

This isn’t only the heart of Birmingham’s canal network: it is a historic hotspot for drinking and dining.

More about Gas Street Basin

VisitBritain/Storyman

People kayaking through Gas Street Basin, Birmingham, West Midlands
Gas Street Basin

Fishing, sailing, rowing, bird-watching: this forest-fringed wetland is full of outdoor adventures.

Discover Edgbaston Reservoir

rossiniarthur

Paddleboarding on Edgbaston Reservoir
Edgbaston Reservoir

Cruise through underground tunnels to discover fossils, wildlife and relics of the Industrial Revolution.

Tour Dudley Canal and Caverns

Dudley Canal and Caverns

A tour group being guided through a tunnel underneath Dudley Canal
Dudley Canal and Caverns

This city retreat offers state-of-the-art floatation tanks, to ease away the stresses of everyday life.

Book The Floating Spa

Video by Rob Abdul from My Love Photography

A floatation tank being prepared for a spa treatment at The Floating Spa in Birmingham
The Floating Spa

This extensive spa hotel features 12 biothermal rooms, a swimming pool, beauty salon and more.

 Relax at The Belfry Hotel & Resort

The Belfry

A group of women receiving a treatment at The Belfry Spa in Birmingham
The Belfry

For sightseeing tours, dinner cruises and private waterway charters, you’ve come to the right place.

Discover Sherborne Wharf Canal Tours

Sherborne Wharf

A barge sailing down a canal in Birmingham, near Sherborne Wharf
Sherborne Wharf canal tours

Alongside top designer and high-street shops, this mall features festivals, movies and great dining too.

More about Mailbox Birmingham

West Midlands Growth Company

Red brick building next to tall office building beside canal
The Mailbox, Birmingham

Independent boutiques rub shoulders with cocktail bars, beauty salons, artisan bakeries and more.

Visit Great Western Arcade

Great Western Arcade

An upstairs view across the Great Western Arcade in Birmingham
Great Western Arcade

Follow a self-guided bike trail at your own pace, and enjoy insightful history snippets on video, too.

Explore Secret Birmingham Cycle Tours

ecobirmingham

Two people cycling on a path in the countryside surrounding Birmingham
Secret Birmingham - cycling tours

Delve deeper into the city’s most fascinating and culturally-enriching corners, on these expert-led walking tours.

More about Positively Birmingham Walking Tours

Positively Birmingham

A tour group posing alongside a statue in Birmingham as part of a Positively Birmingham walking tour
Postiviely Birmingham walking tour

It’s 100% vegan, but this restaurant’s menu is enough to tempt even the most dedicated meat-eater…

Grab a table at BA-HA

BA-HA Birmingham

Two chefs opening up shop at BA-HA in Birmingham, a vegan food stall
BA-HA

Great cocktails, street food and ball games: is there a better combination for a winning night out?

Book The Floodgate

The Floodgate

Birmingham, England

A woman looking down a curling lane at The Floodgate in Birmingham
The Floodgate

Spectacular shows and attractions, spellbinding storytelling and exhilarating experiences make Warwick Castle one for bringing history alive.

Book tickets for Warwick Castle

gary718/Shutterstock

Warwick, England

A hot air balloon floats over Warwick Castle in Warwickshire, England.
Warwick Castle

Places to stay in Birmingham

West Side

Here you’ll find streets buzzing with nightclubs, bistros, cocktail bars and Birmingham’s brilliant Gay Village. You’ll also find Chinatown and Cadbury World here. And for those who fancy something more laid-back, there’s The National Sea Life Centre and plenty of parks and woodlands.

Digbeth

From the heart of this industrial centre into what’s transformed into the city’s cultural epicentre for arts and indie sellers. It’s a vibrant and happy place where you’ll find vintage to vegan, music to breweries all around budget-friendly stays.

Jewellery Quarter

A 200-year-old stylish part of the city that’s home to more than 500 jewellery shops, lots of small galleries, bars and swish restaurants. It also houses some decent budget and mid-budget gems - all very close to the city centre.

Explore nearby

The birthplace of 2-Tone music, and home to a bohemian village and a showy modern cathedral.

West Midlands Growth Company

Robot sculpture outside a building with geometric décor

Birthplace of the great bard, William Shakespeare, fall in love with this hopelessly romantic 16th century town.

©VisitBritain/Nemorin

Couple walking around the exterior of Shakespeare's Birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England

Steeped in legends that surround Robin Hood to literary greats, discover what this city has to offer.

projecthoop

A performer in front of Nottingham Castle

An unmissable destination for travellers, London is a melting pot of history, culture and green spaces.

VisitBritain/Hazel Parreno

Picadilly Circus underground station

Getting to Birmingham

With two major stations – Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International – it’s easy to reach the city by train from destinations across Britain. Chiltern Railways serve Birmingham Moor Street station from London Marylebone.

Located just outside of the city, Birmingham International Airport flies to many European and international destinations. Hop on a West Midlands Train direct to the city centre.

Getting around

An extensive bus, tram and train network means it’s easy to travel around Birmingham 24/7. If you’re a keen cyclist, there’s many traffic free bicycle routes – Birmingham’s beautiful when explored by bike.

By train

Find the best fares and discounts for train travel around Birmingham and the region at West Midlands Railway.

By bike

Fancy sightseeing as a cyclist? Check out the city’s best cycling routes and all the bike hire options at PushBikes.

By tram

Want to travel by tram or bus? Visit Swift and discover the easiest way to pay as you go for single, return and day travel tickets.

Want to know more?

Get top tips on places to visit and things to do from those in the know at Visit Birmingham.