England: West Midlands : Birmingham

Town, Postcode, Attraction

Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England, is the second largest (by population) city in England and is best known for being a major powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution. Gaining the name as the "Workshop of the World" it will not come as any great surprise that many of the finest attractions in this city relate to this period of history but there is much, much more to the City of Birmingham than it's right industrial heritage.

Birmingham emerged as an industrial centre at the early stages of the Industrial Revolution so the area is festooned with canals and warehouses of this period. Today the extensive canal system offers a unique way in which to enjoy both the city and the surrounding area and, as you can see from the photograph to the left, parts of the city are made all the more attractive by the beautiful canal boats and barges.

For a city so heavily involved in industry it may be surprising to learn that, in 2007, it was voted the second most livable city in the United Kingdom (and 55th in the world). Another fact which may come as a surprise is that it is actually the 4th city most visited by foreign visitors.

People have lived in the area of present day Birmingham for over ten thousand years but for the vast majority of this time it was little more than a hamlet and even by the time of the writing of the Domesday Book it was described only as a small village. The first signs of expansion appeared in the 16th Century when the metalworking industry took advantage of the relatively accessible, and abundance of, iron ore and coal. Today the Birmingham economy is dominated by service industries and tourism is increasingly becoming an important element.

Birmingham has benefitted greatly by internal investments and the numerous prestigious facilities include the International Convention Centre and National Exhibition Centre which help to make the city lay claim to nearly half of the UK conference and exhibition trade.

Retail is also an incredibly important contributor to the city economy and if you are visiting Birmingham it is well worth spending some of your time shopping. Birmingham features a Selfridges department store and the second largest Debenhams in the country as well as numerous other department stores, shops and boutiques.

Checkout our Birmingham Hotel Listings below or our listings of Pet Friendly Birmingham hotels

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Places To Visit In Birmingham, England

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
With over 40 galleries and two major exhibition spaces there is certianly plenty to see.

Ikon Gallery
Always a superb display of contemporary art, great cafe to grab a bite too.

Museum of the Jewelleruy Quarter

National Sea Life Centre

Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Gallery

ThinkTank

Tolkien's Birmingham

Brindleyplace

The Bullring Shopping Centre

The National Indoor Arena

Soho House

Cadbury World

Sutton Park

The Winterbourne Botanic Garden

Woodgate Valley Country Park

Churches To Visit
The Church of St Laurence in Northfield, Church of St Edburgha in Yardley, Church of St Andrew in Handsworth, Church of St Paul, Cathedral Church of St Philip, Church of St Agatha in Sparkbrook, Church of St Nicholas in Kings Norton and the Church of the Holy Trinity in Sutton Coldfield. You will find more beautiful churches to view in nearby Solihull and across the West Midlands.

Other Places To Visit In Birmingham
Aston Hall, 122-124 Colmore Row, Victoria Law Courts, 17 & 19 Newhall Street, Birmingham Town Hall, The Homestead in Edgbaston, 1 Yateley Road and New Hall Manor in Sutton Coldfield. The Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Cannon Hill Park, Castle Bromwich Gardens, Castle Vale Central Park, City Centre Gardens, Fox Hollies Park, Kings Heath Park, Lickey Hills Country Park, Moseley Bog, New Hall Valley Country Park, Peace Gardens, Queen's Park, Sheldon Country Park, Small Heath Park, Ward End Park, Winterbourne Botanic Gardens and Woodgate Valley Country Park.

Check Availability Of Hotels In Birmingham >

Hotels & Accommodation In Birmingham (city centre)

Name	Miles	Location	Star
Macdonald Burlington Hotel 126 New Street, Birmingham, B2 4JQ Rooms from: £56.00* Pet Friendly Read more...	0.1	Birmingham	4*
Britannia Hotel 6 Union Passage, Birmingham, B2 4RX Rooms from: £51.00* Pet Friendly Read more...	0.1	Birmingham	3*
The Briar Rose A Jd Wetherspoon Hotel 25 Bennetts Hill , Birmingham, B2 5RS Rooms from: £69.00* Read more...	0.1	Birmingham	3*
Staying Cool at The Rotunda 4-star* 150 New Street, Birmingham, B2 4PA Serviced Apartments from: £69.00* Read more...	0.1	Birmingham	4*
Holiday Inn Birmingham City Centre Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham, B5 4EW Rooms from: £59.00*	0.1	Birmingham	3*
Staying Cool at The Rotunda 5-star* 150 New Street , Birmingham, B2 4PA Serviced Apartments from: £209.00*	0.2	Birmingham	5*
Hotel Du Vin and Bistro Birmingham 25 Church Street, Birmingham, B3 2NR Rooms from: £135.00* Read more	0.2	Birmingham	4*
Comfort Inn City Centre Station Street , Birmingham, B5 4DY Rooms from: £50.00*	0.2	Birmingham	2*
Radisson Sas Birmingham 12 Holloway Circus Queensway, Birmingham, B1 1BT Rooms from: £99.00* Pet Friendly	0.3	Birmingham	4*
Ibis Birmingham City Centre 21 Ladywell Walk, Birmingham, B5 4ST Rooms from: £60.00* Pet Friendly	0.3	Birmingham	2*
Copthorne Hotel Birmingham Paradise Circus , Birmingham, B3 3HJ Rooms from: £69.00*	0.4	Birmingham	4*
Crowne Plaza Birmingham City Centre Holliday Street , Birmingham, B1 1HH Rooms from: £95.00* Pet Friendly	0.4	Birmingham	4*
Holiday Inn Express Birmingham City 65, Lionel Street , Birmingham, B3 1JE Rooms from: £49.00*	0.4	Birmingham	3*
Ramada Birmingham City 160 Wharfside StreetThe Mailbox , Birmingham, B1 1RL Rooms from: £89.00*	0.4	Birmingham	3*
Malmaison Birmingham 1 The Mailbox,Wharfside Street , Birmingham, B1 1RD Rooms from: £125.00* Pet Friendly	0.4	Birmingham	3*
The Spires Suites Viva 10 Commercial Street, Birmingham, B1 1RH Suites & Apartments from: £119.00*	0.4	Birmingham	4*
Nitenite 18 Holliday Street, Birmingham, B1 1TB Rooms from: £64.00*	0.4	Birmingham	2*
Thistle Birmingham City St. Chads Queensway, Birmingham, B4 6HY Rooms from: £79.00*	0.4	Birmingham	3*
Hyatt Regency Birmingham 2 Bridge Street , Birmingham, B1 2JZ Rooms from: £109.00*	0.5	Birmingham	4*
Ibis Birmingham Holloway Circus 55 Irving Street , Birmingham, B11DH Rooms from: £51.00* Pet Friendly	0.5	Birmingham	B
Ramada Encore Birmingham City Centre Ernest Street / Holloway Head , Birmingham, B1 1NS Rooms from: £99.00*	0.5	Birmingham	3*
Hatters Birmingham 92-95 Livery Street Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, B3 1RJ Rooms from: £55.00*	0.5	Birmingham	4*
Comfort Zone Apartment 5 180 Granville St Corner if Ridley St, City Centre, Birmingham, B1 1RY Apartments from: £110.00*	0.5	Birmingham	4*
Comfort Zone @ Parkside 180 Granville Street, Corner of Ridley St, City Centre, Birmingham, B1 1SA Apartments from: £109.00*	0.5	Birmingham	4*
Etap Hotel Birmingham Centre 1 Great Colmore Street , Birmingham, B15 2AP Rooms from: £38.00* Pet Friendly	0.6	Birmingham	B
Jurys Inn Birmingham 245 Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2HQ Rooms from: £89.00*	0.6	Birmingham	3*
Comfort Zone@cutlass by Broad St 26 Granville Street City Centre, Birmingham , B1 2LJ Apartments from: £99.00*	0.6	Birmingham	4*
Aston Conference Centre Aston Street, The Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET Rooms from: £36.00*	0.6	Birmingham	3*
City Inn Birmingham 1 Brunswick Square , Birmingham, B1 2HW Rooms from: £225.00*	0.7	Birmingham	4*
Novotel Birmingham Centre 70 Broad Street , Birmingham, B1 2HT Rooms from: £89.00* Pet Friendly	0.7	Birmingham	4*
City Nites Arena View Edward Street, Birmingham, B1 2RX Apartments from: £109.00*	0.7	Birmingham	4*
Paragon Hotel 145 Alcester Street Digbeth, Birmingham, B12 0PJ Rooms from: £35.00* Pet Friendly	0.8	Birmingham	3*