Birmingham is the second largest city in the UK with a population of approximately 1,000,075 at the latest count. With a distinguished history based on its manufacturing heritage this proud city is now a magnet for tourists from all over the world and whether it is shopping you love, attractions or festivals and events, Birmingham and its surrounding area has everything you can think of.
Murder Mystery Events
If you are thinking of taking a weekend break in Birmingham why not try a Murder Mystery Evening? Packed with action, play-acting, dressing up and fine dining at the Marriott Hotel Murder Mystery Events are a fun way to spend an evening with friends.
Visit BBC Birmingham
This major broadcasting studio is home to long-running radio soap opera The Archers as well as Midlands Today and the Asian Network. You can take a look behind the scenes to discover how a show is put together and even have a go at making your own radio play.
Akamba Heritage Centre
Discover the spirit of Africa with amazing life-size animal sculptures and exotic plants. Take a stroll around the new reptile house or the African Bird walk and then sample some African or Caribbean cuisine in the restaurant and beer garden.
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage
Admirers of William Shakespeare’s works will adore this lovely cottage which belonged to his wife. Set within 9 beautiful acres, guides are on hand to tell you all about the cottage’s 600 year old history.
Birmingham Tours Ltd
Take an open topped double decker bus and see the sights in comfort. These run every weekend from the end of April to the end of September.
Shopping in Birmingham
How can you visit a great city like Birmingham and not take advantage of the huge variety of retail opportunities? With historic markets and the famous Jewellery Quarter together with shopping centres like the Bullring there is something here for everyone to enjoy. Birmingham’s streets are packed full of independent retailers too so you can always find something different to take home with you.
Cadbury World
Chocolate lovers everywhere will delight in taking a tour around this real-life Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory. You can learn how your favourite chocolate bars are made whilst learning about the history of traditional chocolate making. There are also 4D adventure and cinema attractions for chocolate fans of all ages.
Dragonboat Festival
One of the many exciting outdoor events is the Brindleyplace Dragonboat Festival which takes place in June every year. Twenty-two teams, many in fancy dress, compete in traditional Chinese longboats in this fun fundraising event. There is entertainment for all the family along the canal side too.
Music Festivals and Concerts
As you might imagine, many big names flock to Birmingham and there are music events on throughout the year. The Beyond the Tracks festival in September is a three day event featuring electronic and dance music from Leftfield and Faithless plus bands like Ocean Colour Scene and Maximo Park to name just a tiny example of the music on offer this year. From hard rockers like Rainbow and Kiss to the cast of country music hit show Nashville; from Celine Dion or Ariana Grande to jazz and soul; whatever your taste in music you will find plenty to entertain you throughout the year.
Birmingham Science Museum
For the tech and science fans the Thinktank offers everything from steam engines to talking robots and everything in between. Set inside the Millennium Point building there are four floors of exhibits, events and activities for all the family.
These are merely a small selection of all that Birmingham has to offer but there is so much more besides. Why not see what hidden gems you could find on your visit?
A lot of useful information in this post, thanks.