Birmingham is not the most obvious tourist destination you think of when visiting England or the UK, but you may be surprised to learn just how much it has to offer.
As a nearby local to the area (I’m a Wolverhampton native), I’ve seen the second city go through a remarkable transformation in recent years.
It’s gone from being underdeveloped and an undesirable city to now being one of the UK’s top major cities worth visiting that easily rivals the likes of Manchester and Liverpool.
In this blog post I’ll detail ten things that you really should know before visiting Birmingham. Hopefully you’ll learn why it is now regarded as such an impressive, young, dynamic city in the heart of England.
1. Birmingham has a fantastic nightlife
If you’re looking for a good night out when visiting Birmingham then you have plenty of options. The city has fantastic nightlife, just as good if not better than any of the other major cities in the UK.
Whether you prefer pubs, high class bars, Michelin-starred restaurants or clubs, there is a huge range of options available every night in the city.
The city centre offers a lot of reasonably priced bars and restaurants that are common throughout the country as well as higher class establishments.
But if you venture out from the centre then you’ll discover more variety, such as the following places:
- Chinese Quarter: this is one of the largest Chinatowns in the UK and always has a vibrant nightlife with a lot of top quality bars and restaurants.
- Brindley Place: Right next to Birmingham’s canalside, this area features a lot of restaurants just off of Broad Street, which is well known for its nightlife.
- Mailbox: Home to luxury boutique shops as well as BBC offices, this is a trendy place and is one of the UK’s largest mixed use destinations.
2. Birmingham has several trendy neighbourhoods
If you venture even a little further out from Birmingham city centre, then you’ll discover several neighbourhoods which have their own unique vibe which are well worth checking out.
Probably the most popular neighbourhood within walking distance from the centre is Digbeth, which was once a run down factory area but has been transformed into a lively place full of creatives.
Digbeth also features some of the best street art in the UK, with countless murals and quirky graffiti around every corner. Other interesting neighbourhoods in Birmingham worth checking out include:
- Moseley: This is a suburb just a few miles south from the centre of Birmingham and is full of independent shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs and more.
- Edgbaston: This is a leafy suburb about a 30 minute walk from the city centre and is famous for its cricket ground, historical building Winterbourne and one of the UK’s best independent cultural hubs: the MAC centre.
- Erdington: Located 5 miles north east from Birmingham is what is known as one of the nicest neighbourhoods in the region, featuring beautiful parks, landmarks and top rated restaurants.
3. Birmingham has the most canals in the UK
It is something of a myth that Birmingham has more canals than Venice, but that’s not actually true. However, Birmingham has a total of 35 miles (56 kilometres) worth of canals.
Most of these canals date back to the 1700s and 1800s and the city and this network were used for trading goods, keeping the city’s economy flourishing until railways became a faster alternative.
Nowadays the canals in the city have residential areas built up around them and are used by narrowboats. Going for a walk along one of the many canals provides a delightful escape from the city and you can pass through beautiful countryside and small villages.
4. Birmingham was the inspiration for: ‘Peaky Blinders’
Birmingham also served as the main inspiration for the hit TV series: ‘Peaky Blinders’, which was based on Birmingham’s real life ‘slogging gangs’ of the late nineteenth century.
The success of Peaky Blinders has raised interest in the city and there are street murals of the main characters near Birmingham New Street Station.
There are also Peaky Blinders themed walking tours in Birmingham where you can learn more about the slogging gangs, complete with a professional guide who acts in costume as a gang member.
5. Birmingham is a fantastic shopping city
Birmingham in my opinion is probably the best city in the UK outside of London when it comes to shopping.
Not only is it home to the biggest Primark store in the entire world, but it has a grand total of over a thousand shops – so a perfect place if you’re in the mood for a shopping spree! The top shopping locations in the city are:
- Bullring Shopping Centre – The biggest shopping centre in central England with over 240 stores, restaurants and more.
- Grand Central Station – Located above the city’s main railway station, there are a total of 62 shops here and features a lot of great dining options too.
- The Mailbox – one of the UK’s largest mixed use destinations, this former Royal Mail building features luxury clothing stores, department stores and high class restaurants as well.
6. Birmingham is full of beautiful architecture
Birmingham was once known for having really less than attractive architecture, with the city featuring not so appealing ‘brutalism’ architecture from the 50’s and 60’s which you can still see today.
It’s a bit of a misconception that Birmingham is a bit of a dull, grey city and in recent years the aesthetic of the city has completely changed.
The city is now full of modern skyscrapers and unique buildings such as the iconic Birmingham Library and the fascinating oddity that is the futuristic looking Selfridges store.
There is also plenty of historical, gothic architecture in the city centre, with the likes of Birmingham Town Hall, Centenary Square, the Hall of Memory and plenty more.
People visiting the city for the first time are quick to comment how delightfully surprised they are by the mix of impressive architecture – so be prepared to have your expectations blown away!
If you want to see all of the city’s major landmarks, historic buildings and impressive architecture then I suggest going on a walking tour of the city, where you can see and learn all there is to know about the place in a short amount of time.
7. Birmingham has the biggest public library in Europe
As mentioned, one of the most impressive modern buildings in the city is Birmingham Library, located in Centenary square.
It is the biggest public library in Europe and one of the biggest in the world – measuring 31,000 square metres and featuring 10 floors in total.
The exterior design is really unique as well, featuring a pattern of interlinked metal rings over golden, silver and glass facades. There is also an amazing rooftop garden on the seventh floor, which has some of the best views of the city’s skyline you can find.
8. Birmingham has a lot of Michelin-starred restaurants
As mentioned, there are a lot of great options when it comes to restaurants in Birmingham, with the city having a total of 9 michelin-starred restaurants – with only London having more in the UK.
Let’s take a look at 3 of the best michelin-starred restaurants in the city are:
- Adam’s Restaurant – Based in the city centre in a beautiful building, this restaurant features modern dishes and a world class wine menu too.
- Purnell’s Restaurant – Ran by Birmingham local and TV chef Glynn Purnell, this has been one of the city’s finest eating establishments since it opened in 2007, with a focus on mostly British dishes.
- Opheem – this is the only michelin-starred Indian restaurant outside of London, showcasing the best that Indian cuisine has to offer.
9. Birmingham is home to jewellery makers in the UK
40% of all jewellery produced in the UK is made and designed in Birmingham, and more precisely the Jewellery Quarter.
This neighbourhood is probably the most historic area in the city and just a short walk outside of the city centre. The Jewellery Quarter has been a hub of jewellery making dating back to the mid 1700’s and is a fascinating place to explore.
Nowadays it is a thriving urban village with plenty of restaurants and bars and still has over a 100 jewellery retailers. The area features some beautiful Georgian architecture, such as St. Paul’s Church that was built in the 1800’s.
In my opinion this is the best neighbourhood in all of Birmingham with so much history yet trendy at the same time with some beautiful places to visit. I highly recommend going out of your way to explore the area when in the city.
10. Birmingham has one of the best Christmas Markets
And last but definitely not least, Birmingham is home to one of the biggest and best Christmas markets in the whole of the UK.
Known as the: ‘Frankfurt Christmas Market’, this is a German themed Christmas market that first came to the city in 1997 and has been an annual tradition since 2001.
This is one of the best times of the year to visit Birmingham in my opinion and it is a great excuse to get into the festive spirit. I always make sure to visit the city during Christmas to enjoy the festive feeling and merry atmosphere.
For a few weeks in the run up to Christmas, Victoria Square and the main high street is overtaken with countless stalls selling everything from German beer, Frankfurter hot dogs and more.
Birmingham FAQ’s
Still not sure about visiting Birmingham? Let me answer some of the most commonly asked questions about England’s second city:
Is Birmingham safe for tourists?
Yes, on the whole Birmingham is indeed considered to be a safe place to visit for tourists. Birmingham locals are considered to be very friendly and welcoming to tourists and it’s just as safe as any other major city in the UK.
Having said that, crime and petty theft does occur every day in the city – but there is a strong police presence which is reassuring.
My advice would be to stick to the main city centre and recommended neighbourhoods. Definitely avoid neighbourhoods that have a bad reputation (of which there are several in Birmingham), such as Harborne, Bordesley Green. Aston, Ladywood and Lozells Nechells.
To be honest there’s no reason why you would visit these neighbourhoods anyway, but make sure you don’t end up in them by accident. Crime occurs in the city centre too, so keep your wits about you just as you would in any other major European city.
How many days should you spend in Birmingham?
This all depends on how much you want to see and do in Birmingham. It’s possible to see a lot of the city in just one day. But in my opinion, I think 2 days in Birmingham would be ideal to see everything that it has to offer.
How do you get to Birmingham?
With Birmingham being the biggest city by far in central England, it is really easy to get to. The city has very good public transportation options, with Birmingham New Street Station being one of the major railway stations in the UK.
Because it is so central, it means that you can reach most parts of the UK within a few hours from Birmingham, so it’s the ideal place to plan day trips from.
From the train station you can catch trains to pretty much anywhere in the UK, whether you want to head south to London or north to the likes of Manchester, Liverpool or even Edinburgh.
You can also reach Birmingham via car or bus, with plenty of major motorways leading to the city. And if you’re flying in from abroad, then Birmingham International Airport is only 15 miles outside of the city centre.
It’s easy and straightforward to hop on a train from the airport to Birmingham New Street Station in the city centre, which usually takes around 30 minutes to reach.
Birmingham also has a tram service that connects the city to other parts in the region, and goes all the way from Edgbaston to nearby city Wolverhampton.
Conclusion…
So that concludes my list of 10 things to know before visiting Birmingham. It is now such a major UK city that is diverse, lively, modern and full of interesting things to do.
Whether you want to experience its great nightlife, visit some of the more interesting neighbourhoods close by, such as Digbeth or the Jewellery Quarter, or you’re just passing through, there’s plenty of activities here.
It may have had a bad reputation in the past for not having a lot to offer, but nowadays that couldn’t be further from the truth.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading through everything you need to know before visiting Birmingham, it’s a city that will positively surprise you!
Author’s Bio: Mark is from Wolverhampton in England and started his travel blog site mjtravelguides back in August 2022 after deciding to combine his love of writing and travelling. He has visited over 40 countries, mostly as a solo traveller.
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Twitter: @MJ_TravelMan