THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND

Welcome to Birmingham, England

AOJ welcomes you to Birmingham, England!

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of Birmingham City Centre

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A Bit About Birmingham

Birmingham is England's second largest city with a population of around one million. Located in the West Midlands region of England, it is a major industrial city with a rich history.

The City is surrounded by a ring of industrial towns of which it is the commercial and financial center. Within a 50-mile radius of the city centre live approximately six million people.

Until the discovery, in the Middle Ages of coal and iron nearby, Birmingham was a relatively small town. Rapid growth took place during the Industrial Revolution and Birmingham became a principal manufacturing centre. The 18th century saw Birmingham linked by canal with the country's major ports.

Lifford Canal Junction, Kings Norton, Birmingham, England

The canal at Lifford Junction, Kings Norton.

At this time the local scientists formed the Lunar Society, which became an important platform for philosophical and scientific inquiry. Many of these scientists became famous throughout the world such as James Watt, Matthew Boulton and Joseph Priestley. It was in Birmingham that Priestley discovered Oxygen before being driven out because of his dissenting religious views and support for the french revolution.

Pioneering work on the steam engine took place here too! And, Birmingham's central location helped its development as a major road and railway centre. It soon became known as the "workshop of the world".

Science and technology has helped to make Birmingham what it is today. Opened September 29th 2001 - Thinktank - the Birmingham Museum of Science and Discovery, is one of the most exciting new visitor attractions in the Midlands.

Birmingham's historical Jewellery Quarter still makes most of the jewellery made in the country and has now become a major tourist attraction with more than 100 shops.

Click the picture
to find out about
Central Birmingham
c.1850-1914

Manufacturing industry and commerce is still vital to the prosperity of the region and make it a very exciting and energetic place. Now, with Birmingham International Airport bringing visitors from all over the world Birmingham has rightly become known as Europe's meeting place. Birmingham is a diverse city with modern and impressive skyscrapers and fascinating areas rich in history just waiting for the visitor to discover.

The people of Birmingham are rightly proud of their city. All about you there is evidence of an optimistic and imaginative people. The National Exhibition Centre and the impressive International Convention Centre, Symphony Hall - one of the foremost concert halls in Europe, the National Indoor Arena (the venue for major sporting events and concerts), new sophisticated shopping malls, new pedestrian only areas and top international hotels all help to make a dynamic and forward looking city. Recently, improvements around the restored canals, the new bars, restaurants and shops and the popular National Sea Life Centre has further transformed the city into a major international tourist centre. Birmingham also boasts the biggest and best night clubs in the country. Birmingham is also a significant sports centre. We have Premiership football, Test and County cricket, major tennis tournaments, and international athletics to name a few.

Official Birmingham City Football Club Site
Official Aston Villa Football Club Site
Official Warwickshire County Cricket Club Site

The centre of Birmingham has large modern shopping centres and shops specialising in everything from A to Z, there are indoor and outdoor markets where you can grab a bargain and you shouldn't forget to visit the famous Rag Market. The Bull Ring Shopping Centre and the Markets are undergoing major reconstruction work at present which will make the whole area more pleasant and provide an even wider range of facilities.

Out in the suburbs you can still find the small traditional corner shop, usually run by the owner.

The city's pubs vary from traditional locals full of character (and characters!) to ultra modern theme pubs. Many pubs have entertainment ranging from folk music through country and western to the latest, whatever it is! Birmingham is a cosmopolitan city reflected in the dozens of pubs, clubs, cafes, wine bars and restaurants serving food and drink from around the world.

Birmingham has a rich cultural life. There is something for everyone! Universities, art galleries and museums

, the world famous City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Royal Ballet

(based at the Hippodrome Theatre), D'Oyly Carte Opera Company (based at the Alexandra Theatre) and the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Glasshouses

to name but a few.

For the art lover the City Art Gallery

has an exceptional collection including many important Pre-Raphaelite paintings. The University of Birmingham has the Barber Institute of Fine Art that houses one of the finest small collections in the country. They also have a regular concert programme, lectures and family events.

For music lovers, we have plenty to offer. The choices range from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

to regular concerts by big name international Jazz and Rock stars. Take a walk around the city centre and you will find all sorts of street performances - if you like the act you can make a donation if you wish or even book them for your own event! You could be watching someone who will be a household name across the planet before long - who knows.

For theatre goers there are three professional theatres: the Alexandra, the Rep and the recently completely refurbished Hippodrome

. There are many smaller theatres too, offering excellent productions at unbelievably low prices.

Find out what's on and where in Birmingham and book tickets here -

.

We do get some nice weather here and there are dozens of excellent parks around the city to visit and relax in. Keep an eye out for the events hosted throughout the year in the parks - many are free.

Chocolate is made in Bournville and visitors from all over the world are welcomed at "Cadbury World" to see chocolates being made, have a sample or two
and learn about the history of cocoa.

Tyseley Locomotive Works Visitor Centre houses some classic examples of steam locomotives. They recently launched a regular Steam Train Service. They have frequent excursions and even run steam locomotive driving courses.

Just to the south of Birmingham, at Wythall, the Transport Museum houses a fantastic collection of buses and related items. They run regular excursions.

There are many places of interest and great beauty, such as Shropshire, Wales and Derbyshire within easy reach of Birmingham. Being in the centre of the UK and the national motorway network, Birmingham can easily be reached from all directions by road. There are intercity and regional railway services from Birmingham's Railway stations, regular coach services to destinations all over the country and scheduled flights to destinations all over the world from Birmingham International Airport. With a wide range of hotels and guest houses to suit all tastes and pockets, this all adds up to make Birmingham the ideal base to visit other areas of the country.

On most tourists "must visit" lists are Stratford-upon-Avon - the birthplace of William Shakespeare (with its three theatres and just 20 minutes away), Warwick Castle, the Potteries and the Cotswolds. Don't forget to add the Black Country Museum to your list - it's a re-construction of a typical Black Country Village (amongst the attractions, constantly being added to, are a commentated trip through the re-opened canal tunnel, an iron house, a pub "The Bottle and Glass" and a coal mine that you can go down). It is well worth a full day visit.

Although, listening to people talk you would think that Birmingham and the Black Country were permanently at war - this just is not the case, it is just our rather strange sense of humour! We love each other really...
Here is a great site about the Black Country

Birmingham's motto is "Forward" - and it is living up to its motto!

Fellow Brummies and other friends - if you notice errors in this page or would like me to add something to it please click here to email me and let me know - Thanks.

Links to other useful sites

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The Human City Institute is founded on the conviction that building cities which are truly human is the great challenge of the next millennium.

THE BIRMINGHAM'S ASSIST PAGES
Useful site about Birmingham, England - local government, local people and much more...

	BT - ten 'phone no. searches a day. Click "Directory Enquiries" on the site.
	Another place you may like to try for 'phone numbers is 192.com.
	Market days, venues and more, for most if not all UK markets.
	Birmingham and West Midlands newspapers
	Plan your Journey in the UK and Book your Tickets Here
Pictures of Birmingham	Links to Photography sites - some have great pics of Birmingham
	Listen to Live UK Radio on the Internet