Birmingham

Birmingham, in the West Midlands, is Britain's second-largest city. Known in the Victorian era as the "City of a Thousand Trades" and the "Workshop of the World", Brum, as locals call the city, is enjoying a 21st-century resurgence as a great shopping and cultural destination.



Understand
Birmingham (the h is silent) was at the heart of the UK's industrial revolution, and its wealth was built upon the multitude of trades that were spawned. This led to a massive canal network, with more miles of canals than Venice or Amsterdam (though they're very different types of canals).

Much of the city centre was destroyed during the World War II Blitz, and the replacement buildings added little to the city. However, since the 1990s, Birmingham has been undergoing a radical change and many of the post-war buildings have been replaced. The majority of the city centre is now pedestrianised, and the canals cleaned up to make for attractive walkways. Locals credit the City Council for the transformation, as the city retains its industrial heritage while now appearing modern and forward-looking.

The city's notable associations are as diverse as HP Sauce, Tony Hancock, Cadbury's chocolate, the Lunar Society (whose members included James Watt and Matthew Boulton), Jasper Carrot and the Spitfire and the Mini (car, not skirt). Birmingham also has an active music scene, with bands and artists like Black Sabbath, UB40, Napalm Death, Duran Duran, The Beat and Steel Pulse hailing from the area. The city is also known for being the backdrop of the BBC period TV drama Peaky Blinders, which has helped to increase interest in the city.

Birmingham has many literary associations – not only JRR Tolkien, but also Washington Irving, who wrote Rip Van Winkle while lodging here with his sister's family, and Conan Doyle, who bought a violin in Sherlock Street while a medical student in Birmingham. The authors Jim Crace, Judith Cutler and David Lodge are also residents.

The nearby locations of Shropshire, Warwick, and Stratford-upon-Avon provide more of the stereotypical images of "olde" England. However, Birmingham has many of its own tourist attractions, has an extremely lively nightlife, and the shopping is one of the best outside of London.

Orientation


The City of Birmingham as it stands today encompasses a very large array of former towns and villages surrounding the original town of Birmingham, that have been incorporated into it over the years. Therefore, even if a point of interest is officially in Birmingham, it can be located quite far away from the actual city centre, in what can appear as a separate small town or even countryside. Addresses are often given including the name of the suburb, to help locate them. Do not assume that any place with a Birmingham address is easily accessible once you are in the city.

Some of the more known districts and wards of Birmingham include Aston (home to Aston Hall and Aston Villa football team) Edgbaston (where the main campus of the University of Birmingham is located), and Selly Oak (secondary campus and student town). The city centre of Birmingham officially falls into the ward of Ladywood, which itself has little to do with the actual centre.

Other areas in the city include Perry Barr, Sutton Coldfield and Moseley.

The centre of Birmingham is confined by a dual-carriageway ring road officially called the A4540, also called the Middle Ring Road. The former Inner Ring Road, or A4400, was viewed as an urban planning failure and parts of it were dismantled and redeveloped. The A38 runs across the city centre, partially underground. The very central point of Birmingham is Victoria Square. The main railway hub is New Street station, next to the huge Bullring shopping centre, which is also an orientation beacon and leads up all the way to another railway station called Moor Street.

Birmingham city centre can be divided into several areas of different characteristics:


 * Core City Centre – extends northwestwards of the New Street station, inside the confines of the A38 and includes much of the surviving pre-war historic buildings of Birmingham, a number of important institutions and the historically prime addresses such as New Street or Colmore Row
 * Westside – extends southwest of New Street and beyond the former Inner Ringroad, and includes much of the remaining canals in central Birmingham. Alongside them, much new development took place, including civic buildings such as the International Convention Centre and Library of Birmingham, and multi-functional commercial projects such as Brindleyplace or The Mailbox
 * Eastside – the area southeast of New Street station, or more precisely behind the nearby Moor Street station. This formerly industrial area which included the long-disused Curzon Station as well now contains large swathes of unused, cleared land being redeveloped as parts of large urban planning projects, giving this part of town a modern yet unfinished appearance
 * Southside – the part southeast of New Street station retains a more traditional ambience with small buildings along narrow streets. Parts of it are occupied by Birmingham's Gay Village and the Chinese Quarter.
 * Deritend and Digbeth – the area directly eastwards of the Bullring centre contains much industrial and pre-industrial architectural heritage, and it has become a hub for everything creative and a rather pleasant area, which also includes Birmingham's Irish Quarter.


 * Jewellery Quarter – true to its name, workshops in the quarter still produce 40% of the UK's jewellery, and includes the country's largest Assay Office, and several museums. It retains the 19th-century appearance lost by other industrial parts of Birmingham and is a tourist attraction itself.
 * Gun Quarter – north of Jewellery Quarter and for decades known for firearms manufacturing, but now not seeing much commercial or municipal interest and of little interest to tourists.
 * Moseley is a suburb. Much of Moseley Village dates from Victorian times and is a conservation area. There is also a dovecote which pre-dates this at Moseley Hall hospital, on Alcester Road.  It is occasionally open to the public on certain Sundays during the year. Take the number 50 bus from the city centre - it goes straight down Moseley Road (A435) to Moseley village. The journey takes about 15 minutes. Alternatively, take the number 1 or 35 buses which stop by Cannon Hill Park Gooch Street

Visitor information

 * Visit Birmingham website

By plane
A free people mover, Air-Rail Link, connects the airport passenger terminal with Birmingham International rail station between 5:15AM and 2AM; it runs every two minutes and the journey time is less than two minutes. From Birmingham International rail station trains run to New Street Station every 5–15 minutes from around 6:05AM (Su 8:45AM) to 11:15PM. The journey takes 10–20 minutes depending on whether you get an express or local (stopping) service and costs £2.50 one-way (express service - Avanti trains only) or £3.60 one-way for a ticket valid on any service.

Bus service 900 runs every 20–30 minutes between Birmingham and Coventry via the airport from around 4:50AM (Su 7AM) to midnight, takes around 25 minutes (can be much longer in peak periods) and costs £2.20 one way; the ticket is not valid for transfers. Bus service 97A provides an hourly service through the night. A day ticket (Daysaver) for all NXWM buses is available for £4 (£4.60 before 9AM), but it can also be purchased for on any airport service. Exact change is required. If a group is travelling together, a Group Daysaver for £8 will cover up to 5 people for unlimited journeys for a day.

National Express coaches serve the airport every half hour during the early hours of the morning which is very handy for morning flights, as the trains don't usually start until later in the morning. The fare varies depending on whether it is booked in advance, although tickets can be purchased on the coach subject to seats being available.

A taxi from the airport to central Birmingham will take around 20–30 minutes and will cost around £22.

The National Exhibition Centre (NEC) is adjacent to the airport and can be accessed by the free Air-Rail Link via Birmingham International station.

Cars dropping off passengers at the airport must pay a minimum fee of £3. This includes taxis and private hire cars, which pass the charge on to passengers. The charge can be avoided by being dropped off at Birmingham International Railway Station, where there is no charge, and then using the free Air-Rail Link.

By train
Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

Birmingham is a major hub of Britain's rail network.

Allow plenty of time to find your train at New Street station as it is huge and very confusing. Most platforms (tracks) are divided into sections (e.g. Platform 4A, 4B and 4C) and it's not uncommon for two trains bound for different destinations to depart from the same platform. So make sure you wait in the right area which is labelled on screens above the platform, and board the right train! New Street Station is notorious for last-minute platform changes so it's advisable to wait close to the stairs and keep close attention to the information screens and PA announcements as you may need to make a quick dash to the opposite side of the station with only a few minutes until departure!

Raging Bull, the symbol of the city during the 2022 Commonwealth Games, is on permanent display at New Street Station. Now named "Ozzy", he is a static display and no longer snorts and stomps as before, lest any staff mistakenly couple him to rolling stock.

Other important stations are and. Both of these stations are on the so-called Snow Hill line, which mainly sees local traffic within the region operated by West Midlands Railway.

The exception is Chiltern Railways' service to both stations from London Marylebone, which rivals London Northwestern Railway (slow, cheap) and Avanti West Coast (fast, more expensive) services from London Euston to Birmingham New Street. The Chiltern route has become increasingly popular since infrastructure improvements mean the fastest trains are not much slower than West Coast services into New Street, it's generally cheaper and more scenic, and Marylebone and Moor Street are relatively small stations that still have a lot of the Victorian charm that Euston and New Street decidedly lack.

New Street and Moor Street are a 5-minute walk apart, and Snow Hill is about a 10-minute walk from each.

Timetables can be checked at National Rail Enquiries (premium rate phone number from mobiles: +44 8457 48 49 50) and tickets can be booked online via this platform or over the phone through the train operator.

By coach
Intercity buses, unless clearly stated otherwise, will terminate at. The City Centre is around a 10-minute uphill walk from the station along the slightly tatty Digbeth High Street, but people need not be alarmed as the Selfridges Building and skyline are clearly visible to guide you in the correct direction. some tickets include a free bus journey transfer to the city centre, on local public transport services. If you arrive at night (or have large amounts of luggage), consider getting a bus or taxi as the Digbeth area is not a very pleasant part of the city and is home to many pubs and other nightlife, which may intimidate strangers.

Birmingham Coach station has a booking office, two cafés, shop and other basic facilities. There are toilets (30 pence), vending machines (available 24 hours), and an information desk.

There are half-hourly (or more frequent) services from London (service 420), and services from most major cities (including Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Oxford and Sheffield) every two hours.

If you are taking the coach to an airport (such as for your journey home), leave at least two, preferably three hours early, as coach trips have been known to face significant delays if mechanical or personnel problems are encountered. National Express promises only to get you to the destination within the same day and will take no responsibility if the service runs late (the optional National Express insurance covers only your personal safety and your possessions).


 * Megabus, 0900 160 0900 (premium rate number). Serves London and Scotland.
 * National Express, 0870 580 8080.



By car


Birmingham is well sign-posted and surrounded by motorways; the M42, the M5, and the M6 which includes the infamous Spaghetti Junction (Gravelly Hill Interchange). Once in the West Midlands:


 * From the north, Birmingham is served by A-roads.
 * From the north-east, use the M1, M42 and M6.
 * From the east, use the M6.
 * From the south-east, use the M40 and M42.
 * From the south, Birmingham is served by A-roads.
 * From the south-west, use the M5 and M42.
 * From the west, Birmingham is served by A-roads.
 * From the north-west, use the M6.

Birmingham City Council operated car parks are available throughout the city, a list is accessible online.

The M5 will take you to the south-west, either the M42 then M40 or the M6 then M1 will take you to London and the south-east. In the other direction the M1 will take you to Leeds and the north-east. The M6 will also take you towards the north-west, Manchester and Scotland, or, via the M54, to north Wales.

By boat
Due to its industrial heritage, Birmingham has an extensive canal network and is on both the "Worcester & Birmingham" and "Grand Union" canals. Visitors travelling by narrowboat can choose from several tourist moorings, managed privately or by Canal & River Trust. Although the moorings are very busy in spring and summer, call ahead for availability.



On foot in the City Centre


Birmingham's City Centre is partially pedestrianised, and most things to see and do can be reached on foot. Birmingham walking directions can be planned online with the walkit.com walking route planner.

Visitors may enjoy the walk from the International Convention Centre (ICC) and the Symphony Hall on the top of Broad Street to the Bull Ring shopping complex, which takes around twenty minutes and may involve only one easy surface road-crossing. From the ICC, you walk east by the Repertory Theatre and Library of Birmingham in Centenary Square; then through the site of the former Paradise Forum (as of 2018, a building site) to Chamberlain Square; with the Museum and Art Gallery to your left and the Grade I-listed Town Hall on your right, you make your way to the spacious Victoria Square. At Victoria Square, you will find the Town Hall to the west, the Council Offices to the north, and the old Head Post Office to the South; the path you want to the Bull Ring is east, down New Street, which is a pedestrianized street lined with shops, stores, and kiosks. About five blocks down New Street, you will come to Corporation Street, the only road crossing you need to make on this walk. A few blocks later, New Street will turn into Rotunda Square. Bearing south towards St. Martin's Church, you will find the 21st-century Bull Ring Shopping Complex to your left and right.

Birmingham has a large canal network. In the city centre, extensive development has enhanced the environment and level of amenities around these canals, making them excellent pedestrian routes in their own right. Visitors would enjoy the peaceful ten-minute car-free canal stroll from Brindleyplace, National Sea Life Centre, and Sherborne Wharf, all next to the ICC, eastward under Broad Street, through the Gas Street Basin, to The Mailbox (the former Royal Mail's Birmingham head office turned into shops and restaurants).

Other walks in the City Centre include the wheelchair accessible summer Floral trail from The Mailbox to St Paul's Square, which in turn is the beginning point of another walk, the historic Jewellery Quarter in Bloom trail, where one can visit the Chamberlain Clock or St Paul's Church.

By bicycle


Birmingham City Council produces an excellent cycling and walking map of the area. You can pick one up from any local library, tourist information office, leisure centre or bike shop.

Birmingham is not a particularly cycle-friendly city, especially when compared to the rest of Europe, but it is possible to get around without too much trouble. There are plenty of places to lock a bike up in the city centre, but few cycle lanes and lots of pedestrians. Unless you are touring the UK, the best use for a bike in Birmingham is to explore the extensive local canal network, such as the canal trail leading to the historic New Smethwick Pumping Station.

Road and cycle path maintenance in the area is far from perfect, and it is not uncommon for trees and parked cars to obstruct the right-of-way. The standard of driving is as bad as in other cities, so exercise extreme caution on main roads and at night. The canal network can be accessed in the city centre from the Broad Street/Gas Street area, or at most road crossings elsewhere. The towpath is generally well-maintained to within a few miles of the city, and after that tends to be packed earth with plenty of mud and embedded bricks. A permit from British Waterways (free) is needed for towpath cycling.

The Sustrans National Cycle Network Route 5 (Oxford to Derby) passes through Birmingham from the south to the north-west. The local stretch is known as the Rea Valley Route, there is also the Cole Valley Route to the east.

Bicycle hire:



By public transport
Bus, train and Metro all come under the authority of Network West Midlands (Part of Centro, the PTE of Birmingham and surrounding area), their website is the best source for all information required on public transport in the region.

Birmingham City Council has public transportation information available online as well.

By bus
All areas of Birmingham are well-served by bus routes, operated almost exclusively by National Express West Midlands (NXWM) with some competition from smaller providers, notably Diamond Buses.

There is no central bus station for local services. Buses depart instead from one or more of five interchanges in the city centre (principally Bull Street/Priory Queensway, Snow Hill, Moor Street, Paradise Circus and New Street). Bus stop maps are available from libraries, tourist information offices and the Network West Midlands (NWM) office at New Street Station.

Route maps and timetables are available from the outlets mentioned above, and there are extensive online versions on the National Express West Midlands and NWM websites. If you do not have a lot of time to spare tracking down which buses serve which areas, you can use the Traveline Midlands Journey Planner (0870 608 2608).

Single fares are £1.90 (short hop) or £2.20 for NXWM services, and transfers are not allowed. There are no return tickets, but you can buy an all-day pass for NXWM buses, known as a 'Daysaver', for £4.20. Alternatively, a Group Daysaver will cover up to 5 people all day for £8. All these tickets may be purchased on the bus. NXWM buses do not give change, so make sure you have the exact amount required for the fare ready, so you do not hold up the queue behind you. A cheaper all-day "Plusbus" ticket, valid on all operators' buses as well as the Midland Metro tram and costs £3.10, can be purchased at the same time as a train ticket from outside the West Midlands county. Most routes operate until around midnight and start between 4AM and 6AM in the morning, but services 97A (to Chelmsley Wood and Birmingham Airport) and 50 (to Moseley and Druids Heath) operate 24 hours a day.

National Express West Midlands operates a shop in the Pavilions Shopping Centre (opposite Moor Street Station) which sells weekly and four weekly tickets, as well as smartcards with five Daysavers at a reduced rate of £4 each. There are also numerous NXWM agents located in shops around the city which sell bus passes.

Birmingham's bus system is roughly radial, with frequent services in and out of the city centre from most locations especially along the main radial routes. Additionally there are two useful circular routes, the Inner Circle, service 8A/8C, and the better known service 11A/11C, the Outer Circle (the A and C refer to anticlockwise and clockwise directions) which can be useful while travelling between different areas while avoiding the City Centre. There are also numerous services linking many suburbs, hospitals and shopping centres, which are generally less frequent and in some cases have no or poor evening or Sunday services. Compared to London, Birmingham has fewer bus lanes, which can result in much slower journeys at peak periods.

By train
There is an extensive overland rail network serving most of Birmingham and the West Midlands area, operated mainly by West Midlands Trains.

Route maps and timetables are available from libraries, tourist information offices, railway stations and the Traveline Midlands Journey Planner (0870 608 2608). You can take bicycles, pushchairs and wheelchairs on board without prior reservation, and there is usually a designated carriage.

Fares vary with distance, but you can expect to pay between £2 and £5 for a day return to a local destination. Fare-dodging is rife, and there has been a crackdown with ticket barriers at some stations (New Street, Snow Hill, Moor Street, Five Ways and University) and on-board checking. The penalty for not having a valid ticket is a £20 on-the-spot fine (which can be contested in court, but is rarely worth the hassle).

From New Street station, the cross-city line runs between Lichfield Trent Valley in the north and Redditch in the south, stopping notably at Sutton Coldfield (for Sutton Park), Aston (for Aston Hall), University (for the University of Birmingham), Bournville (for Cadbury World) and Barnt Green (for Lickey Hills). Local services also run to Hereford (via Worcester and Malvern), Leamington Spa, Northampton (via Birmingham International Airport, Coventry and Rugby), Nuneaton, Shrewsbury (via Wolverhampton), Stafford (via Walsall), Stratford-upon-Avon, Tamworth and Warwick. Additional services to these areas run from Snow Hill and Moor Street stations (they are on the same line), and you may not be able to catch a specific train from New Street.

By tram


Birmingham has a single tram line with 31 stops, rather grandly called the West Midlands Metro. It runs between Edgbaston and Wolverhampton, via Brindleyplace, New Street and Snow Hill stations, the Jewellery Quarter, West Bromwich, Wednesbury and Bilston. Further major extensions are taking place in 2022 and subsequent years.

The Metro runs from roughly 6:30AM–11:30PM Monday-Saturday, and 8AM-11PM Sundays and bank holidays. Fares vary with distance but expect to pay around £2 for a single, £3.50 for a return and £4.50 for a day pass (combined bus/train/Metro passes are also available). The full route, timetable and fare information is listed on the Metro website, and there is additional information on the TfWM website.

By water bus
Water buses and taxis operate out of the canal offices in Gas Street Basin (underneath Broad Street). They also provide tours of the area. Obviously, they are limited to the local canals and are significantly slower than other forms of transport.

By car
Birmingham's city centre is partially pedestrianised and has several unintuitive one-way systems. A car is a viable way of getting around the city and other areas, but a good map or sat-nav is essential.

Birmingham City Council produces a map of city centre car parks (available from tourist information offices). Expect to pay £1-1.50 per hour in Pay & Display areas and more on street meters. Parking attendants patrol popular areas regularly, so expect a penalty fee if you return late or being towed away if you're parked illegally.

Car hire is possible in the city centre and at the airport.

A congestion charge of £8 per day applies to vehicles using roads inside the A4540 Middleway ring road. The charge will not apply to low emission vehicles and there will be some initial exemptions for locally registered vehicles.

By motorcycle
Motorcycles and mopeds are becoming increasingly popular in Birmingham as a way of avoiding rush hour traffic jams, and usually enjoy free parking in city centre car parks. Although not a lot of car parks have bike areas, there are a number of bays around the centre but none of them have any rails to lock your bike to.

Taxi/private-hire
Birmingham has an abundance of taxi ranks all over the city, the best-served being New Street Station. Both hackney carriages and private hire vehicles are easy to find, but you should exercise caution and not get into an unmarked car or one you haven't booked.

Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest times due to clubbers going home in masses, and there can be waits of over an hour if you're somewhere busy like Broad Street.

Popular providers include:
 * MiniCabRide LTD, available 24 hours 7 days a week.


 * AFJ Minibuses, Birmingham Minibus hire available 24 hours a day.
 * Taxis Birmingham, has an online booking system.
 * Castle Cars, 13 Oak Tree Ln, Selly Oak, +44 121 472-2222.
 * Elite Radio Cars, Omnibus Garage, Harborne Ln, Selly Oak, +44 121 415-5000.
 * Falcon Cars, 211 Monument Rd, +44 121 555-6050.
 * TOA Taxis, 100 Vivian Rd, Harborne, +44 121 427-8888. All major credit cards accepted with onboard chip & pin facilities.
 * Big Yellow Taxi LTD, Carpenter Rd, 32 B15 2JH, +44 121 440-7117.

Uber
Alternatively the popular ride-sharing app Uber has a licence in the city and there are plenty of drivers around the city centre that can be hailed.

See
Birmingham doesn't have a reputation for being especially picturesque, but there is a lot of interesting architecture in the city centre that the shops and crowds sometimes obscure. For such a (relatively) large population centre, the countryside (in the form of country parks such as the Lickey Hills, Waseley Hills, etc.) is surprisingly close.



Museums and art galleries
For a place with a strong industrial heritage, Birmingham does not have the large range of historical attractions you may expect, however, this is offset by the arts being extremely well-represented.


 * The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is closed until 2024.
 * The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is closed until 2024.
 * The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is closed until 2024.









Factory visits
The West Midlands region has been the hub for automotive production and development ever since the invention of the motor car, and even today two car factories remain operational within the city limits of Birmingham, both offering factory tours. There is also a chocolate factory for some sweeter treats.

Religious buildings
Birmingham's population is very diverse, and communities from just about any country in the world can be found somewhere. This in turn has led to numerous centres for all the world's major religions.





Other architecture
Birmingham holds a wealth of architectural heritage from different eras, including also buildings with no touristically viable function. Some of them are listed below.







Parks and nature
There are small parks and green spaces all over the city and suburbs, and the countryside is only about thirty minutes away in any direction. The country parks and nature reserves usually contain a wealth of information about local flora, fauna and conservation efforts.

Events


Birmingham hosts some of the largest events, exhibitions and conferences in the country, which may or may not be of interest to a visitor.



Live music


The live music scene in Birmingham is vibrant and varied, and something can be experienced just about any night of the week. Libraries, tourist information offices and music-related bars and shops will stock copies of The Fly or "Ryan's Gig Guide" free publications with exhaustive listings of every music event going on in the city and surrounding area.


 * Birmingham Jazz Festival is held in July at multiple venues.
 * Birmingham Jazz Festival is held in July at multiple venues.
 * Birmingham Jazz Festival is held in July at multiple venues.
 * Birmingham Jazz Festival is held in July at multiple venues.
 * Birmingham Jazz Festival is held in July at multiple venues.

Theatre
In addition to the main venues mentioned below, there are several small theatres scattered around the city and the suburbs; pick up a What's On guide from a library or tourist information office for full listings.


 * Midlands Arts Centre (MAC). See Cinema. £5-20.
 * Midlands Arts Centre (MAC). See Cinema. £5-20.
 * Midlands Arts Centre (MAC). See Cinema. £5-20.
 * Midlands Arts Centre (MAC). See Cinema. £5-20.

Cinema


Birmingham's cinemas are quite reasonably priced due to stiff competition for the student market. Don't expect a huge range of "alternative" films, as even the independent places screen mainstream blockbusters to keep their revenues up.



Sports
Birmingham Community Leisure Trust centres are liberally scattered throughout Birmingham, typically offering swimming pools, sports courts, fields and exercise equipment, all available at much lower prices than you'd expect to pay at privately-run gyms. There's also plenty of golf courses, both municipal and private, across the city including the world famous Belfry complex.


 * Football: the Birmingham conurbation has three professional soccer teams.
 * Aston Villa play at
 * Birmingham City play at
 * West Bromwich Albion play at
 * Cricket:
 * Rugby league: Midlands Hurricanes play the 13-a-side game at Alexander Stadium in League One the third tier. The playing season is Feb-Sept.
 * Rugby Union: Moseley play 15-a-side in National League One, the third tier. Their home ground is on Billesley Common 4 miles south of city centre.
 * Rugby Union: Moseley play 15-a-side in National League One, the third tier. Their home ground is on Billesley Common 4 miles south of city centre.

Learn

 * There are also regular workshops at places such as the Midlands Arts Centre (see Cinema) and the Country Parks (see Parks and nature).
 * There are also regular workshops at places such as the Midlands Arts Centre (see Cinema) and the Country Parks (see Parks and nature).

Work
The vast number of shops, bars and restaurants in the city centre means that there is rarely a shortage of menial job vacancies. You will often see positions for minimum wage service or retail positions advertised in windows. There are also a lot of temping agencies able to find temporary office, driving and other jobs for travellers packing suits and CVs.



Buy


Since the beginning of the 21st century Birmingham has developed enormously as a regional shopping centre, with the old Bull Ring complex (once a notorious 1960s eyesore) being demolished to make way for a large shopping centre that includes Selfridges.

The city and suburbs have the usual assortment of supermarkets, newsagents and corner shops. The city centre is especially well-served, with three Tesco, two Sainsbury's and one Co-op outlets.

Shopping centres






Shopping streets
The principal shopping streets are New Street, High Street and Corporation Street. All include the usual assortment of high street chain-stores and discount outlets. Birmingham's High Street has become run down as of late, holding mainly discount stores, due to the attraction of the Bull Ring to larger name stores. However, New Street, going towards Victoria Square has many upmarket stores.

Eat
Birmingham is the balti capital of England, and the balti was invented here in 1977. It is a type of curry served in a thin, pressed-steel wok called a "balti bowl". The much-promoted "balti triangle" covers around 50 restaurants on Ladypool Road and Stratford Road in Sparkbrook (often referred to as Little Somalia), about 2 miles south of the city centre. Travel West Midlands has a deal with eight of the larger eateries whereby you can get a 15% discount for travelling by bus, pick up a Balti Triangle by Bus leaflet for full details. A taxi to the area will take around 10 minutes and cost £5. Although the area looks a bit run-down, there is little crime as the abundance of restaurants ensure that the streets are always busy.



Budget
Birmingham has a large student population, and the usual cottage industries have sprung up in campus areas to cater for their lack of cash. There are around a dozen cheap eateries in the Selly Oak area of Bristol Road, mainly Indian but also Chinese, Italian and English.

The usual fast food chains, kebab shops and burger vans are also scattered around the city and surrounding areas.

Moseley




Splurge
Birmingham has quite a few upmarket places, mainly due to the number of high-rolling businesspeople that drift in for conferences and other dealings.



Vegetarian and vegan
Considering its size, Birmingham does not have a wide range of vegetarian-specific places to eat. All the eateries mentioned above will have vegetarian options, but the Indian and Chinese places tend to have better variety. If you are vegan ask for your balti/curry to be cooked without ghee (clarified butter). Naan breads are generally not vegan whilst rotis are.



General
Dress code restrictions are rather common in Birmingham clubs, so be careful to check out each club's policy. Many clubs refuse to admit large groups of males in case of trouble, so go individually or in small groups. The usual excuse that door-staff give is that someone in the party is wearing the wrong type of shoes/coat/trousers etc. The general rule of thumb is no effort, no entry. This usually means shoes, not trainers, and a shirt, not a T-shirt. At the same time being dressed like that can be a hindrance, if you go to one of the cooler bars. It's best to check with someone who's been to the particular bar before. There are a number of areas in the city centre, which are defined below, but other areas to look for a night out are Moseley, Harborne and Selly Oak.

If you are looking for the average drink, virtually any pub or bar will do. If you are a real ale aficionado, there are several excellent pubs to visit, where dress restrictions do not usually apply. Highlights include The Wellington (Bennets Hill), The Shakeseare (Summer Row), another The Shakeseare (Lower Temple Street), The Old Contemptables (Edmund Street, near Snow Hill Station), and the Post Office Vaults (New Street).



City centre




The Arcadian
In the middle of Birmingham's rather small Chinatown, is an open-air shopping arcade with mostly Chinese supermarkets and restaurants. Right in the middle though, it's all bars. It tends to be a bit quieter and less rowdy than Broad street and has some of the better clubs in the city. The dress code around here is extremely strict in regard to logos on clothes, those are a definite no! Most of the bars are interchangeable, but recommended are:



Broad Street
Broad Street, the No 1 party street of Birmingham, has a large range of clubs, bars and pubs. This is a good location for a decent English Friday night. However, at the same time it is one of the more rowdy areas, and if trouble happens it will normally be on this road. The chances of this affecting you are slim. Just of to the side of this road is Brindleyplace, a classier and better area of bars, clubs and restaurants. Recommended bars are:



Digbeth
Birmingham has a large Irish community and many Irish pubs. Most of the city centre ones are spread along Digbeth High Street beginning with The Bullring Tavern near the Bull Ring and finishing with The Rainbow near Camp Hill.

Some recommendations in Digbeth are:

The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Hosts a range of nights, from Drum n Bass to Electro, not to be missed. The Rainbow Pub, An eclectic pub that hosts a variety of nights, one of the best places in Birmingham and is soon to be shut down. Also visit the Rainbow Warehouse, around the corner which is big on the rave scene and often joins with the Rainbow pub to host street parties such as S.L.A.G.
 * Every two weeks an indie night called Panic! is held at the Sanctuary in Dibgeth.
 * For a more eclectic mix of music and people take a look at the Medicine Bar in the Custard Factory just off the A34 in Digbeth (it's the big blue building).
 * Every two weeks an indie night called Panic! is held at the Sanctuary in Dibgeth.
 * For a more eclectic mix of music and people take a look at the Medicine Bar in the Custard Factory just off the A34 in Digbeth (it's the big blue building).



Hurst Street
Birmingham has a vibrant and visible gay scene centred around Hurst Street. Every Spring Bank Holiday this area, often referred to by locals as the Gay Village, hosts a gay-pride festival while its bars and clubs attract people from across the Midlands all year round. Hurst Street is well policed and homophobic attacks are rare, though the local fundamentalists may try to 'save your soul'. Birmingham is as gay friendly as Manchester, Brighton, and Blackpool. Birmingham has a large number of gay venues, the best being the Village, Eden, Equator, The Loft Lounge and the Queens Arms. The Fountain and Bolts are men only bars.

The Jewellery Quarter
Many of the more up-market bars and restaurants are located around St. Paul's Square in the Jewellery Quarter. This is also home to the Jam House, Birmingham's premier jazz club.



Harborne
Harborne was once a separate village, is now a mainly residential area a bit North of Birmingham University. The old village center, along Harborne High Street, now has a lot of pubs with a mixed crowd; students, faculty and others. There's a tradition among the crazier students; try to have a half pint in every pub in Harborne in one evening. With over 20 pubs and several km of walking involved, and the limited opening hours of British pubs, this takes some doing.



Newtown




Clubbing
The city hosts some of Britain's most popular clubs and events. Student nights are especially fun, with cheap drink and entry offers and busy clubs. Do not miss out on visiting at least one of these brilliant events:





Hostels
If you want a more social feel to your stay why not try one of the hostels the city has to offer.





Budget
There is ample choice of hotels in the economy sector in Birmingham.



Connect
As of June 2022, Birmingham has 5G from all UK carriers. Wifi is widely available in public places.

All public libraries, including the central Library of Birmingham, provide free internet access, though the connection can be slow and you may have to queue for a terminal; and you need a library membership card for access.

Cope
Birmingham grew to be a very multicultural population centre, so apart from Christian, religious services for many other faith groups are provided within the city.





Stay safe
As with the rest of the UK, in any emergency call 999 or 112 (from a landline if you can) and ask for ambulance, fire or police when connected. For non-emergency police matters, such as reporting crimes after they have occurred, lost property, etc.) call 101.

In general, Birmingham is a safe city. However, like most large cities, there are safer and more dangerous areas. Certain suburbs (see below) have had their share of gun crime problems, but these are extremely unlikely to affect you unless you make yourself part of the larger drug gang problem. Avoid any offers of cheap drugs as you might be lured into a secluded place and then robbed.

Muggers in Birmingham tend to operate in groups of two or three, typically one will ask you a question (to judge whether you are local or likely to hit back) while the others move in behind you so they can force you to the ground. If you find this happening to you, then move to the side, so you have a clear escape path and cannot be grabbed from the rear.

The city centre is well-policed. The only trouble you might witness is a small scuffle on the Broad Street nightlife quarter as the nightclubs turn out in the early hours of the morning. However, take care at either end of Broad Street where the traffic flow speeds up.

It is advisable to stay away from the city centre when football matches between the city's two professional teams occur. Some fans of Aston Villa and Birmingham City have a violent and raw hatred for each other, and violent clashes between them are a common occurrence on match days. On other days, when the teams are playing at home against other teams, it is less likely for major violence to occur in the city centre, but you may encounter pubs full of chanting football supporters, and this may be intimidating (and really annoying) for tourists.

As usual, common sense will keep you safe, avoid walking alone in deserted or poorly-lit areas, especially at night, keep your wits about you at cash machines, and do not get into unmarked taxis. Private hire cars must be pre-booked; black cabs may be hailed. The only higher crime-rate areas that tourists might want to visit are Aston and Sparkbrook: even these are fairly safe during daylight. Canal towpaths at night, if relatively near a road access point, can also be hazardous.

Avoid people who offer you a free "stress test" (especially in New Street, near the junction with Ethel Street) as they are trying to recruit you into the Church of Scientology.



Go next

 * Solihull just south has museums and the National Exhibition Centre.
 * Walsall just north has museums and the New Art Gallery Walsall.
 * Ironbridge was the birthplace of Britain's Industrial Revolution, which powered the growth of cities like Birmingham.
 * London is just over an hour away, with inexpensive fares if you travel off-peak.