The second largest city in the United Kingdom, Birmingham might not be the first place that comes to mind when booking a weekend city break.
But a blend of 18th century architecture with modern buildings alongside art, culture and incredible activities, don't write it off just yet.
England's second city Birmingham is the perfect place for an affordable weekend away. Here are the top 10 things to do in Birmingham.
BMAG is home to over 40 galleries of work and is famous for its Pre-Raphaelite paintings, which are part of the largest public Pre-Raphaelite collection in the world.
If you’re looking for some inspiration, Ikon is the place to visit. Ikon is an internationally acclaimed contemporary art gallery located in Birmingham and is housed in a magnificent neo-gothic school building – plus it’s free entry to all. Bargain.
Love books? Visit the largest public library in Europe, the iconic Library of Birmingham, which hosts an array of events and festivals, and has a Shakespeare Memorial Room on its top floor.
Birmingham’s retail offer is beyond any shoppers’ wildest dreams. From high-end luxury such as the Mailbox and Selfridges, to the city’s historic markets and world-famous Bullring.
The shops in Birmingham offer you everything you could ever want in an attractive and compact space, with plenty of great cafes, bars and restaurants to keep you going.
Birmingham is known as the city of 1,000 trades and partially gets its name from the craftspeople who make over 40% of the UK’s jewellery. This is the place to go if you’re looking something special that can’t be bought on the high street.
Formerly home to Bird’s Custard factory, Digbeth has transformed into a creative hub, where you’ll find everything from tech gurus, graffiti murals and tantalising street-food connoisseurs.
Birmingham creates the chocolate that makes the world go around! The famous roots of Cadbury chocolate lie in a factory based in Bourneville.
Birmingham is known for inspiring JRR Tolkien’s fantasy fiction through its surroundings of Sarehole Mill and Moseley. Come and explore the Tolkien Trail where you can walk in the footsteps of the famous writer.
Birmingham has an array of delicacies from its richly diverse population, and holds the title of being the UK’s curry capital and home of the balti.
Spend some time exploring Birmingham’s superb canal network, boasting more miles of canals than Venice. Moor up in Birmingham’s Brindleyplace where you can expect high quality dining experiences from a host of canal-side restaurants and bars.
Convinced? It is a great spot for a weekend away and these are our top 10 things to do in Birmingham. If you need more information on the Second City, pop over to Visit Birmingham to find out even more about this unique English city.
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