Birmingham

Birmingham is the second largest city in the United Kingdom (after London) but does not draw so many tourists. The city is quite spread out with the city centre quite cramped in and difficult to navigate. The largest event space in the UK is here - The National Exhibition Centre, located on the outskirts of the city with it's own train station, hotels and easy access to Birmingham City Airport.

Birmingham New Street is the main National Rail train station and is located in the middle of the city with easy access to many of the city's attractions. Getting around the rest of the city is relatively easy by car with many car parks but there is also an extensive and frequent bus system. There is also a limited tram service.

Every year from November to Christmas the city hosts the “largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany or Austria”, Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market (see my review from a few years ago here). It takes place in the centre of the city and can be very busy so plan accordingly.

See here for my event reviews.

Birmingham New Street station is attached to the massive Bullring shopping complex and has many places to eat. Often overlooked is the large covered market near to the Bullring which is used by the locals rather than tourists.

This is the site of the original Cadbury chocolate factory and is still used today. Cadbury World consists of a series of exhibits telling the history of Cadbury's and chocolate as well as rides aimed at younger visitors both inside and in a space out the back of the building. Sadly, they used to show more of the factory itself than they do now (there was also a small museum which may or may not be open if you visit) but you still do get “free” chocolates when you enter and a glass of liquid chocolate…There is a plenty of free parking on site as well as a cafe, and shop (of course).

Though closed for years for renovations, the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery just off the impressive Victoria Square is now open. The museum is free to visit.

Though quite a distance from the centre of the city, the Black Country Living Museum is well worth a visit (there is an entry charge that provides access for a year). It consists of a set of buildings that have been moved here from nearby that capture various eras in the local community. Actors/volunteers in the buildings explain a bit about their history and the goings on in the museum - Thankfully they do not (always) pretend to be the inhabitants themselves and are easy to talk to. This is an amazing place to visit and well worth the trip…

There are individual buildings scattered throughout the site but there are two sections of shops that can be found in two sections, one is more modern and has the amusement park rides, the first you come across when you walk down into the site and the second, lower, section is of older buildings.

However, there is lots to do here in addition to visiting the old buildings, the mock-up of a local coal mine and the canal boats:

• Demonstrations - There are demonstrations of various activities throughout the day such as making bricks and pouring lead so be sure to note the board listing them just outside of the visitor centre when you enter.

• Eat and drink - There are two pubs, a fish and chip shop as well as a butcher where you can actually purchase something to eat/drink that is true to the era (the minced meat faggots and vibrant green mushy peas from the butcher and the fish and chips are probably the best I have ever eaten…anywhere).

• Film - There is a small cinema here showing old black and white/silent films on an hourly basis.
• Transport - There are old buses (or, occasionally, trams) to take you around the site with a convenient stop just outside the visitor's centre. There is also a small exhibit of old vehicles just before you enter the attraction near the visitor centre (at the top of the hill).
• Boat Trips - Though an extra charge, the Dudley Canal & Caverns are attached to the far end of the site where you can take a canal boat into deep caverns carved into the local rock.

• Fairground - Rides rescued from the sadly no more Carters Steam Fair are available to ride in the centre of the site.

There is a large, modern visitor centre with souvenir shop and restaurant along with onsite paid parking and city bus service to get to the site.

I have tried a few places, see here for my reviews.

For further information, please see:

• Birmingham City Council
• Visit Birmingham
• Wikipedia - Birmingham
• Wikitravel - Birmingham