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Eating Out - Shopping - Culture - Theatre - Music - Sport - Attractions

Welcome to Birmingham. Birmingham is England’s second largest city with a population of over 1 million people.

Eating out in Birmingham

Birmingham has become a city with a wealth of fine eateries to offer its visitor. The city now boasts 3 restaurants with Michelin stars to their name. Book a table at one of these great restaurants to make your stay in Birmingham extra special:

• Simpson’s is Birmingham’s original fine dining restaurant is situated on Highfield Road in the suburb of Edgbaston. Food is modern / eclectic with a French theme. For reservations please call 0121 454 3434.
• Purnell’ is named after its head chef Glynn Purnell and comes very highly recommended. The restaurant is situated on Cornall Street, Birmingham. For reservations please call 0871 961 7890.
• Turner’s serves Best of British fayre and it’s food is overseen by famous chef Brian Turner. This fantastic restaurant is situated in the Copthorne Hotel on Paradise Circus, Birmingham. For reservations please call 0121 200 2727.

There are many other eating options in Birmingham city centre:

Brindleyplace, part of Birmingham’s redeveloped canalside district is home to some of the best eating out in the city. Restaurants include Bank, Cielo, City Cafe and a number of far eastern options.

The Mailbox is home to restaurants such as Strada, The Oriental, Bar Room Bar, and Red Peppers.

What if you fancy a curry? Birmingham is the Capital of the Balti. Visit Birmingham’s Balti triangle, with numerous options between Sparkbrook, Balsall Heath and Moseley, 3 areas of Southern Birmingham that make up the Balti Triangle. For more information call 0121 303 4032.

Shopping in Birmingham

Birmingham now claims to be Britain’s favourite shopping destination outside of London’s West End. 2 of the obvious places to head to for your shopping fix are The Bullring and The mailbox, both in Birmingham city centre.

The redeveloped Bullring is probably Birmingham’s most iconic building – designed like a curved spaceship covered in silver light bulbs – and houses 140 shops on 3 levels. The Bullring is anchored by Selfridges and Debenhams. Other shops include All Saints, Flannels and HMV, whilst there are also plenty of options for a coffee and a scack.

The Mailbox, situated on the revamped canalside is home to a number of design boutiques (Harvey Nichols, Hugo Boss, Emporio Armani and Gieves & Hawkes to name just a few), Home and Lifestyle stores (Bang & Olufsen amongst others) plus a number of Restaurants and Cafe bards (some of which are noted above).

Birmingham city centre’s famous Jewellery Quarter brings together 500 retailers and workshops.

Culture

Theatre

There are a number of theatres across Birmingham city centre. Birmingham’s three main theatres are listed below with contact information:

• Birmingham Symphony Hall is in the heart of Birmingham city centre and is famed for its acoustics. It is home to the Birmingham Royal Ballet and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. For events listing and to Book Tickets please call 0121 780 3333.
• Birmingham’s largest theatre is the Hippodrome and it also claims to be the country’s busiest welcoming audiences of more than half a million people each year. For Listings and Tickets please call 0870 7310 1234.
• The Birmingham Rep has been putting on plays since 1913. For Listings and Tickets please call 0121 236 4455.

Music

It is often said that Birmingham is the home of heavy metal (famous Brummie rockers include Judas Priest and Black Sabbath. There is so much more going on than just heavy metal (Duran Duran and ELO are other famous acts to come out of Birmingham) at many venues across Birmingham city centre:

• NEC Arena: 0121 780 4141
• Birmingham o2 Academy: 0121 262 3000
• National Indoor Arena: 0121 780 4141
• The Rainbow: 0121 772 8174
• Birmingham Barfly: 0121 633 8311

Sport

Football

Birmingham is home to two famous football teams:

• Aston Villa play their home FA Premier League matches at Villa Park . For tickets call 0800 612 0970.
• BirminghamCity play their Championship home matches at St. Andrews. For tickets call 0844 557 1875.

Cricket

It is not only football that Birmingham is famous for. Edgbaston Cricket Ground is the traditional home to Warwickshire County Cricket Club and also hosts England Test and One Day matches. For tickets call the Ticket office on 0870 062 1902.

Golf

Amongst a number of championship courses, The Belfry is perhaps the most famous golf course in and around Birmingham. The Belfry, which has hosted The Ryder Cup, is situated in nearby Sutton Coldfield. For information about playing the course please call 01675 470 301.

Other sports

The National Indoor Arena plays host to a number of Athletics, Tennis and Badminton tournaments throughout the year. For more information about forthcoming events please call 0121 780 4141.

Edgbaston Priory Tennis Club also hosts an annual warm up event for the elite women tennis players who are heading to Wimbledon.

Birmingham Attractions

There are many attractions to pack into your stay in Birmingham. Here are just a few attractions that might be of interest to you when visiting Birmingham:

• Cadbury World is museum based on Chocolate. It can’t get any better than that! The Cadbury family were one of Birmingham’s most famous families. The Cadbury brand dates back to 1824 when John Cadbury opened his first shop in Birmingham. This museum is a mecca for chocoholics, and you will be given a few edible gifts as you learn all about how Chocolate products make their way from the forest to you stomach. To Book tickets call 0845 450 3599.
• Barber Institute of Fine Arts is located on Campus at BirminghamUniversity. Works of art by Van Gogh, Monet and Remrandt hang on the Institutes walls.
• BirminghamBotanical Gardens and Glasshouses. This is the perfect place to escape from the fast pace of city life. For General Enquiries call 0121 454 1860.

Outside of Birmingham

If you base yourself in Birmingham city centre, there is still plenty to see within a short drive of the city.

Three great places to visit:

• WarwickCastle. England’s finest medieval castle and one of the country’s most popular attractions.
• Stratford Upon Avon. Home of Shakespeare and a picturesque town.
• AltonTowers. A favourite day out for the family, combining thrilling rides and stunning gardens.