Birmingham City Hotels

Birmingham City - General Information

Often referred to as England’s ‘second city,’ Birmingham is a vibrant metropolitan area, with excellent shopping and a lively nightlife, located in the West Midlands. Its reputation was forged during the industrial revolution, when its unofficial titles included ‘the workshop of the world’ and the ‘city of a thousand trades’. Today the main legacy of this industrial heritage is the massive canal network, which lends the pedestrianised city centre a distinctive character. Though post-war reconstruction filled the city with some less than lovely buildings, since the 1990s many of these have been pulled down and replaced with far more attractive architecture that has added hugely to the city’s visual appeal.

Bullring Shopping Centre, Birmingham

Today the city offers a host of landmarks and activities. The celebrated new shopping centre, the Bullring, boasts brand name stores, such as Karen Millen and Debenhams, as well as its most eye-catching resident: a stunningly designed branch of Selfridges. The Mailbox (home to Harvey Nichols) is an exclusive development where international fashion and lifestyle design meets contemporary art and luxury furnishings. The Jewellery Quarter, to the north of the city centre, specialises in jewellery and contains many small workshops and retailers. All aspects of Asian culture can be experienced in the Balti Triangle, from which the Balti-style curry is said to originate. Family-orientated attractions include Cadbury World and The National Sea Life Centre. Edgbaston, south of the city centre, is one of the spiritual homes of cricket. The Symphony Hall is widely regarded as one of the finest concert halls in Europe, while the 11,000 capacity NEC Arena (out at the airport) attracts leading performers from the world of rock and pop.

Edgbaston Cricket Ground

Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham

Edgbaston is a leafy, affluent suburb to the south of Birmingham, very different in appearance from the built-up city centre. Dating from 1886 (and granted Text status in 1902), its cricket ground is home to Warwickshire County Cricket Club. As well as being a venue for regular county matches, the ground often plays host to the England cricket team during one-day internationals and test matches. It has a capacity of 21,000, with distinguishing features including the Thwaite Memorial Scoreboard and the large Eric Hollies Stand. Its cricket centre, opened by Prince Philip in 2000, is widely acknowledged as the finest indoor cricket facility in England, offering a range of services from net-hire and individual coaching sessions to corporate events and birthday parties. In 2007 Warwickshire announced plans for a £20 million redevelopment of Edgbaston, which would incorporate a new pavilion and take capacity to over 25,000. This is subject to obtaining finance and planning permission.

The Edgbaston area also boasts a world-class tennis venue, The Edgbaston Priory Club, and a golf course, which, though members only, offers good views over the southern part of the suburb.