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Historic Towns & Picturesque Villages

A Head for Heights

Newquay

a Seaside Town in the county of Cornwall

St Giles on the Hill Church.

Norwich

a Historic City in the county of Norfolk

Pictures of Birmingham

a Historic City in the county of West Midlands

About Birmingham

Birmingham, Britain's second city, known as the city of a thousand trades, has long been recognised as one of the World's most important manufacturing and commercial centres.

The first record of Birmingham, is as a small roman station on Icknield Street. It became an industrial town in early times and is known to have supplied thousands of sword blades to the Parliamentary forces during the Civil War in the 16th-century.

In spite of the grinding povery associated with 19th-century industrial towns, the city developed and prospered. . This new prosperity caused the creation of many fine new buildings. The Town Hall, built in 1834 is modelled on a classical roman temple. The City's Council House of 1879 is of grand Victorian proportions. The Anglican Cathedral of St.Philip, dates from the 18th-century
and the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St.Chad, designed by Augustus Pugin, was built around 1840.

The City's Bull-Ring Centre has been re-developed twice. The first rebuild was in the 1960's, the second New Bull-Ring was only recently completed and opened in 2003. This massive complex comprises a vast pedestrianized shopping centre and offers many facilities, such as markets, car-parking and restaurants. All this is within easy access to the City's air, road and rail links. Interestingly, the Bull-Ring covers an area which in Medieval times was the Village Green!

Much effort too, has gone into the preservation of the City's great network of Canal's. A network said to have more miles of waterways than Venice. These day's, gaily-coloured sailing and narrow boats cruise the waters, providing a stark contrast to the memory of Barges filled with coal that plied these canals in Victorian times.

The City has several Museums, the most noted is the City's Art Gallery which has a fine collection of pre-Raphaelite paintings.

Birmingham Airport sees the arrival of visitors from the world over, they come to this dynamic City for a variety of reasons for Birmingham continues to maintain it's position as a World Class Business City. It offers the visitor a wide cultural scene, diverse and lively mix of shopping attractions, night life, major international events and exhibitions and easy access to some very fine countryside.

Places to visit - Birmingham Botanical Gardens where every turn brings something new and delightful, the City's beautiful new Symphony Hall home to the C.B.S.O. and the nearby National Exhibition Centre. Birmingham's Royal Ballet, when at home, is always worth seeing and of course the City has two fine Football Clubs, Aston Villa and Birmingham City.

Whatever you are seeking, you will find much to do in this vibrant, cosmopolitan City that has flourished throughout the centuries to become the thriving and exciting metropolis of today.

Interesting & Historical Facts about Birmingham

The Birmingham Minister, Joseph Priestley, discovered oxygen.

Birmingham facts | West Midlands facts

Recommended towns & villages near Birmingham

Botanical gardens, Birmingham.

Edgbaston (28 Pictures) in the county of West Midlands

(2.0 miles, 3.3 km, direction SW of Birmingham)

Edgbaston is a district of wide leafy roads lined with elegant houses, lately these have become interspersed with more modern buildings, yet the suburb has somehow managed to retain much of its 19th and early 20th century charm...

Packwood house, in Warwickshire

Solihull (63 Pictures) in the county of West Midlands

(7.0 miles, 11.3 km, direction SE of Birmingham)

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Dawn

Dudley (78 Pictures) in the county of West Midlands

(8.2 miles, 13.3 km, direction W of Birmingham)

Dudley is a market town, it was granted its market charter in the 13th century, since then the lively outdoor market has been a focal point which has drawn regular visitors to the town...

Kingsbury Water Park in the morning, Warwickshire

Kingsbury (229 Pictures) in the county of Warwickshire

(10.3 miles, 16.6 km, direction NE of Birmingham)

Kingsbury lies in a quiet corner of Warwickshire, it is most notable for its water-park which offers an oasis of calm for visitors escaping the hurried life of Birmingham and other nearby cities and large towns...

The museum at Berkswell, Warwickshire

Berkswell (7 Pictures) in the county of West Midlands

(11.8 miles, 19.0 km, direction SE of Birmingham)

This must be one of England's loveliest villages, it is evocative of a life before urbanisation and modernity, it is that perfect idyll of much loved English country life where you can re-discover the peaceful tranquillity of yester-year...

All towns & villages in West Midlands
Complete A to Z of towns & villages in England

Nearby attractions..

Sea Life Centre in Birmingham

The National Sea Life Centre (1 Pictures)

(1.1 miles, 1.8 km)

The Sea Life Centre offers a unique insight into the lives of a myriad of creatures from shrimps to sharks...

Aston Hall, Birmingham

Aston Hall (10 Pictures)

(1.4 miles, 2.3 km, direction N)

This magnificent Jacobean mansion is currently undergoing a 10 million pound make-over to both the Hall, its range of buildings.....

A picture of Soho House

Soho House (1 Pictures)

(1.7 miles, 2.7 km, direction NW)

Matthew Boulton was born in Snow Hill, Birmingham in 1728. His father was a Toy maker, and the young Matthew was eventually to.....

Selly Manor in Birmingham

Selly Manor (6 Pictures)

(4.7 miles, 7.5 km, direction SW)

Take a step back in time at the old Tudor house in south Birmingham. Selly Park Museum is set in the leafy area of Bournville.....

Ghostly tavern

Dudley Castle (17 Pictures)

(8.1 miles, 13.1 km, direction W)

Dudley possesses one of the most important ruins in the West Midlands, the panorama from the keep of this fortress which was once.....

The Black Country Museum

The Black Country Living Museum (26 Pictures)

(8.2 miles, 13.1 km, direction W)

This is a delightful outdoor museum developed with flair and imagination to celebrate all that is best of the rich social and.....

Looking across Rubery and Rednal from the Beacon Hill, Lickey Hills Country Park.

Lickey Hills Country Park (5 Pictures)

(9.0 miles, 14.5 km, direction SW)

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All attractions in Birmingham
All attractions in West Midlands
Complete A to Z of attractions in England