As Dorothy wisely said in the Wizard of Oz: “there’s no place like home” and for me it’s Birmingham. I’m a proud Brummie born and bred.
Okay I’ve done my fair share of gallivanting the globe. I’ve enjoyed living the high life in London, led a romantic existence for a year in Paris and spent 14 years rubbing shoulders with celebrities in Tinseltown. And yes, the sun may shine a little more in LA, but if I’m totally honest there’s nowhere that can beat Britain’s second city – the place I’m proud to call home.
From the people and their cheeky sense of humour to Birmingham’s incredible history, events, shopping and things to do… Birmingham really does have it all.
The Bullring, Birmingham
I mean let’s just consider the facts… we have more canals than Venice. We invented the world’s best chocolate (Cadbury’s and Bournville). We’ve birthed the best bands (Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin, The Streets, UB40, Wizzard, Electric Light Orchestra, The Moody Blues, Dexys Midnight Runners and Duran Duran). We’re home to the best football club (Keep Right On City!… and okay Aston Villa are pretty good too).
We also have the best shopping (Mailbox, Bullring and Grand Central – I love you). We gave the world three of the best things ever: Bird’s Custard, HP sauce and Typhoo tea. We are portrayed in the world’s best TV Show – yes we may all be related to the Peaky Blinders but we don’t carry razors in our caps anymore. My favourite books – The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings were inspired just a hop, skip and a jump away from my childhood home… I could go on and on. But you get the point… Birmingham is just brilliant isn’t it?
Me with Birmingham’s very own Ozzy Osbourne and Kelly.
And you can’t fail to have noticed there’s a real buzz across the city and surrounding areas this year.
Alongside the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games (July–August), six months of music, dance and cultural celebrations are making up the Birmingham 2022 Festival, showcasing the region’s remarkable creative spirit (from now until August).
Photo credit: Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
So just in case you want to explore Birmingham in this very special year, here are some of my top tips and favourite things to do in this magnificent city:
Did you know you can take a kayaking tour through the city centre exploring the wildlife-rich canals which run through Birmingham’s heart, or discover vibrant street art on a free self-guided walk?
For people who love the great outdoors, meet the red pandas and meerkats at Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park, or soak up the tropical splendour of Birmingham Botanical Gardens – which also hosts events throughout the year.
Or take on the daredevil high-ropes at The Bear Grylls Adventure, with challenges designed by the world-renowned British explorer himself.
Photo credit: Bear Grylls Adventure Park
The streets of Birmingham also provided the inspiration for the hit TV show Peaky Blinders. With many scenes filmed at the Black Country Living Museum, here visitors can walk in the footsteps of Cillian Murphy.
Photo credit: Black Country Living Museum
There’s even themed evenings planned in September for an immersive feel of the show. A Peaky Tour of the city reveals even more about the original gangs, with a walking tour of their former hangouts, grisly insights from expert historians, and dinner in the city’s oldest pub.
Picture credit: BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd./Robert Viglasky.
If it’s striking city views visitors are looking for, venture to the top of the Library of Birmingham. This striking contemporary landmark is home to two secret rooftop gardens – they’re free to visit, as are the library’s various exhibitions, which feature leading authors and artists. But that’s just the tip of Birmingham’s diverse cultural scene. From Chinatown’s eateries and Centrala’s Eastern European art exhibitions, to the South Asian music and dancing at Birmingham Mela (27–28 August 2022), countless customs are represented here.
Birmingham is home to some wonderful architecture and hidden streets.
And foodies will love the ‘Balti Triangle’, an area of balti restaurants in the south of the city, where this spicy dish was reportedly invented in the 1970s. Fusing traditional Kashmiri recipes with British ingredients, and named after the dish in which it is cooked, this vibrant area is full of hidden gems serving their fresh take on this regional favourite.
I also highly recommend visiting Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Did you know this magnificent building is home to the largest collection of pre-Raphaelite artwork in the world? Check out my favourite painting there – it’ a wonderful painting but always brings a tear to my eye. It’s called The Last of England and is an 1855 oil-on-panel painting by Ford Madox Brown depicting two emigrants leaving England to start a new life in Australia with their baby.
Birmingham’s quirky places to stay
While central Birmingham has an abundance of luxury boutique hotels, including The Rotunda, Hotel Du Vin and the Frederick Street Townhouse, how about something totally unique? Just 15 miles outside the city, The Rockhouse Retreat offers an idyllic romantic retreat for two. The 800-year-old cave house, set in beautiful wild woodland, comes complete with a kingsize bed and inglenook fireplace, as well as a picturesque brook right on its doorstep.
Nearby Warwick Castle provides hands-on history by day, and an opportunity for Medieval-themed glamping by night. Visitors can stay overnight in its grounds at the Knight’s Village – book a King’s Tent (sleeps four), for a four-poster bed and throne-style seats, set amid the castle woodlands.
Photo credit: Warwick Castle
Or step into one of the West Midland Safari Park’s luxury lodges for a front row seat inside the animal habitats. Elephant Lodge is right next to the watering hole, while Red Panda Cottage overlooks the climbing den – and there are giraffe, gorilla, rhino and cheetah ones too. The lodges sleep up to five or six people, with two-day entry tickets to the safari park included.
Photo credit: WMSP
Where to dine differently in Birmingham
For great cocktails, street food and a whole host of games – from baseball and curling to table golf – The Floodgate is a big kids’ playground, with a buzzing bar and street eats aplenty (think juicy burgers, dirty fries, hot dogs and cinnamon waffles).
Photo credit: The Floodgate, Birmingham
Or for table tennis, arcade games and beer pong, head to Roxy Ball Room – it’s set in a graffiti-covered warehouse, complete with a bowling alley and pool tables. The pizzas are loaded, the playlist is rocking, and there’s a huge choice of cocktails and craft beers.
If you prefer the finer things in life, the West Midlands has ten Michelin-starred restaurants and five are in Birmingham itself – that’s more than any other British city outside of London.
In central Birmingham, look to Adam’s for British classics with haute cuisine flair, Opheem for sumptuous Indian dining (with veggie and pescatarian tasting menus), and Carters of Moseley for sustainably-sourced seasonal fare, plus organic and biodynamic wines.
Photo credit: Adam’s, Birminham
Getting around
Thanks to its traffic-free cycle routes, Birmingham is easy to explore on two wheels: visitors can rent bikes from a West Midlands Cycle Hire hub or a Brompton Bike station.
The city also has an extensive network of wheelchair-accessible buses and trams: with a pay-as-you-go Swift card, visitors can hop on (and off) the services throughout Birmingham and beyond.
So what are you waiting for? Have fun and explore beautiful Birmingham… the best and most special city in the world!
By Claire Bullivant
