Birmingham Hotels

Once the heart of the Industrial Revolution, Birmingham is slowly but surely establishing itself as a vibrant and cosmopolitan tourist destination, with more than a few things to brag about – it’s the home of Cadbury’s chocolate, J.R.R. Tolkien and, most importantly, the Balti curry.

‘Brummies’ are a curious mix of bristle and warmth, and, like the accent that twists itself into a serious of linguistic gymnastics, stretching one-syllable words into seeming sentences, you never quite know what you’re going to get from them in the end.

Gritty-cool Birmingham’s industrial heart can still be seen and experienced in places like Digbeth and the Gun Quarter, where workshops intersperse hotspot nightclubs. For a taste of the past (and of creamy milk chocolate), it’s King’s Norton and Bournville. Bookworms soak up Birmingham’s literary associations – Washington Irving was also a resident, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle supposedly bought a violin in Sherlock Street. You’re more likely to find a beer and curry there now, but hey… when 5pm rolled around, sipping a pint is what the industrial revolution was all about.

With the youngest population of any city in Europe, Birmingham is in constant state of change. It’s evolving before our eyes, and is coming into its own as a dynamic and innovative city.

BIRMINGHAM’S TOP 10

BIRMINGHAM LOCAL

While much of Birmingham is still edgy-ugly rather than edgy-cool, there are plenty of neighbourhoods outside the city centre that are worth wandering out to. Whether you want to peruse the boutiques of Edgbaston or just sit on a few lagers and admire a bunch of old buildings, here are five neighbourhoods to do so.

Bournville

It’s the home of Birmingham’s Cadbury Chocolate Factory (and George Cadbury himself), but there’s more to do in Bournville than just gain pounds. Because you can actually lose them as well.

Bournville’s Village Green is a parade of great shopping boutiques, and at the top of this area lies Selly Manor – a Tudor-style museum that gives a whole new meaning to the term “moving house”. Don’t forget to check out the Carillon with its 48 bronze bells. Cadbury built that, too, but luckily he’s one of the few who can get away with ringing his own bell.

Digbeth

Birmingham may have ditched its workhorse rep a few years ago, but Digbeth is where you can still get a taste of the city’s manufacturing roots. It’s also the heart of Birmingham’s Irish community, and if there’s one thing the Irish and tradesmen have in common it’s that they both like a good brew.

Check out The Dubliner for an Irish pub that will put your local to shame, before heading to The Custard Factory – where you probably won’t find custard but will find workshops, shops and clubs. The Old Crown Inn is being fairy modest considering it dates back to the 12^th Century, while The Rainbow caters for a younger crowd.

King’s Norton

While the rest of Birmingham attempts to spruce itself up with nightclubs and shopping streets, King’s Norton still retains its homely village vibe, particularly around The Green where you’ll find the crooked spire of 13^th Century St Nicholas Church and The Saracen’s Head, now a public house and shop. In the surrounding graveyard is the 15^th Century timber framed Old Grammar School, where notorious misogynist Thomas Hall was headmaster before being subjected to abuse when he later became a parliamentarian.

Moseley

Birmingham’s creative village looks to the future rather than the past. Sure there are old buildings, but people come here for the art galleries, the patisseries and the bustling night-time economy. They also come to gorge on ravioli at Ponte Di Legno, if they can get a table. After a feed, hit as many boutiques as possible in the Victorian shopping area of Moseley Village Green, towards the original town of St Mary’s Row. Moseley isn’t all bustle, however – Sarehole Mill was thought to be the inspiration for Tolkien’s tranquil Shire.

Edgbaston

Pronounce it Edgbaaaarston and you’ll fit right in – this is the neighbourhood giving upper-crust spots down south a real run for their money. While some say Edgbaston has no sense of community, it definitely has a sense of culture in the arsty Moor Pool area, and it most certainly has a sense of cricket thanks to its famous Cricket Ground. And where there’s money, there’s Michelin-star restaurants – check out Turners of Harborne or Simpsons.

BIRMINGHAM EAT & DRINK

Over 27 nationalities have restaurants in Birmingham, and we’re not even talking about the greasy takeaway joints that only become visible after midnight when you’ve spent too long at the pub.

BIRMINGHAM EVENTS

Pretty much every city has a film festival, but Birmingham’s Flatpack Festival and Fierce Festival in March throw workshops, live soundtracks and mobile cinemas in to the mix.

Folk, pop and electronic acts band together in Birmingham for the three-day Rites of Spring Ikon Music Festival in April.

Birmingham’s multi-cultural character doesn’t just mean good food – it also means the BASS Music Festival in June, celebrating Black music and art with dancing, concerts and critical debates.

Birmingham makes the most of its short summer with open-air concerts for July’s Birmingham International Jazz and Blues Festival.

It’s clear that the past is popular in Birmingham, so July’s Antiques for Everyone is a pretty big business.

Conversations at Birmingham’s Music for the Mystified tend to revolve around musicians in classical and jazz, but if that’s your thing head to Sutton Library in August.

The Sheldon Country Fair in August is Birmingham’s exciting day of family fun. Or, just a really good reason to try a bunch of tasty food and drinks.

Unlike your parents, October’s Birmingham Comedy Festival gets funnier as it gets older.

Keep up with the Edgbastons by visiting Birmingham’s Grand Designs Live, held in October each year.

Locals compensate for their love of creamy chicken kormas in October at the Birmingham Half Marathon.

When to go

· Birmingham is no different than the rest of the British Isles. Summers are short, winters are cool, and rain is on the cards no matter what time of year.

What to miss

· Give Broad Street a miss if it’s a Saturday, particularly after 10pm.

· Not even the best books in the world can make the Birmingham Central Library less of an eyesore. Why choose ’70s architecture over 17^th Century?

· The Pallasades Shopping Centre is great if you’re the chaviest chav alive, but otherwise you can give it a miss.

Getting there and around

The M6 will take you into the city, but you can also fly or take the train.

· The City Centre has an excellent public transport system.

· Birmingham has a bigger canal system than Venice, so try to take at least one ride on a water taxi.