Tourist city guide to Birmingham

Birmingham's history stretches back to the sixth century, but is
currently Europe's newest city. The second largest city in England,
Birmingham is home to more than a million people and continues to
expand on its success.

The city has much to offer visitors seeking quiet evenings out, lively
nightlife, breathtaking history and cultural entertainment, and is
located close enough to picturesque countryside to offer the best of
city and rural life.

Birmingham has been dubbed 'the shopping capital' of the country, and
with over 1000 retailers in the city centre alone, this title is
certainly deserved. There are more than a dozen shopping centres in the
city, demonstrating the city's continued growth and power to attract
visitors.

History

Birmingham's history is documented back to the sixth century, when a supply of
water, coal and iron were discovered in the area. Birmingham developed
rapidly, and was already regarded as one of the important manufacturing
areas in England by the start of the Industrial Revolution.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is home to an incredible collection
of art works and artefacts, documenting 400,000 years of history. The
city's other museums include Blakesley Hall, a converted sixteenth
century manor house.

Other important historical buildings include Weoley Castle, a
thirteenth century manor house; The Old Crown, a fifteenth century pub;
the thirteenth century St Martin's Church; and the Grade I listed
nineteenth century Town Hall.

Art Galleries

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is home to the largest collection of
Pre-Raphaelite works in the world, as well as fine and applied art
works by the Old Masters and Impressionists. A free bus links the
gallery to the city centre.

Birmingham's arts and media quarter is named after the factories that
once occupied the five-acre site: The Custard Factory. As well as
numerous other media companies, creative enterprises and cafes, The
Custard Factory is home to a number of small art galleries showcasing a
variety of works.

The Ikon Gallery is a unique collection of multimedia art works,
comprising sound, film, photography and art installations.

Theatres

Of Birmingham's twelve theatres, Birmingham Hippodrome is the largest
and the theatre with the greatest regular attendance of any theatre
outside of London. Large-scale productions, including drama, comedy and
dance, are regularly staged here.

The Alexandra Theatre is based in an impressive Victorian building, and
stages a variety of large-scale productions. The theatre has been
particularly praised for its musicals and concerts.

The Old Rep Theatre is located on the same street, and presents
small-scale performances. Other small venues include The Crescent
Theatre, Birmingham Library Theatre, and Midlands Art Centre.

Restaurants

Brasserie Blanc is one of eleven restaurants recommended in Good Food
Guide, and serves traditional French cuisine in stylish surroundings
with seating for 160 people. Jessica's serves French-influenced modern
British dishes, and has a Michelin star and AA recommendation.

Birmingham is famous for it's curry houses and has been dubbed 'the
capital of balti', owing to its array of Balti houses and Indian
restaurants, and one corner of the city centre is known as 'the Balti
Triangle'. Al Faisals is a popular Kashmiri restaurant in the Balti
Triangle, with seating for 600 people. The Diwan restaurant is another
highly regarded establishment in the area.

Good Food Guide also recommends the Cantonese, AA rosette holding,
Chung Ying Garden. The menu comprises 400 dishes, and there is seating
for 400 people.

Pubs/Bars

Birmingham CAMRA recommends 16 pubs in the city, and voted The
Wellington 'Pub of the Year' in 2005 and 2006 for its selection of 2500
different ales.

The Old Inn is a fourteenth century, Grade II listed pub, located in
the city centre and reputed to have once been owned by King Henry VIII.

Popular cocktail bars include The Living Room, with a relaxed and yet
prestigious ambience and live music, and Zinc Bar, with waitress
service and a DJ area downstairs.

The S'oak is a pre-club bar; offering pub quizzes, live acoustic and
jazz nights and all the pay-per-view football matches. Located close to
the university campus, this bar is very popular with students.

Nightclubs

Subway City comprises 7 rooms, 5 bars, 3 dancefloors and a snack bar,
and presents the best in underground dance music. The club is open
seven days a week, and licensed until 8am on Saturdays.

Air nightclub is regarded as one of the most technologically advanced
in the country, presents trance, techno, hard dance and house, and
regularly hosts Godskitchen. The club comprises 3 rooms, with a total
capacity of 1650.

Carling Academy is the city's most successful alternative club and
music venue, presenting music from break beats and hip-hop to Northern
Soul and indie. The club hosts Subculture on Saturdays, the rock night
voted second best in the country by Kerrang! readers.

Birmingham has a vibrant gay party scene, and The Nightingale is one of
the most popular venues. The club is open six nights a week, with a
varied programme of music, comedy and karaoke.

Shopping

Europe's largest city centre shopping development is the Bullring in
Birmingham. The centre comprises more than 150 shops and 25 restaurants
over three floors. The Selfridges building that stands at the centre,
beside the medieval St Martin's Church, has won an award for its
impressive design.

The shopping development also comprises markets of 235 stalls and
units. Other markets in the city include the Open Market, the Rag
Market, the Indoor Market, the Antiques Market and the Farmers Market.

Star City is a shopping and entertainment development, comprising a
37-screen cinema, the UK's largest casino, a Megabowl, 3000 free
parking spaces and hundreds of shops and retail outlets.

Sports

Of the city's forty leisure centres, Wyndley Leisure Centre is the
largest. The centre comprises a 33-metre pool, a teaching pool and a
range of diving boards, as well as a 400-metre athletics track, squash
and badminton courts, and more. The centre is currently closed for
refurbishment and will reopen in June 2007.

The Ackers is a 70-acre outdoor activities centre, offering
snowboarding, climbing, canoeing and archery, alongside a variety of
courses and special events for companies, individuals and families.
Many use the centre for sponsored abseiling.

Birmingham is home to half a dozen golf courses, managed by Birmingham
Golf Link Circuit.

Harborne Church Farm is the largest; a notoriously difficult 9-hole
course, with a shop, cafe and parking for 50. Boldmere Golf Course
comprises 18 holes, but makes for a much more relaxing game.

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