Birmingham, England Attractions

Situated close to Birmingham University is the Barber Institute of Fine Arts. Evolving initially from a private bequest by Lady Barber, the Institute now houses the University's excellent collection of art from the Renaissance to the 20th century. It includes works by Botticelli, Bellini, Tintoretto, Rubens, Rembrandt, Watteau, Manet, Monet, Gainsborough, Constable and Degas.

The Black Country Museum in Dudley (Tipton Road), about 9mi/14km west of Birmingham, offers a vivid insight into the history of mining. An old mine shaft and reconstructed turn-of-the-century industrial community can be inspected at close hand. Interesting trips are also run on the network of canals, in the type of narrow boat traditionally used for transporting coal.

The Birmingham Central Library has what is probably the largest Shakespeare collection outside the United States, (50,000 volumes in 90 languages). The coin and stamp collections and the archaeological section are also outstanding.

The ultra modern International Convention Center has eleven conference halls (seating from 30 to 3000 people). Incorporated into the complex are the Hyatt Regency Hotel - a palace of glass - and an elegant concert hall.

A short distance north of the Museum of Science and Industry, along Newhall Street, lies an area of Birmingham steeped in tradition. Here more than 200 jewelers' workshops and silversmiths are concentrated, chiefly in the vicinity of the Clock Tower on the corner of Vyse Street and Frederick Street and around the Georgian church of St Paul's.

Walsall (12mi/19km north west of Birmingham) boasts a unique Lock Museum, the only such museum in England. The exhibits, some dating from as early as the 16th century, are drawn from all over the world.

Aston Hall, a red brick Jacobean mansion in the pleasant surroundings of Aston Park, 2.5 mi/4km north of the Birmingham Civic Center (near "Spaghetti Junction" on the M6), was built by Thomas Holte between 1617 and 1635. From 1818 to 1848 it was the home of James Watt and is now a museum and art gallery. It has an exceptionally fine oak staircase.

Following a program of expansion completed in 1991 Birmingham International Airport is now one of the most modern in the world, with bus and rail connections to the city center and a Maglev (magnetic levitation) monorail link to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC).

This annual week-long festival takes place in July.

Birmingham University was founded in 1900, the Chamberlain Tower (325ft/996m) being named after the first Chancellor.

The Birmingham Gardens feature tropical, Mediterranean and desert glasshouses. Waterfowl and exotic birds are on display.

Open daily.

The historic canals south west of Brindley Place are destined to become the central feature of a modern leisure complex.

Plans for regeneration of the city center include replacing the Bull Ring, the ugly concrete "temple to consumerism" built in 1964 on the site of the old market place.

Just to the south of Birmingham lies Bournville, headquarters of Cadbury Bros., the well known chocolate and cocoa manufacturers established in 1831 (now Cadbury-Schweppes). This attractive suburb started life as a garden village, built by the company for its factory workers in 1895.

The flower and ornamental gardens of Cannon Hill Park in Edgebaston are a haven of tranquillity amidst the urban bustle.

In Chamberlain Square (pedestrian precinct), north of Birmingham's Town Hall, a fountain commemorates Joseph Chamberlain, Lord Mayor of Birmingham from 1873 to 1875. There is also a statue of Joseph Priestley, the discoverer of oxygen, who was minister of the Unitarian church here from 1680 to 1691.

The Birmingham Civic Center is located southwest of the Central Library.

This is one of Birmingham's two principal shopping districts.

The Renaissance style Council House opposite the Birmingham Town Hall was erected between 1874 and 1879, its clock being affectionately known as "Big Brum". Note the arms of the City of Birmingham with their interesting surround of allegoric figures representing art and industry.

The Drayton Manor Theme Park is set in 250 acres of parkland in the heart of the Midlands, eight miles north of Birmingham. It offers more than 50 rides including Britain's first stand-up rollercoaster and a zoo.

Halesowen Abbey is the ruins of a 13th C abbey founded by King John. In the 19th C it became part of a farm.

The Hall of Memory opposite Baskerville House (municipal offices) was erected in 1925 to commemorate the 14,000 Birmingham men who lost their lives in the First World War.

The glass houses of the Harbourne Botanic Gardens are a peaceful haven amidst Birmingham.

This is one of Birmingham's modern shopping precincts.

Close to the Post Office in Newhall Street, the Museum of Science and Industry celebrates Birmingham's industrial history. It has fine collections of machinery and motor cars.

Attraction closed in 1997.

Situated on the eastern outskirts of Birmingham, just off the M42, the National Exhibition Center provides a venue for all kinds of trade fairs and shows. Having opened in 1982, by 1993 the 1.3 million sq.ft/125,800sq.m of exhibition area had been enlarged by a further 0.3million sq.ft/28,000sq.m. A Maglev (magnetic levitation) monorail runs between the Center and Birmingham International Airport a mile or so away.

Birmingham's National Indoor Arena near the canal was opened in 1992 accommodating up to 12,000 spectators.

The National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham contains hundreds of British motorcycles along with historic documentation and photographs.

New Street Station, Birmingham's city center mainline railroad station, has half hourly InterCity services to London Euston and good rail connections with all parts of the country.

The Pallasades is one of Birmingham's modern shopping precincts.

The Pavilions is one of Birmingham's modern shopping precincts.

The Folly is 96ft / 29m high and consists of seven small rooms on top of each other connected by a spiral staircase of 139 steps. The top room is an 18th century drawing room with an ornate dome ceiling and a fireplace.

In the Selly Oak Colleges, the large Rendel Harris Library (1903), is noteworthy.

On the far side of Centenary Square (pedestrian precinct) near the new International Convention Center stands Birmingham's celebrated Repertory Theater with the Studio Theater adjoining.

Sarehole Mill in Hall Green is said to have provided J. R. R. Tolkien with inspiration for his book "The Hobbit". The 200-year-old corn mill was converted into a knife factory at the turn of the century and today contains displays illustrating aspects of milling blade grinding and English rural pursuits.

The 15th century Selly Manor Museum displays old furniture and household equipment.

The Selly Oak Colleges, with the large Rendel Harris Library (1903), are noteworthy.

St Chad's, north of Birmingham city center, has the distinction of being the first Roman Catholic church built in Great Britain after the Reformation (by Pugin in 1839-41). Now the seat of an archbishop it boasts a 16th century oak pulpit and 15th century choir stalls and lectern from Cologne.

St Martin's Church, just beyond Birmingham's New Street Station, dates from the 13th century but was rebuilt in the Decorated style between 1872 and 1875. It has windows by Burne-Jones/William Morris, also tombs of members of the de Bermingham family.

The area around St Martin's Circus with its old market place and nearby Wholesale Markets is one of Birmingham's two principal shopping districts.

The Palladian style St Philip's Cathedral built between 1711 and 1715 by Thomas Archer began life as a parish church, being elevated to its present status in 1905; the pulpit was added in 1897. The church has four stained glass windows by Burne-Jones, manufactured by William Morris in 1884-85.

The Symphony Hall concert hall (with 2200 seat auditorium) is the new home of the famous Birmingham Symphony Orchestra with Simon Rattle as principal conductor since 1980.

The University of Aston is of more recent origin than Birmingham University, formed when the College of Advanced Technology was granted a charter in 1966. King Edward VI School, east of the University, was established in 1552.

In Alwold Street in Birmingham stands Weoley Castle, the ruins of a moated house of the 12th-14th century. There is a museum of local history which has some interesting archaeological finds.