Birmingham - an Insiders Tourist Guide to England's 2nd City

Birmingham is the 2nd biggest city in England and it is a really modern place with lively nightlife and some snazzy shopping opportunities. Birmingham is located in the West Midlands county of England and, according to a 2006 estimate; it has a population of 1,006,500.

People that are from Birmingham are often called 'Brummies', because of the city's nickname of Brum. This name comes from the city's dialect name, Brummagem, which is derived from one of the city's earlier names, 'Bromwicham'. There is a distinct Brummie dialect, which is characteristic of people who are from this city.

Something For Everyone

Whether you are visiting Birmingham for a day out or staying in the city for a weekend break or holiday, you will find many of interesting stuff in the city to explore during your visit. Whether you want to stimulate your mind at one of Birmingham’s museums or you are arranging to join in with a cultural or sporting event, the city really has things for everyone to enjoy.

If you would like to experience a family friendly day trip in Birmingham that's lively and interesting, take a trip to one of the city's great museums, art galleries or other attractions. One of the best is the Wallsall Leather Museum, which demonstrates the production and tanning of leather. Best of all, there is a great souvenir store too, so you'll be able to buy some top-quality leather products during your visit.

Shop 'Til You Drop

Brum has a busy city centre that is packed with top high street stores, so it's an exciting location for shopaholics to visit. However, serious shoppers might rather visit the city's Bullring shopping centre. In actual fact, the Bullring is enormous and boasts 160 stores, including some exciting brands such as Principles, Samsonite and Skechers. It also has a huge Selfridges shop and more than 25 restaurants, which means that you can really spend the complete day there.

Dancing The Night Away

If you're lucky enough to be spending the night in Birmingham, you should make the most of the city's lively nightlife. The city has everything from quaint pubs & elite bars to huge nightclubs, so you'll find that there is something for everyone to enjoy.

It goes without saying that Birmingham has branches of some major hotel chains including the Macdonald & Novotel. This means that you can wind down after your big night out with a fabulous sleep.

Thanks for browsing our tourist guide to Birmingham - we hope that you found it useful. If you require more info on hotels in Birmingham or even some advice on things to do in the city, please get in touch with your local tourism info centre.