Claims to fame:
The Workshop of the World - A combination of entrepreneurial daring and engineering know-how made Birmingham the manufacturing engine of Britain through the 19th century and most of the 20th. James Watt first commercially manufactured his steam engine here; the transatlantic cable and the Orient Express were Birmingham built, and this was the heartland of the British motor industry.
Chocoholic Heaven - Not only did George Cadbury make chocolates here, his Bourneville Estate was an early planned community, offering good housing and attention to the social welfare of his workforce.
Balti Punjabi curry, Brummie style.
Population facts:
Birmingham has a population of more than 1 million, making it Britain's second largest city.
Location:
Birmingham is in the West Midlands, about 121 miles northwest of London. It is well linked to the UK's motorway system and is one of the main rail gateways to Wales.
Climate:
Birmingham's climate is moderate, never gets very hot but rarely falls below freezing. In July the mean temperature is 61°, though it can rise to the low 70s. January and February are the coldest months with the temperature hovering just above freezing. Snow is rare. August and December are the wettest months, averaging about 2.5 inches of rain. This being England, visitors should be prepared for the occasional shower at any time.
Nearest airports:
- Birmingham International Airport is the busiest airport for business travel outside of London. It is linked to most European cities and has regular flights to some North American airports in the USA and Canada. There is a free rail link to Birmingham International Rail Station.
- Manchester Airport is considerably closer than the London airports for a good selection of transatlantic and long haul flights.
Principal train station:
Birmingham New Street Station is is a major national rail hub, connecting Birmingham to all parts of the country and handling 80 per cent of the rail traffic to Birmingham. Trains from the south often connect through Birmingham New Street for Wales and the northwest. In fact, more direct trains connect to Birmingham New Street than to any other station in the UK.
Local transportation:
- Trams:Midland Metro is a tram service connecting Birmingham center with some of the Western suburbs.
- Bus:Network West Midlands operates bus services throughout Greater Birmingham.
- Taxis Birmingham has London-style black taxis that can be hailed or flagged down in the streets. Black taxis can also be found at designated taxi ranks near stations, at the airport and in popular city center locations.
Private taxis, often called mini-cabs, have to be booked. As elsewhere in Britain, don't accept a ride from a mini-cab touted on the streets. Hotels and restaurants can direct you to a safe mini cab company.
Some surprising Birmingham literary connections:
- J.R.R. Tolkien arrived in Manchester as a three-year old and grew up there. He and his brother played around the restored Sarehole Mill and in a nearby dense, boggy woodland known as Mosely Bog. This is widely accepted to be the inspiration behind the Old Forest. Apparently, the miller, covered as he was in dusty flour, was the inspiration for Gandalf.
- Washington Irving One of America's first important writers, created the American classics, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Rip Van Winkle, while staying with his sister in Birmingham. Irving was the first American writer with a wide following in England.
Birmingham's music:
Birmingham may be the birthplace of heavy metal. Both Judas Priest and Black Sabbath, were local bands. These other bands also hail from Birmingham or got their big breaks there -
Let's talk Brummie - The Music of Birmingham Speech
Birmingham has its own, distinctive accent and slang, called Brummie or Brum. You've heard it if you've ever tried to make out what Ozzy Osbourne, a Brummie native son, was on about.Five cool things to do in Birmingham:
- Indulge your inner chocoholic at Cadbury World a museum devoted entirely to chocolate on the outskirts of the city in George Cadbury's pioneering new town, Bournville.
- Put some sparkle in your life with a walk in the Jewellery Quarter where jewelry has been made and sold for more than 250 years.
- Leave the past behind at the IKON Gallery, a stunning center for modern and contemporary art.
- Follow the Tolkien Trail to see the places and buildings that inspired the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Maps are available from the Tourism Centre & Ticketshop,The Rotunda, 150 New Street, Birmingham, B2 4PA
- Shop, shop, shop! Birmingham is a huge retail center with some of the UK's top shops. Since 2000, hundreds of millions have been invested in Birmingham's shopping precincts. Try the recently opened, £500 million Bull Ring, and the fabulous designer shops in The Mailbox.
