Page Contents:

• Introduction

• Must See/Do Not Miss Attractions

• Very Good

• Favorite Walks/Areas

• If you have more than one day (could be a day trip)

• Good Restaurants

• THE Place To Have Afternoon Tea

• Clubs, Pubs and Cocktail Bars

• Shopping

• Hotel Recommendations

• Other Insights

Must See/Do Not Miss Attractions

The Birmingham Tour (June-September) A one price all day ticket lets you hop on and off the open top double decker bus wherever you please on the circular route. It stops at the majority of tourist attractions listed below. It is a wonderful way of exploring the city (cost around £7) and includes a guide who is always knowledgeable and informed about the city.

• Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, An award-winning working museum based around a "time-capsule" jewellery factory. Visitors can enjoy a guided tour of the factory and meet skilled jewellers at work. Exhibitions tell the story of the Quarter and the Jeweller's craft. Tearoom, shop (selling an excellent selection of Birmingham-made contemporary jewellery), changing temporary exhibitions and a lively events programme.

• Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, This stunning Victorian building is home to the world's largest collection of Pre-Raphaelite art, and an outstanding collection of glass and ceramics. Exhibits include French, Dutch and Italian Masters, Fine and Applied Arts, Natural History, Archaeology, and Local History. The Gas Hall exhibition gallery has a programme of temporary exhibitions. A new modern art gallery, The Water Hall is now open.

• Thinktank: The Birmingham Museum of Science and Discovery, Birmingham's celebration of the Millennium, the new £110 million Thinktank at Millennium Point will encourage people of all ages to question and explore science, technology and the region's unique heritage within a stunning new complex. There are 7 floors of exhibits along with the region's only IMAX Theatre.

• Aston Hall, One of the country's finest Jacobean houses, built between 1618 and 1635 by Sir Thomas Holte. Elaborate plasterwork ceilings and friezes, a magnificent carved oak staircase and a spectacular 136ft Long Gallery. Period rooms contain fine furniture, paintings, textiles and metalwork

• The National Sea Life Centre, Located at Water's Edge, Brindley Place, this family attraction has over 3000 creatures in more than 55 themed displays of marine life from shrimps to stingrays. Walk through the world's only 360 degree transparent tunnel while sharks and other creatures swim around you.

• Cadbury World, Be a big kid again, and discover the history, making and magic of chocolate. Lots of things to see do and taste at this fun, family attraction dedicated to Cadbury's chocolate. Located in the village of Bourneville, which Cadbury built as a model community for the workers.

Very Good

• Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Tropical glasshouses, National Bonsai Collection, 15 acres of beautiful gardens

• Sarehole Mill, Visit the childhood haunt of JR Tolkien, where he was inspired to write Lord of the Rings

• Barber Institute of Fine Art, With works by Gainsborough, Turner, Monet, Renoir, Degas this is one of the world's finest small art galleries

• Soho House, Former home of Industrial pioneer Matthew Boulton now restored to its original 18th century elegance.

• Symphony Hall, Take a tour or enjoy a concert at this magnificent hall, one of the finest in the world

• Ikon Gallery, One of Europe's leading contemporary art galleries, located at Brindleyplace

• Birmingham Cathedral, Recently restored to its original glory, with stained glass windows by Burne-Jones

Favorite Walks/Areas

Ghosts and Graveyard Walks Would you like to hear about the dark side of Birmingham's history, to hear about the ghosts of Birmingham's past? People are dying to get on this walk! One hour on foot, no children's tickets, as the tour ends in a pub.

Canal Boat Trips Take an hour long canal heritage tour departing from the International Convention Centre quayside at Brindleyplace.

Stroll through Centenary Square past Baskerville House and the Hall of Remembrance and you will approach the International Convention Centre. Take a walk through it and admire the modern interior and pleasant surroundings. Coming out the other exit you will be by the canal and the National Sea Life Centre. If you are warming up for a night on the town, then this is the place to be. Broad Street is packed with pubs, restaurants and clubs to eat, drink and dance the night away (some clubs mainly cater to the under 35 set) There is also a multi-screen Cinema and Grosvenor Casino.

There are many scenic nature walks through the hills just a short ride from town. If you have transportation and walking boots, head for the Clent Hills, the Lickey Hills, or best of all, the Malverns for an enjoyable day out. Pack a picnic lunch or visit one of the local pubs.

For an interesting family outing, The Birmingham Nature Centre is a 6 acre park teeming with otters, lynx, and over 130 species of animals. Suitable for young children.

The Jewellery Quarter, the largest in Europe, is an interesting area to walk around, including St Paul's Square. Make sure you go past the Prince Charles Gates. There is an excellent free map detailing a suggested route available at the Visitors and Convention Bureau. The Birmingham Assay Office located in the quarter is the largest in the world and has been in existence since 1773. There are over 100 jewellery and gift shops in the Jewellery Quarter.

If you have more than one day (could be a day trip)

Stratford-upon-Avon, the Cotswolds, the Potteries (Stoke-on-Trent) and Worcester are all within an hour's drive, as are a number of fabulous attractions. Here is our selection.

• Black Country Museum (Dudley) Award Winning canal-side re-created village brought to life by costumed demonstrators. Mine tour, tram rides, Victorian School lesson and more.

• Ironbridge Gorge Museums (Ironbridge, Telford) World Heritage Site with nine museums celebrating the Industrial Revolution

• The Shakespeare Houses (Stratford) Five houses associated with Shakespeare and his family. Each offers an insight into the world in which the famous playwright lived. Combine this with a theatre or walking tour and attend a production at the Swan or Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

• Witley Court (Worcestershire) Vast Italianate mansion, now magnificent ruins (English Heritage Site). Witley Church the finest baroque church in England, also on the site. (Combine this with a trip to Worcester Cathedral and Commandery Museum. Worcester Porcelain factory and Museum is right next to the Cathedral and has an excellent 'seconds' shop.

• Warwick Castle (Warwick) England's most visited castle, over 1,000 years of history.

• Walsall Art Gallery (Walsall town centre) the gallery is a rare example of a brand-new building for the millennial arts and is one of the most exciting new art galleries in the UK.

Good Restaurants

• Bank Restaurant (Brindley Place) Modern British - mod/exp

• Le Petit Blanc Brasserie (Brindley Place) Raymond Blanc's French restaurant -mod/exp

• Michelle's La Bastille Restaurant Français, 220 Corporation St. -good value moderate

• Metro Bar and Grill 73 Cornwall St. - trendy restaurant in business district, moderate

• Chung Ying Garden Cantonese Restaurant, 17 Thorpe St in Chinatown, popular, large traditional Chinese food-moderate

• Maharaja Restaurant, 23 Hurst St, Established Northern Indian Restaurant -moderate

• Shimla Pinks, Broad Street, Stylish modern Indian cuisine-mod/exp

• San Carlo Ristorante, 4 Temple St, authentic Italian food-moderate

• Thai Edge (Brindley Place) modern Thai food, spicy- mod/exp

• Las Iguanas, Arcadian Centre, Latin American food, excellent value, moderate

• Santa Fe Restaurant, Mailbox Southwestern American-mod/exp

• Living Room, Regency Wharf, Broad Street, very elegant new British restaurant -mod/exp

• Café de Vin, Hotel de Vin, another trendy but elegant restaurant-mod/exp

• Shogun Teppanyaki at Brindleyplace, food cooked at your table mod/exp

THE Place To Have Afternoon Tea

Birmingham has more than its share of nightspots and fine restaurants, but it took some research to find a good place for afternoon tea! Here is what we came up with.

• Edwardian Tea Room located in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

• Marriott Hotel 12 Hagley Road, the City's only 5 star hotel

• Burlington Hotel, 6 Burlington Arcade, New Street

Clubs, Pubs and Cocktail Bars

Birmingham is known for its lively nightlife, there is something for everyone. Here are just a few suggestions.

• Ink Bar at the Mailbox Newest trendy ultra modern cocktail bar to spot the local celebs

• Pitcher & Piano, Brindleyplace traditional pub

• Jools Holland's Jam House St Paul's Square, dinner club or just music

• Medicine Bar Custard Factory, 1 Gibb Street, trendy, food served

• Fiddle & Bone Sheepcote St, live entertainment, traditional bar, good fun

• Tap & Spile, Gas Street traditional pub, moderate

• The Malt House, Brindleyplace, Bill Clinton had a pint here when he visited our fair city.

Shopping

Hotel Recommendations

Hotels in Birmingham, like restaurants and clubs are more reasonable than comparable ones in London

We've picked a small selection of our favourite city hotels. There are also many charming country house hotels within an hour's drive of the city, as well as very reasonable bed and breakfast accommodation. For additional information, the Birmingham Visitor and Convention Bureau have a free booking service. Tel 0121 780 4321

• Hotel de Vin Located in the heart of the Business and shopping district, the trendiest and most elegant of the new boutique style hotels. If you don't stay here, at least have a glass of champagne in their Bubble Room. A bonus is the luxury spa and gym with the latest treatments.

• Birmingham Marriott Located near Brindleyplace on the Hagley Road just out of the City Centre, traditional large chain. 5 star, priced accordingly

• City Inn Also near Brindleyplace, a new American style business hotel (we held our FAWCO Regional here) moderate

• Burlington Hotel City Centre, traditional privately owned, good location for business or shopping

Other Insights