Birmingham the Heart and Soul of the West Midlands Birmingham 2–3 the Heart and Soul of the West Midlands
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Birmingham The heart and soul of the West Midlands Birmingham 2–3 The Heart and Soul of the West Midlands Brilliant Birmingham Birmingham Facts and Stats Welcome to Birmingham, the The second largest city in the UK, rich in Birmingham Town Hall and the Argent history and scattered with hidden gems, Centre. Birmingham’s innovation continues UK’s largest regional city: Birmingham is a hub of culture and today, being home to one of the UK’s a multicultural and innovation. With influences from across the premier research universities, as well as world, you can encounter anything from a Britain’s leading digital hub. innovative heartland at the English folk festival to Brazillian street art centre of Britain’s new with a world of experiences in between. However, Birmingham’s history lays far Divided into distinct quarters, the city centre beyond the borders of the West Midlands. Total population: Population growth to 2035: Percentage of people aged under 25: railway revolution. offers a unique mix of cultural attractions, as Birmingham is a multicultural city, which well as a range of restaurants, including celebrates its links to numerous countries several Michelin starred and countless bars and cultures. The city hosts over 50 festivals and clubs. Birmingham has something to throughout the year to celebrate diversity in m % % offer each of the 34 million visitors who are it’s own spectacular fashion. Welcoming the 1.1 16 37 drawn to the city every year. Chinese New Year in style, Birmingham’s free annual street festival attracts up to 30,000 Birmingham has a history of innovation and people. Birmingham’s weekend long St invention. Indeed, it was the centre of the Patrick’s Day celebrations are not to be Industrial Revolution in the UK, pioneering missed, attracting over 90,000 people and many inventions, such as the steam engine many see it as a highlight of the year for the and the assembly line. It was during the city. Other events include Birmingham Industrial Revolution that Birmingham came International Dance Festival, Jazz & Blues Growth rate to 2035 in workers: of age and evidence of this is still everywhere Festival, Birmingham Fashion Week, Brindley Jobs created in tech startups: to be seen. For example, the canals, Place Film Festival and one of the world’s Number of workers: which cover more distance than those of biggest Vaisakhi festivals which celebrates Venice and the listed buildings, including the collective birthday of the Sikh nation. the Birmingham and Midland Institute, 578,000 13% 38,300 Edinburgh Glasgow 245 miles 5 hrs 15 mins 252 miles 4 hrs 5 mins 4 hrs 40 mins Newcastle 4 hrs 5 mins 172 miles 3 hrs 30 mins Top regional city for 3 hrs 15 mins new businesses Manchester Leeds £26.2bn % 77 miles 40 91 miles 12,108 Largest economy of any UK of UK cars and car parts made 1 hr 50 mins 2 hrs 5 mins 1 hr 27 mins 1 hr 57 mins city outside of London created in 2017 in and exported from UK Sheffield Liverpool 64 miles 78 miles 1 hrs 40 mins 2 hrs 1 hr 14 mins 1 hr 35 mins Derby 34 miles Birmingham 1 hr 35 mins Birmingham hosts over 50 airlines fly to Birmingham airport adds Cardiff London 162 miles To Birmingham 108 miles 6,000 150 1.4bn 2 hrs 20 mins 2 hrs 20 mins Distance 1 hr 56 mins 1 hr 25 mins tech firms destinations worldwide from to the regional economy Time by car Birmingham Airport Fastest time by train Birmingham 4–5 The Heart and Soul of the West Midlands Birmingham: seven days, seven quarters City Core City Centre Core is the historic heart of the City of Birmingham, home to many of the city’s famous Discover a new Birmingham landmarks: Chamberlain Square, Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. The Core St George and St Chad every day. At the heart of is home to two of Birmingham’s Michelin Star Eastside Birmingham are the famed Formerly known as The Gun Quarter due to restaurants: Adam’s Restaurant and Purnell’s. its pre-eminence as the centre of the world’s Birmingham Town Hall regularly presents a diverse Oozing creativity, science, learning and Seven Quarters: City Core, ordnance industry, the district has been range of concerts and recitals. The City Core is innovation, Eastside is the university quarter. St George and St Chad, renamed after St Chad’s Cathedral whose being regenerated and renewed, with the Paradise Populated with an overwhelmingly young beautifully ornate features are the focus of Project due to bring more pedestrianisation and population, the district benefits from easy Eastside, Digbeth, Southside the district. Much of the quarter shows its residential living to the heart of Birmingham. access to the City and transport links, as well and Highgate, Westside and strong industrial roots, but regeneration is as green and blue spaces. Recently happening throughout Birmingham and regenerated, the district will become more Ladywood and famous many of the district’s warehouses are being 01 Adam’s Restaurant 02 Purnell’s Bistro and attractive as the HS2 station at Curzon Street The Jewellery Quarter. converted to residential and office Ginger Bar 03 Asha’s 04 Opus Restaurant opens (2026), making Eastside accommodation. 05 The Alchemist 06 The Botanist Birmingham’s direct link to London’s Euston. Each of these have their 07 Birmingham Town Hall 08 The Glee Club 39 The Bull 09 The Sunflower Lounge 10 Bullring 11 The Woodman 12 Gosta Green Pub own individual character 40 The Church Inn 41 The Asylum 13 Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and history. Jewellery Quarter The gem at the heart of Birmingham, the Digbeth Jewellery Quarter was the centre of Britain’s 37 Digbeth is Birmingham’s trendy quarter. Walk the 40 jewellery industry. Following a regeneration, 41 exposed red-brick streets and navigate the the district is now a true urban village 34 12 historically significant ‘Back-to-Backs’, and you will proud of its jewellery trade with a welcoming 36 be greeted by street art, vintage clothing, street community feel. Home to some of 39 food, pop-up shops and live music. At night, Birmingham’s most interesting museums alternative clubs and music venues plays host to a and landmarks, such as the Chamberlain 35 38 range of performers keeping Birmingham’s artistic clock and Golden Square, home to the heart beating at a lively pace. JQ Jazz Festival. 13 04 14 The Warehouse Café 15 Rico Libre Tapas 34 The Wilderness 35 Lasan Restaurant 05 11 16 The Ruin 17 Subside Bar 36 The Rose Villa Tavern 02 18 The O2 Institute 19 The Crossing 03 37 The Jam House 28 0104 38 Blue Orange Theatre 30 29 06 27 07 26 10 15 32 25 14 Southside and Highgate 09 Westside and Ladywood 23 17 On the doorstep of one of the busiest 31 18 Just as Eastside is the university hub of central 08 16 shopping centres in the UK, the Bull Ring, 24 19 Birmingham, the Westside is the vibrant arts zone. 21 and within a short walk of Birmingham New Iconic buildings, such as the Symphony Hall, the 22 Street station (with links to Birmingham 20 Convention Centre, The Royal Ballet and The REP 33 Airport), Southside is a hub for Theatre all stage entertainment varying from multiculturalism, leisure, indulgent foods and absurdist and experimental comedy to orchestral an exciting nightlife. At its centre is the recitals. Broad Street is home to some of Chinese Quarter, while to the east is Birmingham’s most exciting nightclubs, while Birmingham’s Wholesale Market, the perfect exquisite restaurants in a romantic canal setting can place to source local produce and be found in Brindley Place. horticulture. 23 Marco Pierre White Steakhouse 24 eastZeast 20 Missing Bar 21 The Old Fox 25 The Pickled Piglet 22 Birmingham Royal Ballet 26 Brasshouse 27 The Malthouse 28 The Flapper 29 Repertory Theatre 30 Arena Birmingham 31 City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra 32 Ikon Centre 33 O2 Academy Eating Drinking Entertainment Birmingham 6–7 The Heart and Soul of the West Midlands Transforming Birmingham High Speed 2 (HS2), together Birmingham’s economic and social shopping centre (along with refurbishment of transformation over the last two decades has Birmingham New Street train station with the Commonwealth been monumental. Following a decline in the underneath it) have been transformational. Games and an ambitious manufacturing sector, the city council Birmingham Airport runway extension which instigated a new economic strategy aimed at has enabled long-haul passenger services city vision, Birmingham diversification of the economy and promotion from the airport has further boosted the city’s City Centre is being of the service sector. This strategy underpins international appeal, with regular flights to the ‘Big City Plan’ a 20-year framework to the United States, Middle East and China, as transformed. encourage ongoing transformation. The plan well as continental Europe. seeks to deliver new residential communities in a world class city centre, maximising the This extraordinary wave of change and regeneration and development potential of regeneration will fuel further growth as HS2, including the allocation for 4,000 new billions of pounds of investment continue to homes at various sites across the city centre. pour into the city, drawn by the success of earlier initiatives. The forthcoming The results to date have been striking. A Commonwealth Games, appointment of range of city centre regeneration initiatives, Andy Street as Mayor, and various including new office districts, retail schemes infrastructure investments such as HS2 and and hotels have revitalised the city.