Birmingham: What You Can Do In This English City

Birmingham is the second largest city in the UK. It has also become one of the favorite tourist destinations in Great Britain. The city forged its fame during the industrial revolution, as it became a fundamental part of it. For this reason, it was known as ‘the workshop of the world’ or ‘the city of a thousand trades’.

The city is the capital of one of the 47 counties of England, that of the West Midlands. And Birgminghan is considered the cradle of Heavy Metal, since two of the mythical bands of this musical style were forged in it : Black Sabbath and Judas Priest. In short: it is a city to be discovered. If you want, we can do it together.

What can we visit in Birmingham?

1. Saint Philip’s Cathedral

One of Birmingham’s religious icons is Saint Philip’s Cathedral. It was built in 1715 as a parish church and in 1905 it became the cathedral of the newly created diocese of Birmingham. The church was designed by Thomas Archer, who was greatly influenced by Italian Baroque architecture, especially the work of Borromini.

The building was destroyed during the Second World War. Luckily, its most significant treasure, the stained glass windows by Edward Burne-Jones, were removed earlier and kept safely. Later, when the building was restored in 1948, the stained glass windows were returned to their original place.

2. Victoria Square

It is the nerve center of the city. In it the representative buildings of the civil power are concentrated : the Town Hall and the Council House. The square was formerly called Council House Square, but in 1901 the name was changed to the current one as a way to honor Queen Victoria, who passed away in that year.

At the end of the 20th century, the square was remodeled, as they wanted to transform it into a pedestrian space and a meeting point for the population. Before this change it was a street junction with a high volume of traffic. The remodeling was planned with a fountain in the center of the square.

3. Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is the most comprehensive museum in the city. It is located next to Victoria Square, in one of the most iconic buildings in the city.

The BMAG opened its doors in 1885. In it you can explore the more than 40 galleries where everything from historical and social aspects of the city to works of art, archaeological or ethnographic pieces are exhibited.

The art gallery is famous for its exhibition of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, the largest collection of such paintings in the world. Another attraction of the museum is the gallery dedicated to t

Galleries designed to narrate the history of the city occupy a prominent place in the museum, especially Birmingham: its history, its people . In addition to the permanent exhibitions where we can admire objects of European and world culture, temporary exhibitions are regularly held that vary throughout the year.

4. IKON Gallery

If you like art and you did not have enough with the BMAG, at the IKON Gallery you will have the opportunity to enjoy avant-garde works of contemporary art. The gallery was born in 1964 with the idea of ​​being “

This initiative took its first step in a small kiosk at the Bull Ring. After wandering around the city, he managed to settle in an old neo-Gothic college on Brindley Place. Of course, it is an essential place for lovers of contemporary art. In addition, its entry is free.

5. Strolling around Birmingham

Walking through the streets of this English city is already an attraction in itself, because in them you will be able to appreciate buildings of the most varied styles : Georgian, Edwardian, Gothic or Art Deco , among others. You can also admire remains of buildings from the Industrial Revolution.

If you are a fan of JRR Tolkien’s work, in Birmingham you can explore some of the places that inspired him. The author spent much of his childhood and youth in this city and to take advantage of this attraction, the local tourist office created a route inspired by him. Some of the places you will visit are Sarehole Mill, Moseley Boh or Perrott’s Fily.

You cannot leave this city without first taking a boat ride through its canals. You can do it in the afternoons, at 2:30 pm or 4:00 pm; an hour and a half to relax with the gentle swaying of the boat admiring this fabulous city.