Birmingham is a major city in England’s West Midlands region, with multiple Industrial Revolution-era landmarks that speak to its 18th-century history as a manufacturing powerhouse. It’s also home to a network of canals, many of which radiate from Sherborne Wharf and are now lined with trendy cafes and bars.
Main Highlights
- In the city center, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery are known for pre-Raphaelite masterpieces.
- The oft-quoted ‘more canals than Venice’ claim is a bit iffy – Birmingham is so much bigger than it’s a daft comparison – but that doesn’t mean you should miss out on a walk around the canal quarter.
- Here are a few places to visit if you are planning your trip to England.
1. Birmingham Botanical Gardens
The nineteenth-century Birmingham gardens that are spread across 15 acres are home to innumerable species. The gardens are well known for their beautiful collection of bonsai trees and tropical birds.
The gardens contain more than 7,000 distinct plants and house The British National Bonsai Collection. Probably the most established example is the “Omiya tree”, a 250-year-old Juniperus Chinensis in the casual upstanding style, displayed to the assortment in 1995 by the then city of Omiya, Japan.
There are numerous abnormal and eminent plants in the nurseries including two fine Himalayan Cedars near the fountain. There is likewise a sensory nursery that highlights explicit plants that improve the senses.
2. ThinkTank, Birmingham Science Museum
For all those who are interested in science, the Birmingham Science Museum is a must-visit place. ThinkTank houses numerous science exhibits, most of which are hands-on and interactive. This is what makes it a major attraction for science enthusiasts and children as well.
From Aircraft, locomotives, cars, and tractors to steam engines, Trams, and the famous chocolate packaging machine, also to Woolrich Generator, the world’s first heavy electrical machine, this museum has it all.
The Birmingham Science Museum is also home to authentic aircraft that date back to the Second World War era, the Science Garden, the human-sized hamster wheel, and the ThinkTank Planetarium. For all the science-buffs, this is another of the educational tourist places to visit in Birmingham.
3. National Sea Life Centre
The National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham is among the most-visited tourist attractions of the city which is home to more than sixty exhibits related to marine life. Lodging more than 2,000 animals from around the globe, the inside portrays itself as a spot that ‘transports guests into a submerged universe of revelation’.
The massive tank with a capacity of a million liters steals the show. The tourists have access to a beautiful underwater tunnel through which they can witness life under the sea, ranging from reefs to giant turtles.
The Penguin Ice Adventure habitat allows visitors to watch the adorable penguins and the Penguin feeding program adds to the fun and frolic. A 4D informational cinema is also available. The visitors can also watch different species such as red pandas, lemurs, and meerkats at the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park.
4. St. Philip’s Cathedral
St. Philip’s Cathedral is rich in history. The cathedral was built in 1715 as a parish church and it was raised to its current status in 1905. The cathedral was subjected to a bombing in 1940. St. Martin’s church dating from the 13th century is another place of religious interest in the same area.
The church is a Grade I recorded structure. St Philip’s is the third smallest basilica in England, with Derby and Chelmsford being the first and second respectively. It’s among the best places to visit in Birmingham for couples and families.
5. Barber Institute Of Fine Arts
The Barber Institute of Fine Arts is close to Birmingham University and houses famous artworks from the Renaissance period till the twentieth century. The beautiful institute houses the work of brilliant artists such as Bellini, Tintoretto, Rembrandt, Watteau, Manet, Monet, Gainsborough, Degas, Constable, Botticelli, and the like.
The excellent statues, classic lunchtimes, and evening concerts are other interesting things to do in the same year. The Grade II recorded Art Deco building was made by Robert Atkinson in the 1930s and was opened in 1939 by Queen Mary.
6. Victoria Square And Birmingham City Centre
Victoria Square is the heart of the city and can be explored through the Birmingham City Centre Path. One can visit the beautiful Town Hall which is the epitome of Victorian architecture made of Anglesey Marble. Mistry’s fountain, The River is the biggest sculptural piece in the square.
The Symphony Hall has excellent acoustics and a stunning auditorium in which top-rated artists perform regularly. There are two memorials in the same area, one dedicated to Queen Victoria, which was made by Thomas Brock in 1901 but recast in bronze by William Bloye, and the other one dedicated to James Watt, and they’re both some of the best places to visit in Birmingham.
The famous “Big Brum” clock on the Renaissance-style Council House is also located in the same area.
7. Birmingham Museum And Art Gallery
Opened in 1885, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery are considered to be one of the finest museums. It houses pre-Raphaelite works as well as artwork by painters from the 17th to 19th centuries. The museum also has interesting displays relating to the history of the city and archaeological finds dating back to the Stone Age.
The assortment of relics incorporates coins from old occasions through to the Middle Ages, antiquities from Ancient India and Central Asia, Ancient Cyprus, and Ancient Egypt. The Pinto collection has more than six thousand toys made of wood and the Edwardian Tearooms make for an excellent high-tea experience.
The Ikon Gallery is a contemporary art museum that piques the interest of contemporary art lovers among all the other places to see in Birmingham.
