Birmingham City Centre

Birmingham City Centre sits at the heart of England’s second city, a teeming centre for industry, culture and education. This neighbourhood is home to many of Birmingham’s best attractions and throws up plenty of exciting options for visitors to delve into. From first-class art to excellent gastronomy to a thriving theatre scene, the city centre of ‘Brum’ as the locals know it, is every inch the buzzing contemporary city.

Known for its industrial heritage, Birmingham has forged a unique aesthetic for itself down the years, with disused factories now redeveloped and repurposed as homes for the city’s exciting art, music and performance scenes. Then there are the city’s modern additions to its skyline, such as the iconic Bullring. Top-level architectural feats such as these are common throughout Birmingham, a city where old and new collide to create a modern and cosmopolitan city.

Birmingham City Centre - one of the highlights of 10 Most Popular Neighbourhoods in Birmingham (Read all about Birmingham here)

What are the highlights of Birmingham City Centre?

In a city as vibrant as Birmingham, it’s tough to choose just a few genuine highlights. With that said, there can be no doubt that this city boasts some unmissable attractions for the visitor.

No visit to Birmingham City Centre is complete without a tour of its modern architectural gems. From the newly completed Library of Birmingham to the shopping hotspots of the Bullring and the Selfridges building, the heart of this city is a treasure trove of architectural wonder.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is arguably home to the UK’s best collection of paintings outside of London. Major Pre-Raphaelite works by Rossetti, Edward Burne-Jones and more can be found here, with contemporary exhibitions showcasing up and coming artists also more than worth a look.

Film buffs will want to head to the Electric Cinema, the oldest working cinema in the UK. In operation since 1909, this place is renowned for its unique art-deco design and for championing art-house cinema from across the world.

Eating and drinking in Birmingham City Centre

Birmingham is often mentioned for its pedigree as a food destination in the UK. Perhaps the most famous contribution the city has made to the national scene is in the realm of food from the Indian subcontinent. The city’s large Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities have made an indelible mark on Birmingham’s food scene. One of the best Birmingham City Centre spots to sample this is Asha’s, a glamorous locale for refined takes on classics and original cocktails.

The options for dining out in Birmingham City Centre are plentiful. The city has undergone something of a gastronomic renaissance in recent years, with modern British fare enjoying a moment in the sun. Chief among these establishments is Adam’s, where the inventive menu informed by ingredients from local sources has led to a Michelin star.

More relaxed is Purecraft Bar and Kitchen, a hub for lovers of craft ale in Birmingham and a quality purveyor of delicious food in its own right. Many of the dishes at this trendy locale incorporate beer as a key ingredient, such as the grilled plaice served in an ale and parsley butter.

What's good to know about Birmingham City Centre?

Birmingham City Centre must be one of the easiest to reach places in the UK. The area served by the newly refurbished New Street Station, which due to Birmingham’s location at the heart of England is one of the nation’s busiest train stations. The city is also served by Birmingham Airport, which serves as a hub for international flights to and from Europe, Asia and beyond.

James Connolly | Gastschrijver

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