Pictures of Birmingham

About Birmingham

Birmingham, Britain's second city, known as the city of a thousand trades, has long been recognised as one of the World's most important manufacturing and commercial centres.

The first record of Birmingham, is as a small roman station on Icknield Street. It became an industrial town in early times and is known to have supplied thousands of sword blades to the Parliamentary forces during the Civil War in the 16th-century.

In spite of the grinding povery associated with 19th-century industrial towns, the city developed and prospered. . This new prosperity caused the creation of many fine new buildings. The Town Hall, built in 1834 is modelled on a classical roman temple. The City's Council House of 1879 is of grand Victorian proportions. The Anglican Cathedral of St.Philip, dates from the 18th-century
and the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St.Chad, designed by Augustus Pugin, was built around 1840.

The City's Bull-Ring Centre has been re-developed twice. The first rebuild was in the 1960's, the second New Bull-Ring was only recently completed and opened in 2003. This massive complex comprises a vast pedestrianized shopping centre and offers many facilities, such as markets, car-parking and restaurants. All this is within easy access to the City's air, road and rail links. Interestingly, the Bull-Ring covers an area which in Medieval times was the Village Green!

Much effort too, has gone into the preservation of the City's great network of Canal's. A network said to have more miles of waterways than Venice. These day's, gaily-coloured sailing and narrow boats cruise the waters, providing a stark contrast to the memory of Barges filled with coal that plied these canals in Victorian times.

The City has several Museums, the most noted is the City's Art Gallery which has a fine collection of pre-Raphaelite paintings.

Birmingham Airport sees the arrival of visitors from the world over, they come to this dynamic City for a variety of reasons for Birmingham continues to maintain it's position as a World Class Business City. It offers the visitor a wide cultural scene, diverse and lively mix of shopping attractions, night life, major international events and exhibitions and easy access to some very fine countryside.

Places to visit - Birmingham Botanical Gardens where every turn brings something new and delightful, the City's beautiful new Symphony Hall home to the C.B.S.O. and the nearby National Exhibition Centre. Birmingham's Royal Ballet, when at home, is always worth seeing and of course the City has two fine Football Clubs, Aston Villa and Birmingham City.

Whatever you are seeking, you will find much to do in this vibrant, cosmopolitan City that has flourished throughout the centuries to become the thriving and exciting metropolis of today.

Interesting & Historical Facts about Birmingham

Birmingham's Central Library is the city's busiest building and Europe's largest public library, lending out 8 million books each year.

Birmingham facts | West Midlands facts