Updated on May 15, 2024 by Rodrigo @ OutofYourComfortZone

Birmingham isn’t the most obvious tourist destination you think of when visiting England or the UK, but you might be surprised to discover how much it has to offer.

As a local resident near the area (I’m originally from Wolverhampton), I’ve seen the second largest city undergo a remarkable transformation in recent years.

It has gone from underdeveloped and an undesirable city to now being one of the top cities in the UK worth visiting, easily rivaling cities like Manchester and Liverpool.

In this blog post, I’ll detail ten things you really should know before visiting Birmingham. I hope you understand why it is now considered such an impressive, young, and dynamic city in the heart of England.

1. Birmingham has a fantastic nightlife

If you’re looking for a great night out in Birmingham, then you have plenty of options. The city has a fantastic nightlife, as good as, if not better, than any other major city in the UK.

Whether you prefer pubs, high-class bars, Michelin-starred restaurants, or clubs, there is a huge variety of options available every night in the city.

The city center offers many reasonably priced bars and restaurants that are common across the country, as well as high-end establishments.

But if you venture out of the center, you’ll discover more variety, such as the following places:

• Chinatown: this is one of the largest Chinatowns in the UK and always has a vibrant nightlife with many high-quality bars and restaurants.
• Brindley Place: Right next to the Birmingham canal, this area features many restaurants just off Broad Street, which is well known for its nightlife.
• Mailbox: Home to luxury boutique shops as well as BBC offices, this is a modern place and is one of the largest mixed-use destinations in the UK.

2. Birmingham has several modern neighborhoods

If you venture a bit further out of Birmingham city center, you’ll discover several neighborhoods that have their own unique vibe and are worth checking out.

Probably the most popular neighborhood within walking distance of the city center is Digbeth, which was once a derelict factory area but has been transformed into a lively place full of creativity.

Digbeth also features some of the best street art in the UK, with numerous murals and quirky graffiti on every corner. Other interesting neighborhoods in Birmingham worth checking out include:

• Moseley: This is a suburb a few miles south of Birmingham city center and is full of independent shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs, and more.
• Edgbaston: This leafy suburb about a 30-minute walk from the city center is famous for its cricket ground, the historic Winterbourne building, and one of the UK’s best independent cultural centers: the MAC center.
• Erdington: Located 8 km northeast of Birmingham, it is known as one of the best neighborhoods in the region, with beautiful parks, landmarks, and highly-rated restaurants.

3. Birmingham has more canals than anywhere in the UK

It is a bit of a myth to say that Birmingham has more canals than Venice, but that’s not really true. However, Birmingham has a total of 56 kilometers of canals.

Most of these canals date back to the 18th and 19th centuries, and the city and this network were used to trade goods, keeping the city’s economy flourishing until trains became a faster alternative.

These days, the canals in the city have residential areas built around them and are used by narrowboats. Taking a walk along one of the many canals provides a charming escape from the city, and you can pass through beautiful scenery and small villages.

4. Birmingham was the inspiration for ‘Peaky Blinders’

Birmingham also served as the main inspiration for the successful TV series ‘Peaky Blinders’, which was based on the real-life wrestling gangs of Birmingham in the late 19th century.

The success of Peaky Blinders sparked interest in the city, and there are street murals of the main characters near Birmingham New Street station.

There are also themed Peaky Blinders walking tours in Birmingham, where you can learn more about the wrestling gangs, complete with a professional guide dressing up as a gang member.

5. Birmingham is a fantastic shopping city

Birmingham, in my opinion, is probably the best city in the UK outside of London when it comes to shopping.

Not only is it home to the largest Primark store in the world, but it has a total of over a thousand shops – so it’s the perfect place if you’re in the mood for some retail therapy! The main shopping locations in the city are:

• Bullring Shopping Centre – The largest shopping center in central England, with over 240 shops, restaurants, and more.
• Grand Central Station – Located above the main train station in the city, there are a total of 62 shops here and plenty of great dining options as well.
• The Mailbox – one of the largest mixed-use destinations in the UK, this former Royal Mail building features luxury clothing stores, department stores, and high-end restaurants as well.

6. Birmingham is full of beautiful architecture

Birmingham was once known for having less attractive architecture, with the city featuring somewhat unappealing ‘brutalist’ architecture from the 1950s and 60s that can still be seen today.

It’s a bit of a misconception that Birmingham is a somewhat dull and gray city, and in recent years the city’s aesthetics have completely changed.

The city is now filled with modern skyscrapers and unique buildings, such as the iconic

Birmingham Library and the fascinating quirkiness that is the Selfridges store with a futuristic look.

There is also plenty of historic and Gothic architecture in the city center, such as the Birmingham Town Hall, Centenary Square, the Hall of Memory, and much more.

People visiting the city for the first time are quick to comment on how enchanted they are with the mix of stunning architecture – so be prepared to have your expectations exceeded!

If you want to see all the major sights of the city, historic buildings, and impressive architecture, I suggest taking a walking tour of the city, where you can see and learn everything there is to know about the place in a short amount of time.