Downtown Birmingham’s Best Activities
Birmingham is the second-largest city in England, and one of the largest in the United Kingdom. It isn’t the prettiest city in the British Isles, but it stands as one of the most important industrial centres in the modern world. The city of Birmingham still welcomes plenty of visitors, especially in the downtown area. An abundance of Birmingham City Centre hotels can be found for tourists.
Getting into this West Midlands city is most easily achieved by air. The Birmingham International Airport is found 12kms from the heart of the city. Taxis take about 20 minutes to get from the airport to downtown Birmingham. Trains and highways also connect the city with London and other English settlements.
Upon arrival, visitors will have a chance to see plenty of sites. However, they will also be able to find lots of things to do while staying in downtown Birmingham. The following list presents the best activities the downtown area has to offer.
Football – there is no better way to spend half a day in Birmingham downtown than to head to the football. The city has two teams in the top flight…well, it had two teams in the top flight premier league football competition. Now, Aston Villa FC is the team with bragging rights since Birmingham City FC was relegated last season. Nevertheless, excellent atmospheres and top notch football can be seen in the heart of Birmingham.
Botanical Gardens – located in the southwestern part of central Birmingham is the city’s botanical gardens. The park is a large green zone that welcomes thousands of people each day. Perfect for getting away from the bustling inner-city of Birmingham.
Thinktank – this fabulous science museum is choc-a-block full of interesting activities for the whole family. Located next to the University of Aston campus in the city centre’s northeast, the Thinktank promotes science like never before. Come and enjoy an entire day in this magnificent museum. It isn’t just for children, as there are plenty of adult oriented exhibits on display.
Museum of the Jewelry Quarter – tours of the Jewelry Museum within the jewelry quarter of Birmingham are available. This small but exciting museum tour will take visitors back to the workings of the Jewelry Quarter.
Nightclubbing – nightclubbing is almost an expected activity for visitors to do at least once in their Birmingham holiday. The centre of the city is home to plenty of drinking spots and dance clubs. Student nights are particularly fun, but it goes without saying that tourists should be on their best behaviour when pub crawling.
The Custard Factory – for a slice of culture, and amazement, visit the custard factory. Home to many shops during daylight hours, the centre is turned upside down when the sun goes down. Sometimes the central pool is turned into a dance floor!
Quizzes – for a fun night out, visitors can try their knowledge levels at one of the many quiz nights found throughout the centre of the city. Test against complete strangers or friends in this friendly atmosphere.
Cinema – although the city of Birmingham isn’t an ‘alternative’ cinema city, there are plenty of regular movie cinemas to enjoy international films, including Hollywood blockbusters.
Theatre – places like the Birmingham Hippodrome and the Alexandra Theatre provide many live performances and plays throughout the year. There are many more smaller theatres found in the city centre, so it is best to pick up theatre guides at tourist boxes around town.
Bullring Shopping – the centre of Birmingham’s downtown shopping activities are found around the Bullring Shopping Complex. Once an industrial structure that looked rather unappealing, the modern ‘Bullring’ is the new face of contemporary Birmingham, offering plenty of shopping stores to explore.
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