Home to large-scale shopping malls, historic buildings and world-class museums, Birmingham City Centre is a bustling business district in the West Midlands. It’s home to the city’s main library and its centuries-old cathedral, as well as the iconic red brick and terracotta building of the Victoria Law Courts.
Things to do in Birmingham City Centre
For a cultural fix, head to the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, where you’ll find archaeological exhibits, fine arts and natural history displays. It’s renowned for its impressive collection of paintings dating back to the 14th century, including the world’s largest number of works by the British Pre-Raphaelite artist, Edward Burne-Jones. Get up close to ivory figures from the Assyrian city of Nimrud and artefacts from Ancient India, then learn about Birmingham’s manufacturing past in the Industrial Gallery.
A short stroll from the museum is the 18th-century St. Philip’s Cathedral, which was designed in a Baroque style by the English architect Thomas Archer. Admire the beautiful stained-glass windows crafted by Edward Burne-Jones and stroll beneath the leafy trees that frame the peaceful churchyard.
Need a retail fix? You can browse the designer stores that cluster in The Bullring and Grand Central, which together form the largest city centre-based shopping centre in the United Kingdom. Large-scale artworks dot the malls, including a 2.2-metre-tall sculpture of a bull titled “The Guardian”, which was created by Laurence Broderick and is a popular photo spot in Birmingham City Centre.
Getting around Birmingham City Centre
Birmingham City Centre is around 20 minutes’ drive from Birmingham Airport and is connected by train to destinations across the United Kingdom from the Birmingham New Street, Birmingham Moor Street and Birmingham Snow Hill railway stations. Trams and buses travel throughout Birmingham City Centre and connect most of its attractions.