Birmingham, West Midlands travel information
Birmingham West Midlands England
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As the second largest city in England, Birmingham has many of the attractions expected of a place of this size, without perhaps the best of reputations.
Birmingham grew up on the back of the industrialisation of the region. It became a busy commercial and industrial centre during the 18th and 19th centuries. Despite a decline in its more traditional industries, it is still a powerful commercial centre today.
The "Black Country" to the North West was an area rich in raw materials, and it was the industrialisation of this area that fed the growth of Birmingham as a major centre.
Birminghams image is one of large urban sprawl, manufacturing industry, and the centre of the Motorway Rail and Canal network. For this reason it is rarely at the top of a list of attractive places to visit. However Birminghams very position at the centre of the country, does make it a good location, its transport network is unrivalled and many of the attractions of England are within easy day trips.
A large scale urban regeneration project has turned the centre of the city into a popular and lively place to visit, with many fine restaurants and bars. The fully refurbished Gas Street Basin has changed from a depressing run down spot, to a highly popular attraction, and well worth a visit. Birmingham famously boasts more miles of canal than Venice, and a canal trip through this network, particularly when combined with the splendor of somewhere like Warwickshire can be a fascinating trip.
