Birmingham Attractions

Birmingham is an historic city and there are plenty of sites and places of interest that shouldn’t be missed by visitors. The sheer variety of interests and attractions in Birmingham means that there is sure to be something to suit everyone’s particular tastes.

The Artifex is a gallery that showcases some of the best pieces in contemporary art, glass and jewellery, as well as metal work and ceramics. The articles are chosen for the high quality of work and the innovative nature of the objects. Something that often confuses the visitor is that Birmingham is very widespread so not all attractions are in or even close to the city centre.

If you like visiting stately homes then there are a good number to pique your interest; Aston Hall is one of the great country homes of England and was built in 1680 by Sir Thomas Hoitte. Blakesly Hall is a great example of the Tudor and early Stuart country homes. Built in 1590 for a Birmingham gentleman farmer, the house reflects the lifestyle of wealthy families during the late sixteenth and very early seventeenth centuries. The building of Hadley Hall was commissioned by George, first lord of Lyttleton in 1756. This house is probably the last built example of the English Palladian mansion, with its rococo decorations and perfect proportions.

You may be more interested in learning about the every day life of ordinary Birmingham folk in days gone by, than by how the aristocracy lived. If you have an interest in the people of the Black Country then a visit to the Black Country Museum and reconstructed village is a must. The museum was first established in 1976 and has some perfect examples of late Victorian and early twentieth century village life.

An increasing number of people have an abiding interest in Britain’s canals, and Birchill’s Canal Museum is largely about life on the Walsall canals, its well worth seeing, even if you’re not into longboats and canals. Nobody should leave Birmingham without a visit to the famous National Exhibition Centre or NEC. Now more than a quarter of a century old, the NEC is still the largest exhibition centre in Europe. If you are interested in the art of the pre-Raphaelite painters then you should visit the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery as it houses the largest collection of pre-Raphaelite art in the world.

If you’ve had enough culture for a while then the West Midlands Safari Park is a Birmingham attraction that everyone can enjoy and it makes for a great family day out. Chocolate lovers should make a beeline for Cadbury World, which is a purpose built visitor centre dedicated to the art of the chocolateer and the only such example in the whole of the UK.

This article has given a brief overview of just some of the Birmingham attractions that visitors might enjoy. There are plenty more sights and scenes that may attract visitors to England’s second city. Birmingham is a vibrant city and there are enough attractions to suit everyone’s taste.