Birmingham

Birmingham might have a population of over 1 million, but this vibrant city doesn’t compromise on charm or style. With shopping opportunities aplenty, the ever-evolving city also has some great eateries and a rich and diverse entertainment scene.

Schools

Birmingham’s hub of culture, art and sport offers the perfect backdrop to expand education beyond the classroom. High-quality education is in no short supply in this city centre, with schools such as King Edward VI Handsworth School and Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College rating Outstanding for Ofsted. There are plenty of primary schools in the area as well and Cromwell Junior and Infant School also rank in Ofsted’s top bracket.

Getting around

Birmingham's busy city life means that there are plenty of transport links both across and further out from the city. Whether you want to bus, cycle or take a tram ride through the city centre, there are plenty of modes of transport available. The West Midland Railway runs throughout the West Midlands to destinations such as Coventry and Birmingham and operates from several stations in
Birmingham, including Birmingham Moor Street, Birmingham International, and Birmingham New Street. If you want to travel easily across the city, then the West Midlands Metro (the city’s tram service), can help you get from a to b in no time.

Sightseeing

From the Symphony Hall to Villa Park Stadium and Birmingham Hippodrome, there are plenty of landmark sights in and around Birmingham. The Hippodrome is home to the Birmingham Royal Ballet Company and averages over 500,000 visits annually, making it the most popular single auditorium in the UK. Also worth a visit is the National Trust Birmingham Back to Backs, which offers
insight into the lives of the people who lived and worked in these houses from the 1840s to the 1970s.

Things to do

If you want to experience the sights and sounds of Birmingham, head to the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery to see fine art, ceramics, natural history, archaeology, local history and industrial history, or the Birmingham Science Museum ‘Think Tank’, which covers everything from steam engines and talking robots. If you’re not one for museums, perhaps a trip to Cadbury’s World might be on the cards. Featuring a self-guided exhibition tour created and run by the Cadbury Company, the tour tells the history of chocolate, and of the Cadbury business. You might also manage to nab yourself some free chocolate along the way.

Shopping opportunities

The Bullring and Grand Central Centre is the beating heart of Birmingham's shopping scene. Whether you prefer the likes of designer brands such as Selfridges, or prefer to visit The Body Shop, Next or Zara, you can find all the latest trends and new season collections in central Birmingham, along with some great local cafes and eateries for when you need to make a mid-shop pit stop