Welcome to Birmingham, the UKs second city. Its a city of mixed cultures, creeds and lifestyles and has recently become the fashionable place to set up a business or to hold a conference but still retains pride in being a city built on industry. Listed below are the most important and well-known areas of Birmingham, encompassing business, baltis and entertainment! Bournville Chocolate, cricket and manicured lawns - is there anything else needed for a better world? The village is truly beautiful and inhabitants have to adhere to the rules of the Bournville Village Trust, eg keep a tidy, well-kempt garden in order to keep the area this way. Whats more, because of the Methodist origins of the Cadbury family who founded this suburb, there is not one pub to be found here. You can find, however, Cadbury World with its history of chocolate, work reforms and idealism. Its quite a family-oriented district, though tens of thousands of visitors pass through yearly. City Centre The place to dine, shop, visit the theatres, go clubbing etc. The city is now majorly pedestrianised and has everything within easy walking distance. At the Chamberlain Square end, students, trendies and clever types sit on the steps outside the library chatting, eating or swotting for exams. The popular Birmingham Art Gallery shows its scrubbed façade and imposing doors to the world, containing works by Rodin, some major pre-Raphaelites and a breathtaking selection of Japanese armour. The glorious Town Hall and Council House face outwards to Victoria Square where the statue fondly known by all Brummies as 'the Floozie in the Jacuzzi' takes centre stage on the steps that lead down to New Street. Broad Street, with its hotels, pubs, clubs etc, leads to the canals - Birmingham has more canals than Venice as any local will only too readily point out. Along with numerous theatres, the International Convention Centre and Symphony Hall can be found here, facing a square whose pavement is designed to look like a Persian carpet. Also, there are two cathedrals, both of which are beautiful, although St Philips is probably the easiest to find. Digbeth The Sanctuary nightclub is down here as is the coach station (you may think this is not much to recommend the place and you'd be right). However there are a few massive cash and carrys that are open to the public. Recently, a bit of cash trickled into this area and the Custard Factory was born - this is a venue for younger people to eat, drink and watch/perform drama, music and dance pieces. News on the grapevine is that lots of money will be spent on the Discovery Centre, the home of the new Science and Industry Museum. Edgbaston Loads of interesting places here, including one of the excellent King Edward Schools, Pebble Mill TV and radio recording studio where 'The Archers', Britains longest running soap opera, is recorded. Theres a wonderful and popular reservoir near Birmingham University where you can find the Barber Institute, which also has a fine collection of pre-Raphaelite art. Expect to find the well-heeled, the student set and young families in Edgbaston. And you'll find Cannon Hill Park, one of the largest and most adventure/culture-packed parks. Edgbaston Cricket Ground, home to Warwickshire CCC is found opposite the park. Edgbaston also boasts the Botanical Gardens where you could practically spend the whole day. Hotels and pubs can be found on the Hagley Road, which stretches from Five Ways to infinity (not literally!). Hall Green This green and lush residential area has a famous Greyhound Stadium, which, surprisingly enough, is quite popular with students as well as the hardened greyhound lover. Sarehole Mill is Hall Greens working, water-powered cornmill constructed in the 18th century. This was the place where The Hobbit author J R R Tolkien would spend his time as a child. Handsworth/Aston/Lozells Often, if a Brummie thinks about one of these areas, the other two spring to mind. Aston has a large and beautiful Jacobean house, Aston Hall, built in the early 1600s and is also home to premier league soccer club Aston Villa FC, as well as the popular Science Park and Aston University (with excellent scientific courses). Also the home of one of the best-loved radio stations in Birmingham - BRMB. Handsworth Wood was once an area full of sought after property and still retains some of its large houses. Every year in Handsworth there was a carnival to (semi) rival that of Notting Hill, now known as the Birmingham International Carnival. A large ethnic community and one of the largest Sikh temples in the city can now be found in Handsworth - in the evening the temple is lit up with neon decorations, splitting the night. The Soho Road is great for Indian sweet centres, West Indian bakeries and Asian grocers. Harborne A highly desirable residential area, home to children called Toby and Rebecca. The beautiful Blue Coat School, for boarders and day pupils, sits on the outskirts and there are numerous other excellent schools nearby. Some have called the suburb the "Chelsea of Birmingham". Hockley Not far from the city centre, this is the place to learn about Birminghams jewellery industry at the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter. Get your trinkets and treasures here at cheap prices. A carefully restored workshop thats 100 years old is now a visitor centre, informing you in depth about the rise and fall of the jewellery trade. Café bars and restaurants are springing up too in order to attract the casual visitor. Moseley Home of UB40 and Ocean Colour Scene, Moseley is popular with students as there are quite a few bars, pubs, and areas of cheap accommodation. Theres also the Moseley Dance Centre. The Jug of Ale is a very popular pub, where bands like Oasis, Blur and Ocean Colour Scene played before they experienced super-stardom. An area of contradictions, Moseley village has some pretty little boutiques and cake shops and some large houses which has made it a bit of a trendy place for the monied, younger Brummie to live. The district is also known for the amount of gypsies that live there. Perry Barr The Alexander Stadium hosts the AAA Championships each year. Theres also a greyhound racing stadium (what does all this dog racing say about the City?!). The area also holds the vast One-Stop shopping centre and is home of the University of Central England. Selly Oak Its nickname is less than flattering, but "Smelly Poke" is a place where there is much student accommodation. Famous for its large and friendly hospital and having a community feel. Small Heath/Sparkbrook/Balsall Heath Run down and not really famous for its scenery, but Boy, oh Boy! the baltis here are beloved by all, not just Brummies but people from far and wide. Top food critics often visit these restaurants. Popular with lots of different cultures and peoples during the evening, there was hope and some talk of the council spending a little cash to renovate and beautify these areas - this hasn't happened as yet, though. Small Heath is the home of the "Blues" aka Birmingham City FC and the Ackers Outdoor Activity Centre which has, amongst other things, its own inner city artificial ski slope - "Magic, Babby!" as they say in these parts. Sutton Coldfield Darling! The absolute height of well kept gardens, big cars and oodles of £s. 2,500 acres of parkland are to be found in the form of Sutton Park. Its a beautiful area filled with families and retired company directors. Yardley Popular with locals because of the Swan shopping centre. Yardley is close to the airport but here you'll also find a 16th century merchants house hosting a stunning collection of country pottery.
