In the West Midlands in England lies the city of Birmingham. It is the second most populous British city; only London boasts more people. In the 1700s, Birmingham rose from a market town to an internationally recognized metropolitan area as the Midlands Enlightenment led to the Industrial Revolution. One might expect a town that has grown so greatly to feature many interesting attractions to visitors from around the world, and that is certainly the case. There are several worthwhile tourist attractions in Birmingham.
A strong musical culture has long been a staple of Birmingham. Heavyweights of popular music such as Electric Light Orchestra and Duran Duran got their start in this British town, but what really draws a global audience here is the International Jazz Festival. Enthusiasts of this style of music may thrill to the stylings of jazz artists from around the world. Symphony Hall, the home of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, is a location that attracts other music lovers. Still more music is there to be appreciated in the National Indoor Arena.
The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is known to art devotees worldwide due to its impressive collection of pieces from the old masters, a collection that features names such as Bellini and Rubens. Though not as large, the Barber Institute of Fine Art provides a wonderful display of Western art that covers a time span of the 13th Century to the present day. In the Thinktank, science is the focus, and guests indulge in an IMAX cinema and a planetarium. It also houses the world's oldest working steam engine.
Visitors to Birmingham with a sweet tooth will certainly wish to stop by Cadbury World, which takes guests through the process of producing chocolate. It also displays the history of the company. Sarehole Mill may not be readily known to many, but it stands within 300 yards of the home that J. R. R. Tolkien lived in as a child for four years. The Mill served as inspiration for several locations in the author's Lord of the Rings series, making it quite the treat for his fans. A journey down Broad Street will take visitors along the Birmingham Walk of Stars, a lane that features stars embedded in the pavement dedicated to artists who have performed in the city.
A strong musical culture has long been a staple of Birmingham. Heavyweights of popular music such as Electric Light Orchestra and Duran Duran got their start in this British town, but what really draws a global audience here is the International Jazz Festival. Enthusiasts of this style of music may thrill to the stylings of jazz artists from around the world. Symphony Hall, the home of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, is a location that attracts other music lovers. Still more music is there to be appreciated in the National Indoor Arena.
The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is known to art devotees worldwide due to its impressive collection of pieces from the old masters, a collection that features names such as Bellini and Rubens. Though not as large, the Barber Institute of Fine Art provides a wonderful display of Western art that covers a time span of the 13th Century to the present day. In the Thinktank, science is the focus, and guests indulge in an IMAX cinema and a planetarium. It also houses the world's oldest working steam engine.
Visitors to Birmingham with a sweet tooth will certainly wish to stop by Cadbury World, which takes guests through the process of producing chocolate. It also displays the history of the company. Sarehole Mill may not be readily known to many, but it stands within 300 yards of the home that J. R. R. Tolkien lived in as a child for four years. The Mill served as inspiration for several locations in the author's Lord of the Rings series, making it quite the treat for his fans. A journey down Broad Street will take visitors along the Birmingham Walk of Stars, a lane that features stars embedded in the pavement dedicated to artists who have performed in the city.
