For those people who see Birmingham as a difficult place to visit, perhaps put off by its size, accessibility and parking, be assured that you will have no such concerns or worries. A Birmingham walkabout is by far the best way to appreciate this great city of ours, you can see all of the sights at close quarters and enjoy the beauty and architecture in all of it's splendour. Below is the route that we took along with photos of all the tourist attractions and points of interest we passed during the walkabout Birmingham provided us.
Accessibility to Birmingham, by all forms of transport, be it road, bus, rail, air or even the canal system, is relatively easy, there are numerous and reasonably priced parking facilities and areas available to the car driver. The other major point to consider is that although Birmingham spreads far and wide most of the interesting points of interest, in the majority of cases, are in easy walking distance of each other.
All points of interest, whether walking or driving, are well signed and easily guide one to wherever one wishes to go.
Perhaps the best area to commence a walkabout is in Broad Street; there you will see numerous pubs, bars and restaurants, footpaths with a number of inlaid stones showing those people who have received the city’s Walk of Stars award. There is a Grade II listed building over the canal near its junction with Gas Street, there is also a simple access to the canal system some 100 metres walk along Gas Street. On entry on to the towpath and by turning right, you will eventually arrive at the rear of The Mailbox, one of the city’s premier shopping, lifestyle and restaurant locations with over fifty exclusive stores, restaurants, café bars and hotels to choose from. Turning back and walking beyond the initial towpath entrance you will pass directly under the Broad Street, Grade II listed building and by crossing the canal via the footbridge, you will come to what is the hub of the Birmingham Canal system, passing a number of well maintained narrow boats along the way. In the centre of the hub is a sign giving canal directions and mileage to Wolverhampton and Fazeley.
Also on the side of the canal system is the Malt House Pub at Brindley Place, this area being named after the famous canal pioneer and builder, James Brindley. Also in front and to the right is the National Indoor Arena. Crossing back over the canal and following the Broad Street Signs you will pass the National Sea Life Centre, which contains numerous forms of living sea life, fish and other creatures. Beyond that is the IKON Contemporary Art Gallery.
Continue back onto Broad Street and by turning left you will pass more bars and pubs etc, and then the Symphony Hall and International Convention Centre on the left. On the right is the gilded bronze memorial statue of the famous three, Boulton, Watt and Murdoch, three individuals who played a major role in the 1700’s Industrial Revolution. The statue stands in front of the Register Office.
Further on and to the left is the Hall of Memory, which stands in front of Baskerville House. The Hall of Memory was built in the 1920’s and was erected in memory of the 12,320 Birmingham Citizens who died in the First World War. Further memorials were added after the Second World War and subsequent campaigns including Korea, Vietnam and the Falklands.
You will then enter a well signed area pointing one to the very numerous places of interest which lie in the heart of the City. These include the Town Hall, the famous Bullring, St Martin’s Church, Indoor, Outdoor and Rag Markets, Library, Hippodrome, Alexandra Theatre, Chinese Quarter, Arcadian, Jewellery Quarter and Museum, The Old Repertory Theatre, BT Tower etc. On your journeys around the city you will pass numerous shops & department stores, places to sit, relax eat and drink, either inside or out.
There is also a map showing Birmingham as it was over two hundred years ago which is very interesting and can be found on a wall opposite the indoor market, just up from the war memorial.
On your journey look out for the old, magnificent and numerous buildings of great architectural design; there is also a statue of Horatio Nelson near the Bull Ring Centre, the external design of the Selfridges Store, the famous Bullring Bull, the Queen Victoria Statue, as well as other interestingly designed memorials to those killed in the first and second World Wars, one of which is directly opposite the Rag Market. You will also, no doubt, see the other statues and monuments that are scattered along the route of your potential walkabout.
Other places in Birmingham well worth a visit, but perhaps not in walking distance, are St Phillips Cathedral, St Chad’s Cathedral, St Paul’s Church and Millennium Point containing both the IMAX Cinema and Think Tank, which celebrates Science, Technology and Education. The Botanical Gardens, Cadbury’s, Cannon Hill Park, Sarehole Mill, Aston Hall, Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Soho House Museum and the Jewellery Quarter are also must see places.
An interesting and true story about the Jewellery quarter is that whenever any of the small jewellery workshops needed an internal make over, the painters and decorators where not paid direct but by the fine shavings of gold they collected during their works. They obviously were happy with that method of payment as they were always happy to return and carry our further work under the same terms and conditions.
Accommodation
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Charities
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Education
Estate Agents
Fastfood
Health and Medical
Heritage and Attractions
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Local Services
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Pets
Professional Services
Public Services and Government
Pubs And Bars
Religious Organisation
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