Britain's second largest city Birmingham has undergone a nip and tuck of celebrity proportions. Once at the heart of the industrial boom, the lively city has confined its less aesthetic history to a clutch of world-class museums and other places of interest, with visual signs of its past left in the city's pleasant waterways and canals. The impressive Bullring is just one of the new additions offering 26 football pitches worth of shopping space. Selfridges is the most talked about contribution, with its curvaceous, uber-modern exterior.
Tour Birmingham
A coach trip to Birmingham won't leave you stuck for things to do. Birmingham's other fineries include theatres, restaurants and yet more cultural hotspots by way of the Birmingham Museum and the Ikon Gallery. The National Exhibition Centre (NEC) is one of the most popular venues of its kind in Europe, drawing national events and big name rock and pop acts. The modern Symphony Hall is renowned for having the finest acoustics in Europe, while the Hippodrome is home to the Birmingham Royal Ballet. In addition, the city's gastronomic delights are furthered by the nearby presence of Cadbury World, which is a mere six miles from the city centre.
- To see a treasure-trove of one of the country's largest Pre-Raphaelite collections of art on your escorted tour, head to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Other highlights are the Egyptian Gallery and the Edwardian Tea Room!