8 Keys To Discovering Birmingham
1. Victoria Square – the Heart of the City
The city’s main historic buildings are located in this square, notably Council House with its clock tower – known as Big Brum –the Birmingham Town Hall and Birmingham Cathedral. Cultural events are held in the square, including the Frankfurt Christmas Market, laid out in the purest German Christmas-market style.
2. In Search of the Industrial Past
Birmingham was the main driving force behind the United Kingdom’s industrial revolution, which earned it acclaim as “the factory of the world”, or the “city of a thousand businesses”. Dating from that period is the city’s extensive network of canals. An enjoyable way of discovering them is to go for a ride on one of the colourful barges that ply the canals and take in the industrial heritage that has survived the test of time. It has also become a major leisure area, with pubs and restaurants to relax in before pressing on with your city tour.
One way of finding out how workers lived in the 19th century is to visit Back to Backs, a court of back-to-back houses which has been restored. Tours are organised to the precinct with its workshops, enabling you to get a better idea of that period.
3. Art and Museums – the pre-Raphaelites and Much More
The Birmingham Museum & Gallery Art (BMAG) boasts the world’s largest collection of pre-Raphaelites, with over 2,000 works on display. It also houses sections on archaeology, social history and the art of other periods. Enthusiasts of the contemporary avant-garde and the latest art trends should head to the Ikon Gallery, housed in an 1877 neo-Gothic building designed by John Henry Chamberlain.
4. More Than Just Books in The Library of Birmingham
Well worth visiting, if only for the stunning building housing this library on Centenary Square. This, the largest library in the United Kingdom, is also famed for having over 40,000 objects related to the life and work of William Shakespeare. You can also visit the Parker Collection of children’s books, that of the British politician, Benjamin Stone, with some magnificent photographs, one of the country’s largest collections of music for silent films, and a host of other exhibits.
5. Cadbury – More Than a Chocolate Factory
South of Birmingham lies Bournville, one of the city’s most beautiful districts. Among its chief landmarks, there is one coveted by all children – the Cadbury Chocolate Factory. Inside you will discover the history of one of the most important chocolate factories in the world. A must if you’re travelling with children.
6. The Jewellery Quarter – Jewels for Everyone!
Most of Birmingham’s jewellery production is centred in the Jewellery Quarter, where over 100 jewellers and experts in the sector are to be found. The district dates back to the 18th century and is the site of the only Georgian square in the city. Highly recommended is a tour of the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, an erstwhile factory and workshop converted into a museum where you can see how jewels are made, among other things.
7. Bullring Shopping Centre – the Temple of Shopping
Apart from being one of Birmingham’s architectural gems, it is an essential destination for shopping lovers. It houses no fewer than 160 stores where you can indulge in one of the United Kingdom’s favourite pastimes – shopping. Before you leave, make sure you take a selfie alongside the popular bull statue in the interior.
8. Sarehole Mill – A Place Which Inspired J.R.R. Tolkien
Some five kilometres from the city centre lies Sarehole Mill, one of the last two surviving water mills in the Birmingham area.J.R.R. Tolkienfans have good reason to make a pilgrimage to this spot, as just a few yards from the mill stands Tolkien’s old house. Both the water mill and its surrounding area was a source of inspiration for some of the scenes in Lord of the Rings.
Now you have the keys to discovering Birmingham; all that’s left is to pick up your Vueling here and see it all for yourself.
Text by ISABELYLUIS Comunicación
Images by Tony Hisgett, David Merrett, ozz13x, Fotorus, Tim Parkinson, Elliott Brown
more infoStorm: concept store
Words: Cecilie Arling
Mannequins dressed in Comme Des Garçons next to the coolest line up of sneakers and a sophisticated selection of fragrances is just a sneak peek of what to expect at Storm.
Storm is a one of a kind conceptual platform that re-creates your dreams by bringing together commercial and artistic products in a modern and minimalistic surrounding with a very iconic Scandinavian style. You will be sure to have a unique shopping experience every time you go, as you will also find small art exhibitions personally selected by the owner Rasmus Storm.
Showcasing an exclusive and carefully chosen selection of internationally known clothing, beauty products, jewellery, personal accessories, magazines and books, Storm has become a true source of inspiration. When you are looking for that special garment to make your wardrobe shine or an inspiring visual and aesthetic coffee table book for the long dark fall days, Storm is where to go.
STORM
Store Regnegade 1, 1110 Copenhagen
http://www.stormfashion.dk
Contact
info@stormfashion.dk
Phone +45 33930014
Opening hours
Monday – Thursday 11:00 – 17:30 // Friday 11:00 – 19:00 // Saturday 10:00 – 16:00 // Sunday closed
Why not take a trip to Copenhague? Have a look at our flights here!
more info
Toykio. Come play with us
- If shopping is supposed to be an experience rather than simply raiding the rails and shelves, there are only a few places that can live up to your expectations and truly surprise and inspire you. Toykio is one of them. After some successful years as an online shop and a pop-up gallery on Königsallee, the guys from Toykio built their new headquarter in the Japanese district of Düsseldorf, just off Immermannstrasse. With its shiny black ceramic tiles and colourful neon signs, it is a hybrid between toy store, art space and a café where you can find pretty much everything your inner child desires.
- Action figures, robots, Qee bears, labbits, comics along with coffee table books, vinyl records and premium poster prints – every item seems to be hand picked by shop owner Selim Varol. The gallery in the basement features a variety of more or less known artists from urban- and pop-art, lowbrow, surrealism and photography, just as Banksy, JR, Shepard Fairey, Swoon, Ricky Powell, KAWS, and D*Face. And though it is unlikely – if you ever should get tired in Toykio, you can just sit down and enjoy one of the best coffees in town at the very Brooklyn-like pastry bar.
- By Lukas Blasberg from METAL
A place well worth discovering! Check out our flights here.
more info
If you want to travel for less, join Vueling Club
Not only will you save money, but you’ll also be able to get free flights! Because even if you only fly with Vueling once or twice a year, there are many other ways of collecting Avios with the Vueling Club loyalty programme, and you’ll then be able to use the Avios to get discounts.
more info