birmingham.....but different.???

[ibizaboy]

im visiting brum in late feb and im wondering if anyone knows of anything different i could do other than shopping ..................ie, haunted places,walks,unusual places......
cheers ian. x

[Buenchico]

Take a look here:
http://www.beinbirmingham.com/exec/236388/1019 8/PROFILE=NDpTWURfQkhNMV8yNDQxMTk2ODpTWURfQkhN MV8xMjc5MDkxNDpFTkdMSVNIOkdCOjExNjk5NTEyNTM6MT E2OTk1MTI1Njo6Og==

Chris

[vehelpfulguy]

Just out of the centre of Birmingham is the Jewellery Quarter.

This area has a long history and there are some interestng old buildings. Jewellery is still being made there

http://jquarter.members.beeb.net/

[vehelpfulguy]

Birmingham is famous for its canals. Just to the north west of the city is an AMAZING piece of history that is hidden away and almost forgotton.

It is the Galton Valley. If you walk it now it looks very natural with the canals runing through it and many trees and bushes, like this:

http://en.structurae.de/files/photos/1966/galt onbridge_1.jpg
But the valley is TOTALY MAN MADE, and at the time was the largest earth moving project in the world.

The Galton bridge, you see in the picture above, was the longest span bridge at the time.

In fact there are two canals running almost side by side here, one slightly higher than the other, and it is possible to do a great circular walk by going along one canal and then coming back along the other, all through this lovely tree lined valley.

There is a heritage centre nearby, and you can pick up details of the walk at the tourist information centre in central birmingham.

You can read more about Galton Valley here

http://www.starling101.btinternet.co.uk/canals /galton.htm

http://www.joe.shakespeare.btinternet.co.uk/cu tback.htm

http://www.laws.sandwell.gov.uk/ccm/content/ed ucation-and-childrens-services/curriculum-fold er/heritage-folder/gvhc.en

[vehelpfulguy]

Not sure how much you now about Birmingham, and to some people is does have a poor reputation.

But one area of Birmingham has had huge re-development and is well worth spending some time there.

I dont think there is a general name for the area, but it is the area around the International Convention Centre (ICC) Victoria Square, Brindley Place and Broad Street.

There are some canals running nearby, and the whole area has been improved and won many awars.

There is the ICC (which you can walk through), Symphony Hall, and the nearby museum and art gallery, there is Gas street basin (canal), and a load of cafes and restaurants.

Here are few pictures to give you an idea.

Inside the convention centre
http://www.guidetobirmingham.com/Photosfromaro undBirmingham/images/100_1007.jpg

Canals and recent developments http://www.geocities.com/ramonatang/BrindleyPl ace.jpg

Gas Street
http://www.shakespeareline.com/images/gas_stre et_basin_v.jpg

Symphony hall
http://www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk/acoustics_w orld/concert_hall_acoustics/birmingham.jpg

Museum and art gallery, outside
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/13/ Bmag.jpg

Museum and art gallery, inside
http://www.ivebe

[vehelpfulguy]

Part 1 of a two part update

Here is one excellent walk (or stroll) which will give you a good idea of the city and take you past some good shops and interesting buildings.

It is only about a mile or so, but can last half a day or more with a few stops to look in shops and buildings.

Here is a map that may help.

http://www.britain.tv/images/city_maps/birming ham.gif

Start in the bottom right, at the bull statue in the Bull ring.

http://p.vtourist.com/2219395-Birminghams_Bull _outside_the_Bull_Ring-Birmingham.jpg

Head westwards up the pedestrian New St looking at the shops and buildings.

You will reach Victoria square with a fountain, and the Floozie in the Jacuzzi as the statue is called

http://www.birminghamuk.com/BrumFoto/victoriac hamberlain/river_godess.jpg

See some of the fine buildings around the square.

More to follow.

[vehelpfulguy]

Part 2 of a two part update

Carry on north west between the Town Hall and the Pathenon (where the roundabout is shown in the picture above).

You see another small fountain, past a Tourist Information centre in the library. Then walk past McDonalds.

Come out the other side of the library and you should see the convention centre ahead of you as in picture below.

http://www.taglearning.com/downloads/98/brum%2 0wheel.jpg

Walk towards the conventoin centre, then go in the main entrance and walk right through the centre (try to see the Symphony Hall on your left if it is open).

Come out the "back" of the symphony hall and there is a canal in front of you. Cross the bridge shown here

http://www.birminghamuk.com/BrumFoto/brindleyp lace/iwe3.jpg

You are now in Brindley Place full of bars and restaurants, also the Sea life Centre, see picture below

http://www.birminghamuk.com/BrumFoto/brindleyp lace/brindleyview4.jpg

From here you can get to Gas St Basin and Broad St which are just yards away.

You can do this walk in reverse, start in Brindley place and walk towards the Bull Ring.

This is slightly easier as it is downhill all the way but I think it works better the other way.

[vehelpfulguy]

Sh8t, the links did not work.

That is because I copied it from an answer I gave a few months ago.

Here is a link to the previous answer where the links DOD work

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Travel/Question 272394.html