Birmingham Travel Guide

The core of West Midlands enthusiast dwellers and travelers for its colorful mixture of cultures. Densely populated Birmingham keeps the flag behind the capital London, Manchester, with a population of almost 1.5 million people. Flights to Birmingham (BHX) from Istanbul (SAW) will create a fast and easy-access travel experience for you. Remember getting alerts for cheap flights to Birmingham throughout the year.

General Information

Where is Birmingham?

Birmingham is located in the West Midlands metropolitan county of the United Kingdom. The historic Warwickshire county stands as the core during pre-Industrial Revolution. Yet, the city has transformed into a commercial and industrial zone through the 19th and 20th centuries. Birmingham borders Wolverhampton to the west, Cotswolds to the south, Meriden to the east, Dudley and Solihull to the southeast.

Best time to visit Birmingham

Typical to southeastern England, Birmingham reflects humid features of subtropical climate. Get ready for sweating hot winds in mid-summer and never bother with thick snow blankets at Christmas, which is rarely seen. The best time to visit Birmingham for a soul and body refreshing tour is through spring and late autumn. What is challenging about Birmingham is its all-year fests covering shopping, entertainment and dining needs:

• Mind Body Spirit Fets on 17 November 2023
• West Brom Jobs Fair on 17 November 2023
• Birmingham Christmas Craft and Flea on 25 November 2023 and Book Fair on 8 December 2023
• Word of Mouth Waterfront Club Classics Fest 1st December 2023
• Dark Disco Club Alternative 1980s Event on 1st December 2023
• West Midlands Dolls House Fair on 10 December 2023.
• Digbeth Indie and Rock Festival on 6 April 2024
• Birmingham Digbeth Festival on 5 May 2024
• Summer of Love Festival 17 August 2024
• Boxout Fest on 31 August 2024

How to get to Birmingham

Birmingham, the city of commerce and industry, received 45.5 million visitors in 2022 regarding the national records. The beating heart of Westlands is quite accessible via highways, National Rail and international air traffic. If you get a direct flight to Birmingham from Istanbul, you can also visit London (196 km.), Leeds (147 km.) Leicester (54.7 km.) and Oxford (96 km.). The land route between Birmingham and Istanbul is 2606 km, which becomes accessible via a 4-hour direct flight from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.

Transportation from Birmingham Airport to City Center

The largest international air hub of the West Midlands is located 13.1 km southwest of the city of Birmingham and 17.6 km northwest of Coventry. Birmingham Airport (BHX) has been operating since 1939. When you arrive at the terminal, you can take the Diamond Bus or National Express WM Bus to get to the city center. Apart from the city center, X1 line goes through Coventry, X12 goes through Solihull and 96 through Kingstanding and Chelmsley Wood. You can wait for them at the bus stops K and L at the airport terminal. Birmingham International Station Air-Rail Exchange is another option to get to airport terminals.

Public and Intercity Transport in Birmingham

Located on the roundabout of several highways, Birmingham offers passengers and drivers a fast track on the land. National Express and Megabus operate between nearby and long-distance cities. You can reach London, Leicester, Oxford, Luton, Milton Keynes, Manchester and Leeds via a comfortable bus journey starting either at the airport or St. Margaret’s Bus Station in the center. If you have a valid driving license in the UK, you can drive on M1, M2, M6, M69 motorway to reach Birmingham city center.

Places to visit in Birmingham

The pronounced mottos ¨city of gold and silver¨, the city of ¨industrial heritage¨ and the city of ¨alright bab¨ will give you primary hints about Birmingham and its relics. You may be surprised to find lots of distinct places to see in Birmingham when you read our travel tips. Here are the most visited and recommended sites to see in the city.

• Museum of the Jewelry Quarter - visit the free spot to see former Smith and Pepper’s family business and today’s craftsmanship work on jewels.
• Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery - visit each of its world-class venues for exhibitions and showcases.
• National Motorcycle Museum - see 1000 pieces of the largest motorcycle collection in the UK.
• Library of Birmingham - get the pulse of the city both inside and out of this modern library building.
• The Barber Institute of Fine Arts - attend one of the exhibitions to see fine arts masterpieces
• Symphony Hall - visit home of the Symphony Orchestra before attending a lovely musical performance
• Victoria Square - walk along the pedestrian to gaze on the Towen Hall, fountains, statutes and the contact point of locals.
• Bullring Shopping Center - buy some local and modern souvenirs with a coffee break
• Cadbury Chocolate World - experience a full-day adventure with your kids in one of its 40 concepts.
• Sutton Park - visit the National Life Reserve of 2400 acres to take splendid shots.
• Birmingham Pebble Mill and BBC Ex-Building - the eighth-floor building including BBC ex-offices and studios near the Pebble Mill will send you to 1970 when Princess Anne opened it.

Where to stay in Birmingham?

Being a dynamic hub for visitors, Birmingham hotels even offer all kinds of stay, ranging between self-catered apartments to B&B studios, city break luxury in VIP rooms and SPA rests. You can search for chain hotels in New Street Station, Brindley and around Bullring Shopping Center. You can find traditional cottage house concepts in Sutton Coldfield. For budget accommodation, you may enlarge your search towards east Birmingham to find cozy and safe places.

What to eat in Birmingham?

Birmingham offers a wide variety of cuisine and fast food choices. The culture mosaic will sufficiently please you with Italian, Thai, Chinese, Indian and Bangladeshi delicacies. For the national dish, you should take a bite of Birmingham Balti to feel the inspiration of Bangladeshi and Pakistani flavors served in English kindness. The smell of chocolate will direct you to one of its best hot chocolate drinks. You can still try fish and chips at local cafes on the river banks for a light supper. If you are not sure about what to eat in Birmingham, you can wander around New Oxford House and Waterside House, Berwick Street and Bradford Street. Brummies serve halal food recipes mostly in Indian and Turkish restaurants like Iskender Kebab, Nando’s and Shawarma city.

What to buy in Birmingham?

Shopping in Dortmund will make you astonished with its brand shops, luxury jewelry of its own products and Christmas shopping in the market. You can start by purchasing a magic city printed magnet and the motto reminding ¨tara-a-bit¨ and ¨alright bab¨ carved necklaces at the Library of Birmingham.

Things to Know Before Visiting Birmingham

While planning your trip, get some inspiration from interesting facts in our Birmingham Travel Guide about the city.

• Although the history dates back to the 6th century AD, Birmingham has become a popular industrial area at the beginning of the 20th century.
• The oldest steam engine is hosted in Birmingham. J. R. R. Tolkien, the author of the Hobbits and the Lord of the Rings, lived in this city.
• There is a saying that Birmingham knows its silver and gold. The Jewellery Quarter is renowned as the largest jewelry producer in the UK.
• There are 600 parks covering 8000 acres in the urban area to make Birmingham a ¨green city¨.
• The City Council is proud to announce that Birmingham hosts 160 miles of canal network, which makes it a longer canal stream than Venice.

Nightlife in Birmingham

Due to the number of its blues and jazz bars, Birmingham is called a ¨Blue City¨. There are traditional pubs and live music pubs which usually fascinate music fans with special events and daily night fests. Book your seat to enjoy small-scale concerts in one of Birmingham jazz pubs.

Essential Phone Numbers

You can call 999 for medical and police emergency, 101 for non-emergency police services and 111 for NHS fast medical services

Flights to Birmingham will be an affordable option if you would like to travel to other inland British cities, the capital London, Manchester and even to the north. Check Pegasus flight offers for a low-budget trip.