Top Rated Attractions in Birmingham

The epicenter of the Industrial Revolution, Birmingham was once known as the 'city of 1001 trades'. A master of reinvention, the city has shed its once gritty, industrial vibe towards a more contemporary, cultural outlook with institutions like the City of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, International Convention Center, and Coffin Works paving the way for cultural exploration. Georgian-era landmarks like St. Paul’s Church, Victorian-era Law Courts and the Neo-Gothic St. Martin’s Church offer a glimpse of a bygone era while the Selfridges Building and Library of Birmingham serve as a modern symbol of the city's evolution. With a vibrant dining, theater and nightlife scene, the city offers much along its canal-lined streets and is a powerhouse of modern British life.

Anyone who is intrigued by curiosities and unusual phenomena should not miss the grave of Nanetta Stocker. It is situated close to the main door of St Philip's Cathedral in the city center, and is barely three feet in length. It marks the final resting place of "the smallest woman ever in this Kingdom" who was only 33 inches high and, says the inscription, was "possessed of every accomplishment". Stocker was Austrian born and was buried here in May 1819.

Established in 2001, the Thinktank (Birmingham Science Museum) is located with the Millennium point complex. A hands-on museum is an exciting place for children and adults alike. Within the fours storied building, each floor symbolizes a theme. There are scientific demonstrations, future exhibitions that talk about technology and inventions including the study of robotics, that are path-breaking and thus have drawn large crowds. With over 200 scientific displays, the museum draws curious science addicts from all over. A visit to this museum calls for a fun and educational outing.

Completely red in color, the 17 &19 Newhall Street is also commonly known as the Bell Edison Telephone Building. Made of red brick, the unusual name stems from the fact that the building was first located at 19 Newhall Street and was later expanded to take over another building. Occupying the corner position on the street, this attractive building was constructed by Fredrick Martin in 1896, and now houses offices of the National Telephone Company.

A defining feature of Birmingham's antiquated landscape, St. Martin's in the Bullring resides in the heart of of the city. Boasting a towering Neo-Gothic facade and a spire that reaches for the sky, this church stands in stark contrast to Birmingham's contemporary buildings. Having received a major face-lift in 1873, this magnificent, stone church is characterful and richly adorned with archways, painted beams, Victorian tiles and medieval frescoes sheltered by a timber roof. Surrounded on all sides by intricate stained glass windows, the church is a stunning tapestry of theatrical decor as well as architectural finesse, all remnants of the glorious Victorian era.

The square is named after one of Birmingham's famous mayors, Joseph Chamberlain. The Central Library and Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery are located here, as is the focal point, the Chamberlain Memorial Fountain. There is also a very lifelike statue of Thomas Attwood, a famous Birmingham banker and MP. He lies reading on the steps leading up to the library and has often been known to seriously confuse the unwitting passer-by. The Square is a busy thoroughfare and a popular place to see for both locals and visitors alike.