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.

Designed by architect Patel Taylor, Eastside City Park is Birmingham's first public park for 130 years. Eastside City Park is spread over an area of 2 hectares (6.2 acres). At the Royal Institute of British Architects Midlands and East awards function held at Millennium Point, it bagged four awards. Some of the notable features of Eastside City Park include public squares, formal lawns, 310 trees and a canal that consists of 21 fountains. The Science Garden by Gillespie's, a part of the nearby Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum, is also found inside Eastside City Park's premises.

Brindleyplace is a lively street and a complex right on the canal side, with plenty of bars, restaurants and shopping nearby. The area also includes some prestigious official buildings of National Sea Life Centre, Royal Bank of Scotland, Orion Media, Ikon Gallery of art and the Crescent Theatre. Several architects were appointed to design the buildings in the complex to deliver exquisite architectural styles. The Brindleyplace also consists of popular squares that form an open air venue for performing arts events.

The National Sea Life Centre is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city. One of the most thrilling things about this aquarium is its 360-degree transparent tunnel, which lets you stand in the middle of the ocean while sharks and other aquatic lives swim around you. There are 55 displays in total, including the "Kingdom of the Seahorse" and "Claws," featuring the giant Japanese spider crab. among other fearsome crustaceans.

These fine gardens, opened in 1832, were designed by John Claudius Loudon, a leading garden planner, and horticultural journalist. The gardens offer you the chance to see some of the most beautiful greenery in the world along with stunning glasshouses. Attractions besides plants include indoor aviaries, a restaurant with a fantastic view of the gardens, a children's adventure playground, a gift shop and plant center and a gallery displaying work by local artists.

Skirted by acres of woodlands, grasslands and wetlands, the magnificent Edgbaston Reservoir is the perfect place to get away from the city's cacophony. It was built by the great engineer Thomas Telford as part of the city's network of canals. The reservoir is guarded by a hexagonal gatehouse and brushed by balmy breezes owing to its bountiful natural surrounds. Apart from its practical uses, the reservoir is also famed for activities like kayaking, windsurfing, canoeing and more. When the sun gleams on its surface, the Edgbaston Reservoir is reminiscent of a shimmering, steely canvas ornamented by jubilant ripples and colorful boats. Bound by a winding, gravel-laden route, Edgbaston is also frequented by joggers and walkers.