Birmingham

Britain's second city, with more miles of canals than Venice, where the Jewellery Quarter, balti curry and Black Country industrial heritage anchor a Midlands trip.

Birmingham, in the West Midlands county of central England, has a population of about 1.15 million and is the UK's second-largest city. A cradle of the Industrial Revolution, it was once known as the "City of a Thousand Trades." The climate is mild and damp; Apr–Sep is best for canal walks and outdoor activities, with long summer days, while Nov–Dec brings the Frankfurt Christmas Market, the largest of its kind outside Germany. Winters are cold, grey and wet, but museum visits are unaffected. The main sightseeing areas: in the city center, Victoria Square, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, St Philip's Cathedral and the Bullring shopping center; to the west, the Library of Birmingham in Centenary Square, plus Brindleyplace and the Gas Street Basin, good for a narrowboat ride or a towpath stroll; to the north, the Jewellery Quarter, the city's best-preserved industrial heritage district; to the southeast, Digbeth with its street art, night markets and independent bars; and in the southern suburbs, Cadbury World in Bournville and, in Edgbaston, the Botanical Gardens, the Barber Institute of Fine Arts and the cricket ground. Classic day trips include the Black Country Living Museum and Dudley Zoo to the west, Coventry Cathedral to the east, and the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site about 50 km northwest. Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle are covered as separate destinations. Getting there: trains run from Birmingham Airport to New Street station (about 10 minutes); from London Euston, the train takes about 1 hour 20 minutes. Within the city, get around on foot, by tram and by train. Allow 2–3 days: one for the city center and canals, one for the Jewellery Quarter and Cadbury World, and one for the Black Country or Ironbridge Gorge. Don't miss a balti curry. Some smaller historic buildings open only on certain days, so check official websites in advance.

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