When planning a visit to Birmingham – West Midlands a tourist has the opportunity to mix the new with historic. There are many activities and activities focusing on the modern and new. But, there are also many tours and historic sites to see in this lovely city.

Home to the Birmingham Royal Ballet, Xchange, and Hippodrome, the city celebrates dance during the annual International Dance Festival. Visitors can watch the many styles of dance brought by performers from all over the world. Or, you can participate in dance classes, programs, and activities that are exciting and fun.

The theatres in Birmingham provide regular entertainment and performances by local musicians, actors, and dancers. The symphony and ballet both have their historic beginning in Birmingham and provide both classical and modern works for guests. During the festival you will find street performers, entertainers, and musicals performing throughout the city on a daily basis.

The Jewelry Quarter gives a visitor an excellent example of a working Victorian district. There are many shops and boutiques along the quarter that provide a visitor with unique items created in the city. The quarter was been a world famous jewelry center for hundreds of years and continues to be a major maker and supplier of beautiful jewelry around the world.

The historical architecture provides a visitor with a wide range of sites to see. You can visit St. Chad’s cathedral, built in’39 and enjoy the beauty of the building. Inside you will find relics from the medieval times and some beautiful sculptures. The unique English Baroque style is found in only a few parts of England. You will find this type of architecture here in Birmingham. The rich colors, and bold shapes that make up this style can be found in the Castle Bromwich Gardens that have been restored to their original beauty. The glass house at the end of Holly Maze is a beautiful example of this architectural style.

Several miles of the 29 mile canals that flow through Birmingham have been restored and offer you cafes, shops and boutiques along this unique motorway. A visitor can catch one of the boats that travel the canals and see much of the city’s beautiful architecture and hidden treasures from the water.

There are over eight thousand acres of parks and gardens throughout the city. You will enjoy the Botanical Garden that has been restored in the Victorian style as originally designed. There is constant work being done by the city to improve and renovate the historic parts of the city and blend it with the new and modern structures that have grown over the past few hundred years.

The city offers a visitor many museums and galleries that provide both Birmingham – West Midlands historic beauty and the influence of modern architecture and growth. It provides a vacationer with an enjoyable and unique trip to a city that has a unique and friendly character.

For accommodation in Birmingham check this list of Birmingham hotels.