Book flights to Birmingham

In Birmingham, the old sits alongside the new. Turn a corner and you’ll discover historic treasures like Aston Hall, a Jacobean mansion that comes alive in the winter when it’s lit by hundreds of candles.

Wander around world-class art galleries, where some of Europe’s finest collections are housed in grand spaces. The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery brings the work of the Pre-Raphaelites to life, while the Barbour Institute of Fine Arts is home to masterpieces by Monet, Van Gogh, Gauguin and Botticelli.

Much of the UK’s gold and silver is assayed in Birmingham, and the city is still a hub of creativity for silversmiths and goldsmiths. The city’s Jewellery Quarter is a network of workshops and galleries housed in beautifully preserved industrial buildings. You’ll also find heritage water mills such as Sarehole Mill, and the city’s sparkling network of canals, fronted by elegant merchant’s homes from the 19^th-century.

If you have a sweet tooth, Cadbury World is the place to be, where you can indulge in your love of chocolate and find out more about the history of this iconic brand. There’s plenty of free samples on offer too!

That network of canals is an inspiration for walkers, kayakers and cyclists, providing green corridors through the heart of the city. With restaurants and cafés along the waterfronts, this is a perfect place for a lazy afternoon’s stroll or cycle with the children, followed by a tasty treat or two.

Film lovers are well looked after, with the famous Electric Cinema in Station Street, the oldest cinema in the UK. You’re surrounded by a magnificent example of Art Deco architecture, with plush seats, the latest surround-sound system, and the cinema’s very own waiter service that brings drinks and nibbles to your seat.

Birmingham is also home to the National Exhibition Centre or NEC, which hosts everything from technology extravaganzas to major motoring events all year round. For sports lovers, the NEC Arena welcomes teams from around the world for major sporting events, or head to Edgbaston Cricket Club for international one-day and test matches. 

With such a multi-cultural mix in Birmingham, cuisine is a fabulous fusion of taste sensations from around the world. It’s also at the epicentre of the ‘Balti Triangle’, a dish invented in Birmingham in the 1970s and now one of the UK’s favourite Friday night treats. For the best authentic Balti, Ladypool Road and Stratford Road in Sparkbrook is home to dozens of top-class restaurants serving this delicious dish.

Across the city you’ll find every type of food from Vietnamese to Sudanese, Japanese and Thai, or French and Italian, so you’ll never go hungry when you fly to Birmingham with Qatar Airways.

After London, Birmingham is home to the highest number of branded outlets in the UK. Your shopping experience starts in the Bullring, but take a look at other smaller malls such as Pavilions, The Mailbox, and the Pallasades (also known as The Mall). The Mall is conveniently located above New Street Station so it’s easy to get to.

For a more leisurely shopping experience, browse the boutiques along New Street, High Street, and Corporation Street. For bespoke jewellery, head to the Jewellery Quarter in the north of the city.