Birmingham
Did you know Birmingham has more miles of canal than Venice and is home to its very own chocolate factory? We think these facts alone are enough to make Britain’s second-largest city a serious contender in the 'I want to live there' stakes.
Set in the West Midlands of England, Birmingham is a major international commercial centre. Its cosmopolitan vibe, use of modern architecture (check out the main library and Bullring shopping centre) along with some of the finest dining in the UK are just some of the reasons it makes perfect sense to buy a new home in Birmingham.
Birmingham has three universities and two university colleges, making it not only the largest centre of higher education outside London, but also one of the most esteemed, with the Birmingham Royal Ballet, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and the Barber Institute of Fine Arts all within Birmingham’s walls.
The city’s other attractions include the Birmingham NEC Area, the Bullring shopping centre, and Birmingham Thinktank science museum, as well as the many bars and restaurants of Broad Street.
Transport: you'll be well connected
Residents of Birmingham have some of the best transport links in Britain, with a wide variety of different options available. Trains, trams, buses and airports are all in plentiful supply, ensuring that you are well connected when it comes to travelling to, from and around Birmingham.
Home to the UK’s best-known motorway junction - commonly known as ‘Spaghetti Junction’ - Birmingham is served by a number of different motorways, including the M6, M5, and the M42, as well as allowing quick access to the M1, making it easy for clients to reach you, or vice versa. The city’s roads, train connections, trams and canals make it a major transport hub in the UK, used by millions of people every day.
Trains
Residents of Birmingham have a choice of three mainline overground train stations. The area's main railway station, Birmingham New Street, is the busiest in the United Kingdom outside London, and is used by over 40.1 million people annually.
The second station, Birmingham Snow Hill station, is another major railway station in the city centre. The station serves as the terminus for the Midland Metro which operates between the station and Wolverhampton, also serving the nearby towns of Bilston, Wednesbury and West Bromwich.
The third city centre station, Birmingham Moor Street, became the city's third main line station in September 2011, and provides passengers with express trains to London Marylebone.
Trams
Another method of transport for people who live in Birmingham is the tram. Birmingham’s ‘Midland Metro’ has routes between Birmingham and Wolverhampton and carries about five million passengers each year.
The current tramline infrastructure allows passengers to travel from Birmingham Snow Hill mainline train station in Birmingham city centre, to Wolverhampton St George’s in Wolverhampton City Centre.
Buses
Birmingham also has a large number of bus routes, almost all of which are operated by National Express West Midlands. The number 11 outer circle route is one of the longest urban bus routes in Europe, being 26 miles (42 km) long with 272 bus stops.
Airports
Birmingham Airport is a great option for overseas flights. The airport code is BHX and the distance from central Birmingham is just 6 miles.