Birmingham Postcode areas

Phone code: 0121

Birmingham includes several neighbouring towns and cities, such as Solihull, Wolverhampton and the towns of the Black Country (The Black Country is a loosely-defined area of the English West Midlands conurbation, to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton, around the South Staffordshire coalfield. By the late nineteenth century, this area had become one of the most intensely industrialised in the nation.
 

The city's reputation was forged as a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution in Britain. Although Birmingham's industrial importance has declined, it has developed into a national commercial centre, being named as the third best place in the United Kingdom to locate a business. In 1998, Birmingham hosted the G8 summit at the International Convention Centre.

The Bull Ring is a commercial area of Birmingham. It has been an important feature of Birmingham since the Middle Ages, when its market was first held. It has been developed into a shopping centre twice; first in the 1960s, and then in the 2000

Birmingham Entertainment/Exhibitions:

The International Convention Centre or ICC is a major conference venue in central Birmingham, England. The centre includes the Symphony Hall and it faces Centenary Square (walkway between Broad Street and the canal area ). The building has another entrance leading to the canals of Birmingham. The Convention Quarter area, which includes Brindleyplace, a leading leisure and business destination, is located directly opposite the building on the other side of the canal.

The National Exhibition Centre (NEC Birmingham) is the busiest exhibition centre in Europe, staging more than 180 exhibitions each year, ranging from world-famous public shows such as Crufts Dog Show and Clotheshow Live to international trade exhibitions like IPEX and Spring Fair, Birmingham
 

The National Indoor Arena is one of the most sought after, and therefore busiest, large scale indoor sporting and entertainment venues in Europe. Since opening in 1991, over 4 million visitors have enjoyed over 30 different sports and an extensive variety of entertainment and music. Located in Birmingham City centre, close to the ICC.
 

Birmingham City Football Club The Blues

Culture:

Birmingham Royal Ballet - see them at the Birmingham Hippodrome and elsewhere.

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Listings for Birmingham and touring performances.

The Alexandra Theatre

The Birmingham Rep

The Old Rep Birmingham

The Birmingham Hippodrome

The Crescent Theatre

The Old Joint Stock Theatre

The Drum Arts Centre

Symphony Hall

The Barber Institute of Fine Arts contains one of the finest small collections of European art in the UK. Featuring works from the 13th to the 20th century. The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TS

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

The Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is the main art gallery and museum in Birmingham. It has renowned displays of artwork that include a leading collection of work by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the world's largest collection of works by Edward Burne-Jones. The group also owns the following museums which are worth a visit:

Aston Hall
Did you know that you can find one of the most impressive historic houses in the West Midlands only a couple of miles from Birmingham city centre. Aston Hall is a 400 year old Grade I listed building set in 52 acres of historic parkland. It still stands proudly next to Aston Villa FC despite many wars and weathering.
 

Blakesley Hall

The timber-framed house was built in 1590 by Richard Smalbroke, a member of one of Birmingham’s leading merchant families.
More than 400 years later, beautiful Blakesley is still a haven; secluded from the avenues of modern houses that lie beyond its gates
 

Museum of the Jewellery Quarter

When the elderly proprietors of the Smith & Pepper jewellery manufacturing firm decided to retire in 1981 they simply ceased trading and locked the door, unaware they would be leaving a time capsule for future generations.
Tools were left strewn on benches; grubby overalls were hung on the coat hooks; and dirty teacups were abandoned alongside jars of marmite and jam on the shelf
 

Sarehole Mill
The 200-year-old mill at Sarehole is one of only two surviving watermills in Birmingham.
The cobbled courtyard and mill pool are a tranquil haven from 21st century life outside, while the buildings and their impressive machinery give a unique insight into the lives of the millers who once inhabited this rural retreat.

Soho House

Soho House was once a regular meeting place for some of the greatest minds of the 18th century.
It was in the dining room of this elegant house that Matthew Boulton, one of the country's first industrialists, entertained the leading scientists and inventors of the industrial age. Boulton’s guests included James Watt, Erasmus Darwin, Josiah Wedgwood and Joseph Priestly.
They were collectively known as the Lunar Society and Soho was one of the venues where they discussed ideas and presented discoveries that continue to affect our lives today.
 

Weoley Castle
The ruins at Weoley Castle are over 700 years old and are the remains of the moated medieval manor house that once stood here.
The site has been inhabited from the 12th century and, according to the Doomsday Book, was part of the estates of William Fitz Ansculf.

For more information on the above see Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery web

Sarehole village and J R Tolkien
In 1896 Mabel Tolkien and her two young sons settled at 5 Gracewell, now 264 Wake Green Road, a cottage in Sarehole village. Though only four miles from the centre of Birmingham Sarehole was then in the north Worcestershire countryside. Coming from the hot dry veld of South Africa, the green fields and woods made a deep impression on him. Tolkien said that Sarehole was the model for the Shire, home of Bilbo in The Hobbit.  Take the Tolkien Trail to see the places and buildings that inspired the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Maps are available from the Tourism Centre & Ticket Shop, The Rotunda, 150 New Street, Birmingham, B2 4PA  More information on Tolkien and this area

Cadbury World is a museum showing visitors the stages and steps of chocolate production and the history of chocolate and is now open with a fresh new look for the Cadabra ride and restaurant.

The Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses are a 15 acre oasis of delight. Today, you will find beauty, peace and tranquillity combined with excellent visitor facilities for all the family. We look forward to welcoming you into our gardens and glasshouses where you can enjoy nature at its best and discover the importance of plants to people

Car Hire Birmingham:

Avis St. James House, Ground Floor Multi Storey Car
17 Horse Fair, Birmingham, B1 1DB
0870 608 6318
0121 622 5666

Budget N C P Car Park
Newhall St, Birmingham, B3 1SW
0121 236 6800

Hertz 7 Suffolk Street
Birmingham, B1 1LT
0870 850 2663
 

Enterprise 9-10 Suffolk Street Queensway
Birmingham, B1 1LT
0121 643 7743

Limo Hire Birmingham Unit 18-21 New Shires Ind Est
Golden Hillo, Birmingham, B4 6NE
0871 789 6655
0800 043 1043
0870 042 0118

Local transport

Go to the new Network West Midlands site for bus, rail & Metro tickets, timetables, fares, mapping, journey planner and Over 60s Concessionary Pass. Birmingham New Street Station is the hub for national rail connections to Birmingham and to Wales and the north west.

Midland Metro  Trams running frequently from Birmingham to Wolverhampton with many stops en-route.

Local bus services - Network West Midlands is the name that connects all public transport in the West Midlands metropolitan area. This includes Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Coventry, Walsall, Solihull and Wolverhampton (Centro is the corporate name of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive)

For national fare and timetable information call the National Rail Enquiry 24-hour hotline. Tel: 08457 48 49 50

For details of National Express coach routes and fares call their enquiries line
Tel: 0870 580 80 80

Also details of Megabus routes and fares can be found at:

Most scheduled coaches arrive and depart from the rear of Snow Hill Station

NB. Digbeth Coach Station is moving! For details go to the web site Birmingham.gov web site and follow through travel links.

Taxis in Birmingham:

Birmingham has standard black (London) taxis which you can just flag down in the street or pick up at designated popular places such as the station.

Private taxis in Birmingham:

St. Pauls Cars
65 Caroline Street
Birmingham, B3
0121 233 0303

T.o.a. Taxis (radio Systems)
100 Vivian Rd
Birmingham, B17 0DJ
0121 427 8888

B B Taxis
2 Regent Pl
Birmingham, B1 3NJ
0121 693 3333

Atlas Cars
86 Digbeth
Birmingham, B5 6DY
0121 643 8888
0121 631 4444
0800 977 4262

B B Taxis
51 Vittoria Street, Birmingham B1 3NU
Tel: 0121 693 3331

Blue Arrow Cars
2-4 Exeter Street, Birmingham B1 1NH
Tel: 0121 687 4444

Birmingham Airport taxis

Taxis are available outside the passenger terminals 24/7. All black cabs accept major credit cards - they are the only taxis licensed to operate without prior booking.

Limousines in Birmingham

Limousine Group

VIP Limousines 

Birmingham Airport:

Birmingham International Airport is the busiest airport for business travel outside of London going to most European cities as well as the USA and Canada.

Birmingham International Airport (BHX) is easily accessible by train from New Street Station where you get off at Birmingham International for the airport and NEC.

Several bus services are also available.

Contact Details
Airport Switchboard: 08707 335 511
Website:  Birmingham International Airport
 

Birmingham Airport taxis

Taxis are available outside the passenger terminals 24/7. All black cabs accept major credit cards - they are the only taxis licensed to operate without prior booking.

For more details about Birmingham Airport, car hire, airport parking or hotels at the airport see our Birmingham Airport page.