Birmingham: The People’s Capital of the UK

Birmingham might be second to London when measuring UK cities by population, but Brum (as it’s known to locals) is fastly starting to rival the capital in terms of things to do and see. From sport and music to business conferences, there really is something for everyone in Birmingham. So, while the UK is home to four capital cities, should Birmingham take the title of the people’s capital? Here’s why we think it should!

What’s on in Birmingham?

It would probably be quicker to tell you what’s not on in Birmingham over the coming months, as tonnes of exciting events and conferences make their way to the city, not to mention some of the world-renowned names that will perform across multiple arenas.

May alone will see famous names from the world of sport and music grace the city. For sports lovers, the Premier League Darts roadshow will roll into town, with the world’s best players going head to head at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena. The city is also home to two major football stadiums, Villa Park, which has hosted Champions League football this season and St. Andrew’s, which is home to table-topping Birmingham City.

If it’s music you’re looking for, Birmingham is still the place to be in May. Chase & Status, Twenty One Pilots, André Rieu, Olly Murs, Bryan Adams, Tate McRae and Tyler, The Creator will all perform in Birmingham throughout May, meaning there’s something for all ages.

Finally, we couldn’t not mention Kevin Hart, who will be bringing his ‘Acting My Age’ tour to Birmingham on the 8th May. 

Travelling to Birmingham

One of the best things about Birmingham is its central location in the country, making it easily accessible for all. If travelling by car, Birmingham can be accessed by the M5, M6, M40 and M42.

Birmingham also has three main train stations, with Birmingham New Street being one of the biggest in the country. With a whopping 13 platforms, New Street makes Birmingham one of the easiest cities to access by rail. Here are some of the shortest train journey durations to Birmingham from other major UK cities:

• London to Birmingham - 1 hour 17 minutes
• Manchester to Birmingham - 1 hour 59 minutes
• Glasgow to Birmingham - 4 hours 9 minutes
• Edinburgh to Birmingham - 4 hours 15 minutes

Travelling Around Birmingham

One of the few downsides of Birmingham is the traffic. So if you are driving to Birmingham, consider using one of the many city centre car parks and exploring the city by public transport. Birmingham has an efficient tram system, which you can utilise along with buses and trains if travelling outside of the city.

Final Thoughts

We might be biased, but we think Birmingham is the perfect city, and absolutely deserves the title of the people’s capital! The size of the city means you’ll never be short of events and things to do. And if you are travelling for an event, there’s an abundance of bars and restaurants for you to enjoy before and after. 

On the other hand, Birmingham isn’t so big that it becomes hard to navigate. There’s no need for complex underground systems, and you’ll probably find that everything you need is in close proximity. As a result, you can spend less time travelling and more time sampling everything this great city has to offer!