Culture - spoilt for choice

You will be spoilt for choice in a city pulsating with cultural activity. The city’s Symphony Hall is widely regarded as the finest concert hall in Europe and home to the world renowned City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO). Birmingham Royal Ballet similarly have an international reputation for excellence; you can catch one of their many regular Birmingham performances at the recently refurbished Birmingham Hippodrome, which along with the Alexandra Theatre, plays host to a dazzling spectrum of big name West End shows. And of course it is unsurprising that a city that produced the likes of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, UB40, Duran Duran, Jamelia and The Streets, is home to a rich array of musical events, with The NIA and The NEC Arena attracting the leading performers from the world of rock and pop and many smaller venues hosting local bands and acts.

When it comes to art galleries even the most active connoisseur will be left with too much to see. Highlights include the Victorian magnificence of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, which is home to the world’s largest collection of Pre-Raphaelite art, and the elegant art-deco Barber Institute of Fine Arts - recently voted Art Gallery of the Year 2004 - where you will find an exquisite collection of classics from Rembrandt to Renoir, Monet to Matisse. Meanwhile the Ikon Gallery showcases the very best of international contemporary art.

With well established jazz, book, comedy and jewellery festivals, as well as ArtsFest - the UK’s largest free arts festival - Birmingham can proudly embrace its status as a city of culture.