Here
you will find a complete Business Traveler's Guide to
Birmingham, England, a city and business center with more
than two million inhabitants right in the heart of the country's
West Midlands region. |
Facts
to Know Before You Go |
Currency:
Pound Sterling
| It's
no problem to exchange money at an airport in the
U.S. or in England once you arrive. In addition to the airports, many
tourist attractions house exchange booths such as
Thomas Cooke, but for the best rate, use an ATM or
get cash back on purchases. Although the euro is not
widely used, it is possible to spend it at airport
facilities and some retailers in town. |
Transportation:
Public
Transportation: For business travel in
and out of Birmingham, the Birmingham
International Airport is conveniently situated,
just eight miles east of downtown, adjacent to
the National
Exhibition Centre, and it is easily accessible
by rail and taxi. The Birmingham International
Train Station is a two-minute ride from the passenger
terminal via the Air-Rail Link, a free service
that runs roughly every couple of minutes.
Trains:
From the airport station, frequent trains will
shuttle you to the city’s main train station,
Birmingham New Street, in about 15 minutes. If
you’re arriving at the airport on an international
flight, save time by purchasing your ticket to
downtown while you’re still in the international
terminal (T1) from automated machines marked “Virgin
Fast Tickets.” Once at New Street Station,
Birmingham’s main business district, the
International
Convention Centre and the National
Indoor Arena are but a short cab ride or a
10-15 minute walk away.
Rental
Cars: Birmingham International Airport
houses six major car rental firms at the Millennium
Link Building, which can be reached from Terminals
1 and 2. At least one firm is open 24-hours a
day. See the airport listing here.
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Taxis: The easiest and most comfortable
way to get down to business in Birmingham is to
hop a black cab directly outside of the passenger
terminal. Cab fare to the City Centre costs approximately
£16. Within the city, taxis are quickest,
but eight local rail lines provide fairly efficient
travel to most meeting venues and other attractions,
as well as to outlying cities and towns. |
Information:
|
For
more on travel in Britain, see our guide.
Ready to book a trip now?
Click here for exclusive savings. |
|
Its
name says it all—a comfy inn tucked into the middle
of a bustling metropolis. If you're looking for a place
to stay besides one of the uniform, bigger corporate hotels,
the City Inn at Brindleyplace is a great base for businesspeople
who want to try something different. The hotel sells itself
as “the modern alternative to traditional large
hotels,” and it delivers. Sleek design and light
open spaces give the Inn a non-imposing, friendly feel,
without sacrificing luxury. Its airy rooms have floor-to-ceiling
windows that actually open like in older hotels, and its
small attractive boardrooms are ideal for executive luncheons.
The National Indoor Arena, the International Convention
Center and Symphony Hall are all within walking distance.
In
2001, this early Victorian-style building near the heart
of Birmingham’s Jewelry Quarter, the old city
center, was turned into a Hotel du Vin, a micro-chain
of upscale hotels geared more towards pampering and
wine-tasting than strictly towards business. But we
love this hotel for its elegant décor and the
perfect escape it offers from the hustle of traveling
on the job. Inside, historic sweeping staircases and
granite pillars give way to ultra-modern accommodations.
The hotel showcases an extensive wine list, stocking
roughly 50 kinds of Champagne at the bar and it often plays host to wine tasting events
and special dinners. The Bistro, part of the Vin’s
namesake, serves up “simple seasonal classics”
at not too extravagant prices.
With
a contemporary feel and sleek guestrooms, the Hyatt
Regency Birmingham seems like it was designed to cater
to large volumes of demanding business travelers. It
is well suited for short stopovers and weekend meetings,
and it's especially good for longer conferences. The
rooms are sufficiently stylish, from the regular quarters
to the Presidential Suite, most having floor-to-ceiling
windows with views of the city or canal. And the hotel
boasts a huge adjacent conference center with a variety
of meeting spaces from small to large that can accommodate
up to 3,500 people. There are complete business amenities
to boot, including secretarial services, advanced audio-visual
equipment and even a currency exchange.
Situated
in Birmingham’s impressive Mailbox building, the
ultra-modern, ultra-chic Malmaison blends business class,
stylish comfort and location. Five small, intimate meeting
spaces, well-equipped and perfect for groups of ten to
20 people, as well as one that can seat 45 theater-style
complement the bold, individually designed guestrooms.
Every room has a CD library, satellite TV and quick
Internet access and comes stocked with “Mal”
goodies like fine wines and chocolates. Wireless connectivity
is available at the bar, in the lounge and in all conference
rooms. To unwind after a hectic day, the Petit Spa offers
a variety of treatments, and business folks often rendezvous
at the bar for after-work drinks. We also enjoyed the
brasserie, which offers a variety of modern European
fare from burgers to foie gras.
A
ten-minute walk from the International Convention Center,
the 39-story glass structure that is home to the Radisson
SAS is a safe call for the Birmingham business traveler.
Free wireless Internet is provided throughout the hotel,
and their special Business Class quarters include a
Nespresso machine and large corner bedrooms with city
views available upon request. An upscale Sardinian restaurant,
two contemporary bars and a full spa round out the SAS.
And modern banquet and convention halls along with sophisticated
meeting rooms decked out with floor-to-ceiling windows
make this hotel an all around good choice for busy travelers
and event coordinators. |
Bank
Birmingham (Pan-European)
4 Brindleyplace
Birmingham B1 2JB, England
0 121 633 4466
www.bankrestaurants.com
|
14/20
£££££ |
|
Indulge
in contemporary pan-European cuisine with some inventive
twists—breast of duck, marinated and served with
a hazelnut dressing followed byChampagne mousse for dessert
are just the beginning. Not only does Bank offer breakfast, lunch and
weekend brunches, but its location in Brindleyplace,
so close to the International Convention Centre, makes
Bank an easy choice for busy dealmakers who are looking
for quality as well as culinary variety. But the crowd
varies, including families and couples. The restaurant
provides “private” dining in a dramatic glass-enclosed
space in the middle of the restaurant, putting diners
as much on display as its diverse food specials. It's
a steal too: a whole lobster and a bottle of Champagne,
£40. |
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Chef Raymond Blanc is back at the helm of Brasserie Blanc (formerly Le Petit Blanc). He opened the first
of his restaurants in Oxford in January 1997 to help assert the
“French philosophy of great cooking and living”
in the U.K. After garnering major attention
for that restaurant, he expanded his culinary dream to
four cities across Britain, including this one in the
heart of Birmingham near the International Convention
Centre. Brasserie Blanc features a seasonal
menu with signature dishes such as deep fried goat cheese
with French bean salad and tomato chutney, or herb pancakes
with Gruyère cheese and ham, all at reasonable
prices. |
Lasan (Indian)
3 - 4 Dakota Buildlngs James St., St Paul`s Sq.
Birmingham B3 1SD, England
0 121 212 3664
www.lasan.co.uk
|
14/20
£££££ |
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In
a country famous for its Indian food, Lasan takes an extra
culinary step to distinguish itself. Only a couple of
years old, everything about this restaurant feels fresh
and modern. The owner and the chef are both under 30,
and though there are some traditional dishes to be found
on the menu, most recipes at Lasan use European flavors
and culinary sensibilities to jazz up customary Indian
flavors. Try, for instance, the Aloo Brie Tikki, Indian-style
potato balls stuffed with European brie. The atmosphere
is bright and the staff has won numerous awards from regional
newspapers and trade groups for service, management and
innovation. |
Metro
Bar & Grill (British/Pan-European)
73 Cornwall St.
Birmingham B3 2DF, England
0 121 200 1911
www.metrobarandgrill.co.uk
|
14/20
£££££ |
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It's
a feast for the senses as well as for the taste buds.
Bright and colorful, the Metro Bar & Grill serves
standard British and European food in a stylized urbane
environment. We found the Metro Bar & Grill a nice
place to meet a colleague for drinks or a quick, no-pressure
dinner without sacrificing flair and panache. The menu
includes seafood, grilled goodies, an assortment of inventive
starters (like Thai fishcakes with sweet chili dip), and
a list of specialty puddings for dessert. |
Opus (Modern British/Seafood)
54 Cornwall St.
Birmingham B3 2DE, England
0 121 200 2323
www.opusrestaurant.co.uk
|
15/20
£££££ |
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Somewhere between classy and informal, this trendy
restaurant makes for an exciting night of eating out,
especially if you like seafood. Calling itself “Modern
British” cuisine, Opus offers a variety of meaty
treats, from their Cornish lamb and Barbary duck
to the central attraction of this restaurant, the Crustacea
bar, where guests can help themselves to an assortment
of fresh oysters, lobster, shrimp and other shellfish.
Opus also has a smart special events dining room perfect
for taking a larger group of associates out for fun (and
delicious) surf and turf dinner. |
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Chef Glynn Purnell’s self-titled restaurant is housed in a beautiful redbrick and terracotta Victorian building in the heart of one of the city’s conservation areas and the business district. Copuled with the fact that the restaurant is small and intimate (seating up to 57 people), that makes it the perfect dining experience to impress your clients. Not to mention the food, which includes such scrumptious appetizers such as goat cheese royale and pineapple on sticks with pineapple syrup and watercress; and salmon cured in Indian spices, wasabi, Sakura cress and Japanese mushrooms. Entrée musts include Cornish lamb shoulder slow cooked in lavender and honey, or duck with watermelon, beetroot and balsamic lentils. Polish off your meal with a vanilla parfait, sweet confit rhubarb “Alaska” with hazelnuts and tarragon syrup. |
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Located
in the upscale area of Edgbaston, about a mile southwest
of the city centre, Simpson’s offers classic French
cuisine in an historic Victorian villa. Acclaimed chef
and owner Andreas Antona dishes up traditional Gallic
dishes like roast Anjou pigeon and fillet of Aberdeenshire
beef cooked on the bone to an elite clientele that come
to dine in surprisingly informal attire. The villa features
private dining areas, a cooking school, an elegant garden
and four themed bedrooms—French, Venetian, Oriental
and Colonial—for those who want to stay for more
than just a great, no-nonsense French dinner. |
|
Birmingham
Museums & Art Gallery
Chamberlain Square
0 121 303 2834
www.bmag.org.uk
Birmingham’s
premier collection of historic art works and artifacts
is actually a network of seven different museums, historical
buildings and galleries. The main museum on Chamberlain
Square houses the city’s largest array of paintings
including the most comprehensive pre-Raphaelite collection
in the country. Other arms of the archives include the
Museum of the Jewelry Quarter, a preserved jeweler’s
factory where you can watch live re-creations of what
it was like to work in the district during the last
century. The Aston
House, a preserved Jacobean mansion, the 18th-century Soho
House, and the 700-year-old Weoley
Castle are stunning relics of the area’s past
and are museums unto themselves.
City
of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
CBSO Centre
Berkley St.
Metro stop: New Street Station
0 121 616 6500
www.cbso.co.uk
The
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra offers a wide
variety of orchestral performances aimed at attracting
a broad range of audiences. Friday nights are reserved
for a more lighthearted classical repertoire. The orchestra
sponsors lunch time chamber music concerts designed
and performed by in-house musicians, and larger festival
series such as IgorFest,
a large retrospective, which together with
the CBSO will perform all of Stravinsky’s works through 2008.
Under the direction of Finnish conductor Sakari Oramo,
the CBSO gained international acclaim and now tours
throughout much of Europe. The orchestra also sponsors
a variety of free shows and unpaid classes for schoolchildren
and young musicians.
City
Walks
www.beinbirmingham.com
Barring
too much English sunshine, Birmingham is a great city
to get to know by foot. You can take a plethora of both
guided and non-guided walking tours around the City
Centre, from ones based around the canals to a tour
devoted to exposing Birmingham’s natural history.
The city’s tourism board has taken part in promoting
seven newer walking trails meant to take visitors past
some of the city’s most impressive architecture,
historic sites and public art displays. These trails are well laid-out and can be walked separately
or linked together to form a longer excursion
through Birmingham.
Jaguar
Factory Tour
Castle
Bromwich
Chester Rd.
Castle Vale
Birmingham
www.jaguar.co.uk
Take
in a bit of history and get to know one of Birmingham’s
largest industrial manufacturers when you tour the Jaguar production plant at Castle Bromwich. Used during World
War II to produce the legendary Spitfire fighter planes
for the Royal Air Force, this historic plant was taken
over by steel and automobile manufacturers in the post-war
era, including the predecessor company to Jaguar Cars
Ltd. which took over total control on July 28, 1980.
Today, this mammoth factory handles the final assembly
and finishing touches on Jaguar S-Type luxury cars.
The
Jewelry Quarter
General Area bound by Vyse Street,
Warstone Lane, and Great Hampton Street
For
the past 200 years, Birmingham’s Jewelry Quarter
has been a crossroads for British jewelers and craftsmen.
Get lost in the hundreds of jewelry shops and boutiques
that line Vyse Street and the various lanes and alleys
branching off of it. In addition to the jewelry manufacturers
and wholesalers that bring in scores of businessmen
and offer better prices on finished jewelry than most
British shops, an assortment of pubs, restaurants and
fashion shops are littered throughout the Quarter. We
recommend starting on Vyse Street and then wandering
on foot throughout the historically rich neighborhood.
There is also a selection of museums and other landmarks
such as the Warstone Cemetery Lodge and the Chamberlain
Clock.
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Town Hall
Victoria Square
0 121 780 3333
www.thsh.co.uk
The Birmingham Town Hall has received a much-anticipated £35 million overhaul. Closed in 1996 following concerns over the building's safety, it was renovated and reopened in October 2007. Built in 1834, the Town Hall is a Grade 1 listed landmark, and now offers a broad program of events designed to suit everyone. The upgraded venue provides a platform for local, national and international performers with a 1,100 theatre-style space, also suitable for corporate events, business meetings and presentations. Catch a big band, chamber music, jazz or gospel concert at the Town Hall, or perhaps attend a local faith event, story telling session or sing-a-long.
|
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Ready to book a trip now?
Click here for exclusive savings. |
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*Images
from Birmingham
Convention & Visitors Bureau, City
of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra website, Birmingham
Museums & Art Gallery website
| P072006 |
(Updated
10/03/07 KH) |
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