Usain Bolt and his other two ever so quick Jamaican team mates were quick to thank Birmingham after their 200m final Gold, Silver and Bronze. If it’s good enough for them, then it’s definitely good enough for me so here are some things to do in Birmingham this weekend:
1. MacDonald Burlington Hotel
Set amid the fine architecture of Birmingham's New Street, the Macdonald Burlington Hotel offers guests an oasis of luxury and tranquillity in a vibrant, culture-rich city. Fed by an underwater spring, the historic Burlington is a short walk from world-class shopping, heritage and entertainment, such as Birmingham Symphony Hall. Comfortable bedrooms and delicious food and drink combine for a perfect city break or romantic weekend. Luxurious and flexible executive accommodation makes this an ideal business base. Bedrooms vary from classic chic living to opulent and luxurious suites. The hotel is rumoured to have been Winston Churchill's favourite Birmingham hotel and has hosted at least four serving British prime ministers.
www.macdonaldHotels.co.uk/burlington
2. Drayton Manor Theme Park
Drayton Manor Theme Park has an action-packed line up of events planned for the six-week summer holidays ensuring visitors experience an incredible day of fun, adventure and excitement. Fans of Ben 10 will be pleased to discover that 8ft tall, Ultimate Humungousaur, has just arrived at the park. Meanwhile, Noddy and his friends will entertain the younger visitors.
http://www.draytonmanor.co.uk/
3. Imran’s Curry House
Do Londoners need to travel to Birmingham to eat curry when we have the delights of Whitechapel, Southall, Tooting and Wembley? Yes. In the 1960s, restaurants in the famous ‘Balti Triangle’ served Anglicised Subcontinental dishes in little metal bowls, a style of cooking that turned ‘Indian’ into our national cuisine. And it isn’t just for curry purists. Our own Brick Lane has become a chilli-scented theme park for out-of-towners and the unimaginative, but many of the 50 or so restaurants in Brum’s Sparkbrook area still cook Punjabi food to a high standard for Asian locals as well as incomers. One of the oldest is Imran’s. Open since 1981, its homely Punjabi dishes use judicious fresh spicing to shout at diners rather than sneak up on them.
http://www.imrans.com/
4. Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses
Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses are laid out in fifteen acres of glorious landscaped grounds, tucked away in a peaceful corner of leafy Edgbaston, close to the city centre. The Gardens are home to over 7000 trees, plants and shrubs, with some rare species and one of the finest collections in the Midlands. Four glasshouses take the visitor on a journey through different climates from the tropical rainforest, with its steamy heat, 24-foot lily pond and exotic plants, to the palms, tree ferns and orchids of the Sub-Tropical House. The visitor then experiences the lush colours and fragrances of citrus fruits and conservatory plants in the Mediterranean House and finally travels through to the hot dry desert conditions of the Arid House with its stunning collection of cacti.
www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk
5. Away 2 Canal
An often repeated factlet is that Birmingham has more miles of canal than Venice: the area around Gas Street Basin has been the site of intense redevelopment in recent years, but a narrowboat trip is a great way to see the city from a different angle and learn about the industrial expansion that took the city from market town to metropolis. Away 2 Canal runs one-hour excursions leaving from Brindley place in the Westside district.
http://www.away2canal.co.uk/
6. Community Shield – Manchester City Vs Chelsea
With the Olympics dominating the London sporting venues, Aston Villa’s Villa Park plays host to this years Community Shield. The traditional football season opener and glorified pre season friendly this year will be contested by last seasons Premier League winner Manchester City and last season FA Cup winners Chelsea. With many new signings on show and the first chance for the two Roberto’s (Mancini and Di Matteo) to test out new ideas this is sure to be a fiery match up. Expect goals and some tasty challenges.
http://www.thefa.com/Competitions/FACompetitions/TheFACommunityShield
7. Bitters ‘n Twisted
Bitters ‘n Twisted venues are an independent collective of five highly-original venues. Bodega (www.bodegbirmingham.co.uk) is a contemporary South American inspired cantina, located in the heart of the city centre, with flavoursome South American-inspired cuisine, cocktails, wines and bottled beers and the late night, Sugarloaf bar. The Victoria (www.thevictoriabirmingham.co.uk) brings together quality bartenders, a great selection of drinks & homemade food and a cracking calendar of events and DJ nights. Island Bar (www.bar-island.co.uk) , next to the Alexandra Theatre, hosts regular DJs and live music, serves unique cocktails and also offers Birmingham's very first Tiki Bar! Check out their cocktail master classes too. The Rose Villa Tavern (www.therosevillatavern.co.uk), next to the clock tower in the Jewellery Quarter, offers a contemporary mix of cocktails, global beers and quality pub food, as well as regular DJ nights, in a grand grade II listed building.
8. Guiding You Ltd
Groups and individuals can join award winning Blue Badge Guides on the fascinating ‘Secrets of the Squares tour’ in the world famous ‘Jewellery Quarter’. Why not book one of their high quality Coach or Executive Driver Guided tours to see the intriguing ‘Tolkien Trail’, ‘Matthew Bolton’s industrial heritage’, the historic ‘Gun Quarter’, Birmingham’s ‘historic Parks and Gardens’, ‘Bournville with Cadbury’s Chocolate factory visit’ or have your own personal and exclusive guide introduce you to the amazing art in the ‘Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery’ or the ‘Barber Institute’. They also specialise in cultural and retail excursions both in and out of the city including Bride and Groom ‘Jewellery Quarter’ visits.
www.guidingyou.co.uk
9. Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
Housed in a spectacular Victorian building, Birmingham Museum and Art gallery has the largest collection on Pre-Raphaelite art in the world as well as collections of silver sculpture ceramics and ancient and social history. The Waterhall and the Gas Hall provide the regions premier exhibitions spaces and host an exciting programme of temporary exhibitions.
www.bmag.org.uk
10. Cadbury World
Discover a whole world of chocolatey fun! Uncover a world of chocolate delights and enjoy a fascinating, fun-packed day out at Cadbury World. With fourteen amazing zones, there’s so much to see and do for the whole family. From learning how your favourite confectionery is made and uncovering the fascinating story of Cadbury chocolate, to playing in chocolate rain and creating your own delicious taste sensation covered in warm liquid Dairy Milk.
www.cadburyworld.co.uk
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