Birmingham lies in the central parts of England in the region of West Midlands. It is the second largest and most populous city in the United Kingdom. According to the last census, it is home to a population of approximately 3.6 million people (metropolitan area included). Birmingham is also one of Britain’s most popular tourist destinations as it is the location of numerous internationally known places of interest.
Victoria Square
Victoria Square is a pedestrianised public court that lies in the central parts of the city. The square was originally known as Council House Square but was renamed in 1901 in honour of Queen Victoria. The court is the location of Birmingham Town Hall, which is one of the city’s most recognisable and well-known edifice. The building dates back to the first half of the 19th century and was designed by Joseph Hansom and Edward Welch in the classical architectural style. The structure is listed as a Grade I edifice. Victoria Square is also the site of local Council House, which was designed by Yeoville Thomason and is considered by many to be the most beautiful building in Birmingham.
Iron: Man
The Iron: Man is a world famous statue that is situated in the aforementioned Victoria Square. The sculpture was created by prominent British sculptor, Antony Gormley and is 6 metres tall (buried feet included). The statue was unveiled in 1993 and was a gift to Birmingham from the Trustee Savings Bank. A smaller version of the sculpture is displayed at the Public Art Commissions Agency in the Jewellery Quarters, which is arguably the city’s most popular neighbourhood. Local authorities are going to put the statue into storage in late 2017 in order to protect it from potential damages while the tracks for the Midlands Metro extension are being laid.
Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower
Shortly known as Simple Joe, this clock tower is the first landmark that that tourists and newcomers visit when they come to Birmingham. People can easily relocate to the city by using the reliable London to Birmingham removal services of Andy Removals. The structure is located in the suburb of Edgbaston and is part of the University of Birmingham. The clock tower was constructed during the early 20th century and was designed by Aston Webb and Ingress Bell. It is the tallest freestanding structure of its kind in the world with a height of approximately 100 metres.
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Founded in 1885, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is the city’s largest and most visited exhibition venue. It was extended in 1917 and presently welcomes an estimate of one million visitors per year, which makes it the 16th most visited museum in Britain. It displays a large collection of items that cover:
- Fine arts
- Ceramics
- Metalwork
- Jewellery
- Archaeology
- Ethnography
- Natural history
- Industrial history
- Birmingham history
The gallery’s main entrance is located on Chamberlain Square in the central parts of the city. The court lies in the close proximity to the above-mentioned Victoria Square and is the site of several other prominent buildings.