Birmingham has a reputation as a dull, grey city but a quick trip there will quickly dispel that misconception. Visitors will find much to entertain themselves with, both within and without the famous Bull Ring. This bustling West Midlands city is a great place to walk around in, and features gorgeous Georgian and Victorian buildings nestling beside stunning space-age architecture.

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Cadbury World – You may not have won one of Willy Wonka’s golden tickets, but you can still take a tour through a chocolate factory. Cadbury World’s fourteen zones take visitors through the process of chocolate making, as well as sharing the history of the Cadbury business. Chocoholics of all ages will enjoy this experience immensely. Tickets cost £10.10 for children and £13.45 for adults, with concessions available.

Stay
Nitenite – This hotel offers small but perfectly formed rooms in the city centre. And if you’re worried that such low prices mean you’ll be staying in a tiny windowless cell, fear not! The rooms feature all the mod cons you’d expect in a hotel three times the price, with a few more extras thrown in for free! There are 42” plasma screens in the rooms, and guests are offered a range of complimentary movies to watch on those huge screens. The hotel also has its own restaurant – Saint Beni – that serves up freshly prepared meals every day of the week. Room rates start from under £60.

Shop
Selfridges – This branch of the high-end department store is housed in a suitably show-stopping silver building beside the Bull Ring, and has become a tourist attraction in its own right. There’s plenty of high fashion on offer, and once you and your wallet are tired from the spending spree, head on over to the food hall to recharge your batteries. There’s a large selection of cosmopolitan cuisine to choose from – from donuts to sushi.

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(Photo: essential-architecture.com)