Things to Do in Birmingham

Birmingham, England's second largest city, has undergone a major transformation into one of the country's premier live event destinations, particularly following the investment surrounding the 2022 Commonwealth Games. The city boasts two major arenas: the Utilita Arena Birmingham in the city centre with a capacity of around 15,800, and Resorts World Arena at the NEC complex, which seats over 16,000 and hosts major touring concerts, family shows, and indoor sporting events. The Birmingham Hippodrome is the most popular single-auditorium theatre in the United Kingdom, welcoming over 600,000 visitors annually with West End touring productions, the famous Birmingham Royal Ballet, and one of the country's biggest pantomimes each Christmas. Football fans can watch Aston Villa at Villa Park in Aston, one of the most historic grounds in English football, while Warwickshire County Cricket Club plays at Edgbaston, which regularly hosts international test matches and limited-overs internationals. The Edgbaston area also includes the Priory Tennis Club, home to the Rothesay Classic WTA event each June. For music lovers, smaller venues like the O2 Institute, O2 Academy Birmingham, and the Symphony Hall provide options ranging from indie gigs to world-class classical performances by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Summer events include concerts at the Sandwell Valley country park and various festivals across the West Midlands region. The city's central location and connectivity via New Street Station make it easily reachable from almost anywhere in England.