Meet My Hood: Birmingham
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Birmingham is a very large city in the West Midlands with a great number of districts within it. The many neighbourhoods of Birmingham are very different, often with a distinct regional flavour and their own attractions.
Let’s take a look at some of the most important neighbourhoods of this busy English city that has broken away in many ways from its industrial past.
Birmingham City Centre
Birmingham City Centre is what local people call “town” but it feels and looks far more like the heart of a city, and is actually a very mixed combination of shopping areas, offices and entertainment and leisure venues. It is currently part of a huge redevelopment programme known as the “Big City Plan,” and the area it covers is getting even bigger still.
Birmingham New Street Station is conveniently located in the City Centre and has services connecting with many other parts of the UK. There is a selection of hotels near the station, including the Ibis Birmingham New Street Station Hotel, and if you have arrived in the city for a short-term stay, perhaps you will find yourself planning what you will do on your visit from a day room you found at DayBreakHotels.com.
Digbeth
Digbeth is very close to Birmingham City Centre’s Bullring Shopping Centre and is a district that has become known for having a thriving arts and music scene. It is also famous for its Custard Factory that was the original home of Bird’s Custard but is now given over to various creative businesses. Digbeth is closely linked with the Irish community of Birmingham, so much so that the area is often referred to as the “Irish Quarter.”
Moseley
Moseley is a suburban area of Birmingham that was voted “best urban place to live” in the UK by The Sunday Times. It has plenty of green spaces that help you forget you are in a bustling city and has a regular farmers’ market. Located in the south of Birmingham, Moseley is noted for its bars, restaurants and boutiques, as well as being a popular residential area. It also has its own folk festival that attracts many well-known performers from the world of folk music.
King’s Heath
King’s Heath is a suburb that is next to Moseley and is situated five miles south of Birmingham City Centre. Locals still think of their neighbourhood as a “village,” even though the area has been officially included as part of the city of Birmingham for over a century. It has two parks and is similar in many ways to Moseley, and is also known for its contributions to popular music. The British reggae band UB40 played their first concert at the Hare and Hounds public house in King’s Heath in 1979 before becoming world famous with their hit songs. The pub is still an important venue for live music in Birmingham. Martin Barre, guitarist for Jethro Tull, was born in King’s Heath, as was singer and actress Toyah Willcox. Musicians from King’s Heath have certainly made their mark in the world of entertainment.