As the year rolls on, staycations are looking more and more likely. But don’t despair! There are loads to do in your local area if you know where to look. This time, I’m taking a sneak peek at Birmingham in the heart of the West Midlands.
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History
Being the second-largest city in England, it’s not surprising that there is a rich history to be explored. Birmingham City Council have set up quirky heritage walks to show people some of the interesting sides of the city’s history. Some of that history has been interesting, to say the least! Popular TV show, Peaky Blinders, is set in the city just after the First World War, and you can explore the history that inspired the TV series, including The Black Country Living Museum.
Food
The West Midlands is known for its large green spaces for farming, and even though Birmingham is a city, they take advantage of the rich farming community that surrounds the city. At the minute, a lot of the restaurants are taking advantage of the “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme to help get people back in the doors after the wide shutdowns of COVID-19. And when the horror of COVID-19 is away, you can still enjoy plenty of chocolate at Cadbury World. However, here’s a bit of information you won’t find on a Birmingham dating site, the city is packed with independent restaurants, not just large franchises. They have those too so feel free to shake things up with a different place to taste test rather than hitting the usual haunt for food.
Green Spaces
Are you surprised that I’m talking about green spaces here? 571 parks can be found in Birmingham, more than any other European city. That’s over 8,000 acres, making it one of the greenest cities in England. Even along the canal banks, there are flowers and plant displays that are best enjoyed from a seat on a canal boat. The canal pathways are not just home to the flowers, they are there for cyclists and walkers to explore the hidden areas and quiet spaces that hidden from the bustle of the city. If you would like to see those beautiful flowers close up, you should head to the Botanical Gardens and enjoy them as you stroll along the grounds. There are plenty of golf courses that make up the green space too but we won’t hold that against them.
Nightlife
Nightlife can be about more than clubs and loud music. Nights out for dating Birmingham style can include a night at the theater, a visit to the Glee Club comedy club, or exploring the music scene for the next up and coming act. If the movies are more your thing, then you need to check out The Electric, the oldest working cinema in the UK. It’s been standing since the 1920s and is still bringing in the crowds. A lot of places are trying to stay open by offering social distancing events to help keep profits up but infection rates down.
Sports
Ever since I had my last baby, I have haven’t had much interest in sports. Even watching football hasn’t been high on my list (and I used to love football!). Birmingham is home to one of the world’s oldest professional football clubs, Aston Villa. But, if football isn’t your thing, you can check out some of the other sports to watch, such as the Birmingham Bulldogs rugby team. Birmingham isn’t just a place to go to watch sports, you can take part in plenty of sports in venues around the city.