Birmingham City Centre has undergone huge changes of late and continues to do so. With the removal of the Inner Ring Road, the city centre is now defined as being the area within the Middle Ring Road. This includes newly named areas such as the West, East and Southsides, as well as the city centre core – the historic heart of Birmingham - and its famous Jewellery and Gun Quarters.
These developments have made the city centre a sought-after place to live once again, with not just great amenities and transport links, but a lot of new housing. Birmingham City Centre is one of the fastest growing city centres in the country and currently has 25,800 who call it home, an increase of 163%.
The History of Birmingham City Centre
The history of Birmingham city centre is really the history of Birmingham itself, and is too long and colourful for these pages. In a nutshell however, the city we know today began to take form in 1166 with the development of a market town in and around the location of today’s Bull Ring. It grew and prospered over the centuries gaining a reputation for its free thinking, innovative and creative populace.
The Second World War saw a change in the city’s fortunes. It suffered heavy bomb damage, and subsequent development and regeneration was hampered by a series of government initiatives to prop up other areas of the country. The city declined from the late 1970’s but recent projects and developments look set to return the city, and the city centre in particular, to its former glory.
Transport Links
The city centre has a number of train stations, namely New Street, Moor Street, Snow Hill, Bordesley and Jewellery and between them operate ten suburban and Inter-City rail routes. Built in 1999, the Metro operates from Grand Central with stops at Bull Street, St Chads, St Paul's and Jewellery Quarter with extensions to Centenary Square and Five Ways under way.
There has been a move towards pedestrianisation of the city centre in recent years.
Education
The Aston University campus is located in the city centre and Birmingham City University has several facilities there. The Eastside district is home to the Birmingham Ormiston Academy, the Birmingham Metropolitan College's Matthew Boulton College campus and BMC's New Technology Institute.
Amenities
As you would expect, the city centre is crammed with amenities for locals and tourists alike. It enjoys some of the best shopping in the country, with the newly developed Bullring Shopping Centre, Corporation Street and New Street being the standout places. There is also Suffolk Street’s Mailbox and the Grand Central Shopping Centre located above New Street Station.
Things to do in and around Birmingham City Centre
There really are no end to the attractions in the city centre, and no matter what your tastes or budget there will be something for you. Broad Street is the hub of the nightlife in the city centre, while for those looking for something more cultural, there is the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter.