Birmingham is Britain's second largest city. It is situated in the heart of England, about halfway between London and Liverpool. It is a city of mixed cultures, beliefs and lifestyles and has recently become a fashionable place to set up a business or to hold a conference. But it still retains pride in being a city built on industry.

Birmingham is a very lively city and has some interesting old buildings such as The Town Hall and the Council House. the City is full of theatres, restaurants, bars and pubs and there is always something going on. The cultural life is very rich with many good museums, e.g. the Birmingham Museum and the Ikon Gallery are worth a visit.

More recently, Birmingham has become known for the 'Spaghetti Junction' - an infamously complex motorway system on the city's periphery. It has also developed an excellent reputation for the arts, with the Barber Institute, the Rep Theatre and in particular, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, which flourished under the baton of premier conductor Simon Rattle. The modern Symphony Hall is famed for having the best acoustics in Europe.

The entire city centre has undergone a facelift, with a renovated City Hall, Victoria Square and new pedestrian areas; the canals have once again become an important feature with the Gas Street Basin Development and Brindleyplace belying Birmingham's reputation for being a dull, industrial, urban sprawl. Gastronomically, Birmingham is famous for its baltis and for being the home of Cadbury's confectionery, where chocolate lovers can even visit the factory!

The City of Birmingham is a great starting place to explore the many sights of the Heart of England.

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