Consider wearing comfortable shoes so you can hop off the plane and delve straight into the city, to discover exactly why Birmingham is the perfect weekend destination.
1. Explore Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter
One of the oldest districts in the city, the Jewellery Quarter is only a 15 minute stroll from the centre. You’ll find over 200 listed buildings to marvel at, including the Grade I* listed St Paul’s Church.
As the name suggests, jewellery is a big part of this district. Countless independent stores specialising in high quality merchandise are intercepted by restaurants, bars and cafes, so there’s plenty of places to stop for refreshments as you explore. Considered a real gem in Birmingham, both the train and tram serve the jewellery quarter – a perfect saviour for weary legs after a long day.
With Flybe flights operating between March and October, consider visiting in June as this coincides with the annual JQ Festival. This weekend of celebrations includes entertainment, tours and events to celebrate the Jewellery Quarter. From exclusive offers and historic walks to music trails and samples of JQ ales, the event showcases the significance of this district.
2. Go to an event at the NEC
Only a short hop from Birmingham International Airport, the NEC hosts renowned events and festivals. With 19 exhibition halls and a calendar jam packed full of events, there’s something for everyone here.
Events vary through the year but tend to include everything from dog shows like Crufts to the BBC Good Food Show and Gardeners’ World Live. Look out for seasonal Christmas shows and craft exhibitions, which can be interesting to explore.
3. Visit the Black Country Living Museum
It would be criminal to visit the bright lights of Birmingham and miss taking a trip to the Black Country Living Museum. Steeped in history, there’s over 26 acres to explore at what is considered to be one of the finest and largest open air museums in the UK.
The museum tells the story of the Black Country, from its humble beginnings in the 1830s to the creation of the first industrial landscape anywhere in the world. You can explore over 50 authentic shops, houses and workshops, which have been reconstructed to preserve the character of the region, ride heritage vehicles and meet costume characters, to get a feel of what Birmingham was like in a bygone era.
It’s worth checking their website before you visit to see if they have any events or exhibitions taking place which might be of interest.
Fly direct to Birmingham
You can fly direct from Cornwall Airport Newquay to Birmingham with Flybe between March and October. Flights operate between 5 and 7 days per week.