The geographical heart of England, Birmingham started life as a sixth- century Anglo-Saxon village. Today, much of this city of over a million dates back to post-WWII redevelopment in the 1950s and 60s. Cutting edge museums and galleries, innovative theaters and excellent shopping have contributed to Birmingham’s appeal as a weekend break destination. Don’t miss the hopping bars and cafes of Gas Street Basin or the fascinating creatures at the National Sea Life Centre.
Birmingham's Grade I listed concert hall, managed along sister venue Symphony Hall, is home to a diverse programme of events including jazz, world, folk, rock, pop and classical concerts, organ recitals, spoken word, dance, family, educational and community performances, as well as annual general meetings, product launches, conferences, dinners, fashion shows, graduation ceremonies and...
The Market at Pepper Place, in the heart of downtown Birmingham, is the largest producers' farmers market in the state, with over 200,000 visitors annually. Founded in 2000, it currently runs from mid April - mid December every Saturday. The Market offers over 100 tents during the summer months. The Market at Pepper Place is rain or shine farmers market. Alabama farmers, food vendors, makers and...
Ruffner Mountain is a 1,040 acre urban nature preserve in the heart of Birmingham, Alabama providing science and nature education programming, 14 miles of trails, and a protected area for thousands of species of native flora and fauna. It is a site for Citizen Science programs and an array of scientist conducted research projects, including native bat and amphibian surveys, research into the...
Housed in a historic building that was once a pharmacy, saloon, and brothel, Avondale Brewing is bridging the past and present together. We craft our brews with the same unique character and style as the stories that have inspired them. We are a locally owned and operated brewery that is dedicated to revitalizing our neighborhood and reviving the legacy of Avondale, Alabama.
Watch sea lions being trained and fed, zip around on the Zoo Train, hop on the carousel, check out the alligator swamp and tropical rain forest: all this and more are offered at this educational and entertaining zoo housing 170 animals from around the world, including endangered species.
The largest cast-iron statue in the world created for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair placed on top of Red Mountain with a beautiful view of downtown Birmingham. Also, inside Vulcan Center, is an interactive museum that contains the historical timeline of the city of Birmingham.
The neighborhood that was the center of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement is now a historic district with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute at its center.