From the hustle and bustle of energetic street markets, to precious moments in hushed galleries, from windswept countryside to nightlife amongst dazzling futurist architecture, discover two cities rich with cultural history and surrounded by natural beauty.  

Birmingham, England’s second largest city at the centre of the Midlands, and Manchester, the ‘Heart of the North’ are great city hubs to plan from, their international airports are well connected and there is plenty of nearby destinations to choose from.

CITY LIFE
Art: One of the most important collections of Pre-Raphaelite paintings is held at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, while in Manchester, The Lowry is dedicated to the beloved L.S. Lowry who famously painted the daily life during the Industrial Revolution. 

Architecture: Each city has a diverse range of architecture. In Birmingham, take for example the iconic Selfridges Building that sits a short walk between the 19th century Great Western Arcade, and a 14th century pub, The Old Crown. Manchester is known as the first modern city, the Victorian neo-gothic town hall is a stark contrast to the Beetham Tower, or the Urbis National Football Museum. 

Music and Nightlife: Manchester’s industrial past inspired important music scenes in from the ’70s until the ’90s that are still hugely influential. Iconic bands including Joy Division, The Buzzcocks, The Smiths, and New Order all formed in Manchester, while Birmingham was the birthplace of modern bhangra in the ’60s and is embraced by the Indian diaspora worldwide, and bands like UB40 and Duran Duran formed. The nightlife in both cities is still very active, attracting students from nearby universities, as well as locals and visitors. 

COUNTRYSIDE 
Why not propose clients to visit the quintessential villages, landmark castles, and lush countryside as well as to the vibrant city centers during their UK holiday?

From Birmingham, the list of destinations in the Midlands could include the Shropshire Hills, an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ (AONB), and Stratford-upon-Avon, the charming Tudor town built on the banks of the Avon River, best known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. 

From Manchester, the heart of the North, travellers could visit Chester, the most complete walled city in Britain, The Yorkshire Dales with its famous rolling green fields, divided by drystone walls, is quintessential English countryside, or the Lake District National Park which has long been a magnet for artists and poets thanks to its majestic mountains and tranquil lakes.