The city of Birmingham:

Birmingham, 'the city of thousand trades' has developed into a major commercial center. It is the fourth most-visited city in the UK. A cosmopolitan city, Birmingham is home to the world-class City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Birmingham Royal Ballet. With its fantastic shopping and vibrant nightlife, Birmingham is an infusion of culture and excitement and is a hub for international events and exhibitions.

Birmingham Highlights:

• Cadbury World: An entire museum dedicated to chocolates, this is a chocoholic’s dream come true. The museum showcases the journey of the Cadbury brothers, right from the birth of the company to what it is today.

• Jewelry Quarter: Prepare yourself to be mesmerized by the sparkle of jewelry. This is a district adorned with 400 shops dealing in silver, gold, diamonds and other precious metals and stones.

• The Tolkien Trail: Follow the nine kilometer circular walk to find the inspiration behind the setting of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

• Birmingham Concert Halls: Both, the Town hall and the Symphony Hall are open to visitors and have impressive architecture.

• Brindley Place: An award-winning business and leisure district built around the romantic canals, as Birmingham is said to have more canals than Venice.

• Balti Triangle: The Balti cuisine was brought into Birmingham by the city's large Pakistani and Kashmir communities. The cuisine was so widely-devoured that restaurants started mushrooming and soon the heart of this district was called the Balti Triangle.

• The Barber Institute of Fine Arts: Art lovers should not miss this collection of works by Rubens and Van Dyck, impressionist masterpieces, modern classics from Picasso and works from Reynolds and Gainsborough.

• Shopping Haven: High-class fashion and a shop-till- you-drop attitude is what Birmingham boasts. Check out The Bullring and The Mailbox shopping complexes, two of the most exciting fashion spots in town.