| A millennium of history together with an unparalleled | | | | Ballet.transport:getting there and getting around: |
| range of sporting and cultural attractions make the | | | | From London, you can reach Birmingham in just 2 |
| UK one the world's most popular tourist destinations. | | | | hours and 30 minutes along the M40. Birmingham |
| London:home of cool Britannia | | | | International Airport (BHX) connects with many |
| One of the true great cities of the world, London is a | | | | far-flung destinations including Dubai, Chicago and |
| year-round tourist mecca. Few cities can offer the | | | | New York. Birmingham is also a hub for long-distance |
| wealth of historical and cultural splendour that London | | | | rail and coach services. Birmingham New Street |
| does. From the pageantry, pomp and ceremony of | | | | Station is the major train station. For long distance |
| the royal quarter to the sheer elan of the theatres | | | | coaches, the coach station in Digbeth. Local buses are |
| and clubs and shopping, London is a world unto | | | | boarded at the Bull Ring bus station. Birmingham also |
| itself.transport:getting there and getting around: | | | | has an extensive network of cycle routes. |
| The UK has excellent transport network of domestic | | | | Accommodation: from cheap stays to luxury resorts |
| flights, coaches, and railways. There are ferries from | | | | Check on the internet for the range, location and |
| Europe and Ireland and trains from France and | | | | cost of hotels in Birmingham.events |
| Brussels via the Channel tunnel. London is the center | | | | *Birmingham social and entertainment calendar is filled |
| of the UK rail network with seven major lines | | | | with concerts, art exhibitions, and comedy shows. |
| converging on the capital. | | | | Here are just a few of the most popular. |
| Climate | | | | *With a large Irish population, one of the years most |
| The weather is the main preoccupation of the British | | | | exciting events is the St Patrick's Day Parade Festival |
| and with good reason - it's so unpredictable. The | | | | held in March. |
| capricious nature of the weather can result in some | | | | *September ArtsFest: This is the UK's largest free |
| surprises and it's wise to be prepared for anything. | | | | arts festival. It draws over 100,000 visitors each |
| But on the whole, the climate is temperate. | | | | year. |
| Temperatures in summer range from 14-30 Celsius. In | | | | Manchester:soccer mecca and cool, green metropolis |
| the winter, temperatures plunge to 1-5 C, the days | | | | Famous now for its high-profile soccer teams, |
| are short and dark and frosts and snow are the | | | | Manchester is another British city with a history |
| order of the day.accommodation: from cheap stays | | | | dating back to the Romans.transport:getting there |
| to luxury resorts | | | | and getting around: |
| Check on the internet for the range, location and | | | | Efficient transport services make Manchester the |
| cost of hotels in Londonevents | | | | gateway to the North of England. Trains regularly |
| Other than all-year round concerts, sports events, | | | | connect with London Euston. Journey time is around |
| plays and shows, there are world-famous annual | | | | three hours. National Express coaches serve |
| events too. For sports fans there's Wimbledon in May | | | | Manchester from a variety of destinations. |
| and classical music buffs can attend the proms, a | | | | Manchester International Airport connect with a range |
| series of concerts in the Royal Albert Hall during | | | | of domestic and international destinations. Public |
| August. | | | | transport in Greater Manchester includes buses, |
| If you enjoy a touch of pageantry, you can enjoy | | | | coaches, Metrolink trams, and the local rail |
| the changing of the guard in the forecourt of | | | | network.accommodation: from cheap stays to luxury |
| Buckingham Palace at 11:30am every day in summer | | | | resorts |
| and every other day in winter. And if you're there in | | | | Check on the internet for the range, location and |
| April, don't miss the trooping of the colour on the | | | | cost of hotels in Manchesterevents |
| Queen's birthday. | | | | *Manchester Jazz Festival 21 - 28 July, citywide. The |
| Birmingham:city of a thousand delights | | | | best contemporary jazz from the north and beyond. |
| Once called the 'city of a thousand trades', | | | | *Manchester Pride. 17 - 27 August Manchester's |
| Birmingham is now home to the UK's second largest | | | | annual gay festival. |
| population and a gateway to the heart of England. | | | | *Manchester Food and Drink Festival in October |
| Birmingham is now home to a broad array of visual | | | | celebrates the finest Mancunian food and drink. |
| and performing arts, music and theatre from such | | | | *Manchester Christmas Lights Switch-on in November |
| institutions as the City of Birmingham Symphony | | | | at Albert Square. Celebrate the beginning of the |
| Orchestra and Birmingham Royal | | | | festive season. |