Trens para Birmingham

England’s second city is back in business. Creative designers and architects have rescued Birmingham from the horrors inflicted on the city by planners in the 1960s. Ambitious regeneration has transformed Birmingham over the last decade. Chic restaurants by the city’s canals (yes, Birmingham has more canals than Venice) are booming, the once rather run-down Jewellery Quarter is a joy to wander and the city’s Museum & Art Gallery boasts the largest collection of pre-Raphaelite art anywhere in the world. Make time to visit the historic Bournville district, then head back into town to tap into some of the cultural energy which helps make Birmingham a city not to be missed.

Sleek modern trams and local trains connect Birmingham with other cities in the West Midlands. The main hub for long-distance trains is Birmingham New Street station, now looking much smarter after a much needed facelift. But do note that some trains serve Snow Hill and /pt/ or Moor Street instead. The latter deserves a visit, as it is a very fine restoration of a Victorian railway station.

The city is served by two principal rail routes from London, one from London Euston to Birmingham New Street and the other from London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street. New Street is a major hub for cross-country services with regular departures to Bristol, Exeter, Cardiff, Manchester, Leeds, York, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Quite apart from the obvious attractions of Birmingham itself, the city makes a great base for exploring the English Midlands. Major sights such as Stratford upon Avon, Warwick Castle and Ironbridge Gorge are all within easy reach of Birmingham - and all easily reached by train.