The Birmingham Back to Backs is a National Trust property which were rescued from destruction a few…read moreyears ago. They had been turned into shops and this is why these are the only remaining back to backs that have survived in Birmingham. The national trust have worked very hard and are still working on census records so these buildings can be brought back to the living standards of the time. There are 3 houses to see, all set in different times from the mid 19th century to the 1950's. Visits are by guided tour only and have to be booked. I am afraid that I cannot remember our guide's name, but she was a local lady as she said her parents had been born in back to back property and she also lived in one up until 1990's and she was a brilliant tour guide. We have no idea just how bad the living conditions were at the time and he really brought the the place and the era to life. You can even touch things as you time travel though not in the tailors shop! I can certainly recommend this place as being one of the best properties in the National Trust, but do take heed of what they say regarding access. I cannot recommend a visit highly enough, but be warned - although you will be under cover for most of the time, the tour starts and ends out in the (uncovered) yard, so bring a brolly in case it is raining. You will need comfortable shoes, as although there is not a lot of walking, there is a lot of standing around and few seats for visitors. And finally, allow nearly 2 hours - there is a lot to see.

As I was planning my first trip to Birmingham, I kept seeing the Back to Backs tour pop up at the…read moretop of lists and decided to give it a try. I am very happy that I did! Tickets can be purchased in the little, clearly marked shop. Next, you'll head to the corner to await your tour guide. Our group's leader was Les and he was amazing; insightful, engaging, knowledgeable and funny. He led us quickly from place to place during the nearly 2 hour tour with interesting stories about the lives of the skilled tradesmen and their families who lived in the homes as well as asked thought-provoking questions about many of the features that made me think about what it must have been like to live during the decades covered by the tour and how differently our lives are today. The Back To Backs is an excellent, affordable tour that you can't get almost anywhere else. If you enjoy history, you'll love it.

I have a soft spot for Anthony Gormley's work, so much so I was even one of the lucky ones that…read morestood on the 4th Plinth in London. The statue represents the traditional skills of Birmingham and the Black Country practised during the Industrial Revolution. The controversy of public opinion when it was installed makes me further believe that it really does represent the Brummie and Yam-Yams naysaying nature. I can't really recall why it was so hated back in 1993 when it was given as gift from the Trustee Savings Bank, but when they moved down south there was an outcry that the Iron: Man should be moved with them. I love that it started out as an untitled work until the Iron Man nickname stuck, only for the artist to insist on making his own stamp by insisting on a stupid colon in the middle. Brilliant! Maybe my soft spot for Gormely is because he utilises many local resources to make his large scale iron works with the Iron:Man being cast at Bradley and Fosters Castings (now Firth Rixson Castings) in Willenhall. Whether you love or hate it this 6m tall, leaning man whose feet are sunk in the ground is worth a look.

The most overlooked art in victoria square. I love this art by one of my favourite artist/sculptor.read more

Eastside is a brilliant area of Birmingham that is only just beginning to see the development it…read moredeserves. With all the fuss around the HS2, it seems as though developers are finally starting to see potential in this area (which was, largely, a wasteland for a long time). Millennium Point is a building which I see to be the centre of Eastside. With it's large, bold design and varied services within - I am a fan... But can see so much more potential. Currently it houses several academic institutions (including Birmingham Metropolitan College and departments from Birmingham City University) as well as "The Giant Screen" (see http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/the-giant-screen-birmingham) and "Thinktank" Science museum (which I have STILL never visited). It's a huge space inside and currently sees the addition of a wonderfully quirky musical clock as part of BMAG's "Marvellous Machines" season. On the quarter hour, half hour and the hour birds start singing and dancing; it really is a treat to behold. Events occur in this space regularly (including food fairs and the "National Barista Championships") and there are now coffee pop ups and different bits and pieces going on seemingly every day of the week. Outside of the building is the free to enter "Science Garden" (for children, unfortunately), Eastside Park and it's around the corner from BCU's excellently equipped "Parkside" campus. You're also five minutes walk away from the sights and sounds of Digbeth and the centre of town, so it's dead easy to find and get to. If you haven't ever ventured down to Eastside, there couldn't be a better time to check it out. With art events, architecture festivals and tourist attractions such as "Thinktank"; make a date to pop down and check it out for yourself.

There has been some great developments here recently making this place a real hive of activity. I…read morevisited yesterday for a coffee at 6/8 cafe and was surprised to see so much buzz in a previously quiet part of town. Millennium point itself is a truly impressive building both inside and out but has never felt like it is being fully utilised until now. It is the home of the Think Tank and also multiple uni campus that now bring many students and families to the building. The Think Tank now has a large development at the front of the building with even more scientific loveliness in an enclosure for both kids and adults to enjoy. I was very close to going and having a look around but ill save it for another day why I can fully embrace my inner mad scientist.

The Central Hall on Corporation Street is one of the most bizarre landmarks in the whole of…read moreBirmingham. Firstly, it looks quite bizarre: made of brick and terracotta it's a brilliant red, gothic-looking, Victorian crazy spired thing, with a huge tower. Why does a Methodist Hall need a huge tower? We'll never know... Secondly, it's bizarrely empty. And thirdly, it's had a fairly bizarre history. Due to the use of terracotta as a decorative architectural material, the building is fairly ornate, with spires and arches and alcoves and a million windows. (That's an exaggeration, by the way. But there are lots.) Despite this, the interior always seems quite dark - although this could be due to the fact that I only went inside when it was the Que Club, as it was for about 5 years, I think. Since then, I've been in to see a Birmingham Opera Company performance (they like taking over derelict buildings), and otherwise have just gazed, quite incredulously, at its crazy exterior. Again, I have no idea what the plans are for this building - I can only think that it is sinking further and further into disrepair - although, apparently, it is part of the Steelhouse Conservation area, so perhaps there's hope yet....

A public square adjacent to the Chamberlain Square. We happened to visit the city the day after the…read moreCommonwealth Games had ended, so the place was still decorated in bright rainbow colors. The place has nice sights of historical sculptures and landmarks, plus important buildings such as the Town Hall and Council House. Although it was bustling with people at our weekday evening passthrough. I was astonished to witness the sheer number of children playing in the waters of The River "Floozie in the Jacuzzi". If visiting, I recommend coming in the morning when it is not so crowded.

Home to The Town Hall and the Council House in Birmingham, Victoria Square is a rather nice open…read moresquare and is in-between New Street and Colmore Row in the city - although partially ruined at the moment by ongoing construction works which make parts of the city a mess for the metro extension, I can't let this affect my opinion on the square as the construction is only temporary and of course the metro extension will bring lots of benefits to the West Midlands city as a whole. With fountains and benches, although there aren't really many cafes directly in the square - there is both a Starbucks on New Street and Colmore Row, however, where you can get multiple train and bus services respectively, it can be a nice place to sit in the city away from the hustle and bustle of the shopping areas on a nice sunny day - sadly in the UK we don't get many of them. In the square, you also have the Queen Victoria Statue, it is pretty much a common attraction most people will pass through while in Birmingham - this was pretty much part of my journey into the main city centre having to pass through the square to get to and from Broad Street, where many of the hotels from the Jury's Inn, Hampton by Hilton and Garden Inn Hilton, Hyatt Regency brands and more are located. I do feel there could be more of a welcome to tell people about the square including the historical parts of it including the Grade I listed building which is nice to see rather than having to look online after a visit and find it out. Pretty cool place in the city and it doesn't get as busy as the Bullring / New Street too on a regular day - pretty much Birmingham's answer to Piccadilly Gardens in a way. 3*

I was passing last weekend and notice people were leaving and entering this building…read more Well, because I am a nosey sort I went in. What I found was a wonder exhibition showcasing the history of Curzon Street Station. There is years of history behind those walls, each room had a display of photographs complete with information about part of Birmingham's past, the people involved in making Curzon St station tick at the time and plans for the future. If you can make it, go and have a look Try and leave a donation too .

Completed in 1839 Curzon Street Station is the oldest surviving railway terminus in the world that…read moreis still in its original location and is a grade 1 listed building. It rather dominates the landscape around Millennium Point and whilst it was a functioning station up until the 1960s, it has remained pretty much vacant in recent years. Thankfully unlike other buildings in the area - including a couple of old pubs - it looks in pretty good repair and is still currently owned by the Council. It's possible that with the advent of High Speed 2 that the station may be restored or incorporated in much the same, sympathetic way as Moor Street (which is just down the road). Either way this is a nice building to admire - perhaps as you navigate the (infinitely less attractive looking) road system nearby.

So much history all around you, whether you walk the towpath or use the waterway…read more I'm continually fascinated by the custom offshoots and bricked-up doorways halfway up walls, what were the purposes? Can we picture how it would have been? I was moved by the stories of the canal horses, on a guided walk in early spring. Our guides pointed out the deep gouges in the iron bridges and the brickwork on corners, created as the horses dragged the narrow boats toward their destination. Safer to go in company and during daylight, you have seen Peaky Blinders, yes?

I am, indeed, a fan of waterways. I think its from growing up on a peninsula. So, despite from…read morebeing about as far away from the sea as you can get, in Birmingham, I was lured here by the oft-repeated claim of Brummies: "There's more surface area of canal in Birmingham than there is in Venice." Which, I think, is true. Obviously, that doesn't actually mean that all the buildings and bridges that line the canal are anything like the Rialto, but it does break up the land-locked nature of England's second city quite beautifully. The canal actually starts up in Tamworth in Staffordshire, but the area that most Brummies will be familiar with is the area around Gas Street basin - where it joins the Birmingham-Worcester Canal. It's a surprisingly rural trip along this particular stretch of canal - that is, until you hit Spaghetti Junction. But then, to me, that's part of the interest in this particular trip, you get to experience a variety of landscapes.

As a kid, the sight of the BT tower used to get me all excited. It meant one thing: a day out in…read morethe big city that would probably involve sweets and some new shoes. From whichever angle you approach the city; the tower is there - gazing over the city with watchful 1960s elegance. It was built in 1966, with a distinctive square shape rising to a series of circular galleries at the top. If you count the crane, the tower soars to a massive 152 metres. I love the way it is now lit up in white, blue and red at night-time. The last of the old analogue dishes were removed from the tower in February 2012, leaving 80 smaller dishes at the top. Whilst technology is changing, the BT Tower will always be a special part of Birmingham.

You can literally see this tower from everywhere in Birmingham. To me, it's like a compass for the…read morewhole city. If you ever get lost in the centre of Brum, always head for the telecom, and from here, you'll find exactly where you're meant to be. The tower was originally built in 1966, where it has been previously know as the Post Office Tower and the GPO Tower, and it's actually the tallest building in the city. BT tower always reminds me of home, especially when I've been travelling to and from uni over the past three years. Every time I've seen the monument outside my train window, I get that warm welcoming feel in my heart. I think the greatest thing about the BT Tower is the fact that you can see it for miles. I love viewing the city from the lickey Hills, and still making out one of Birmingham's most famous landmarks.

The wicker man has swapped Summerisle for the British Isles, as Birmingham hosts the Jamaican…read moreOlympic squad ahead of the London 2012 Games. In a rare instance of immobility, Mr Bolt is captured in his trademark pose in this delightful floral display. If you can forget the controversy surrounding the merits of spending taxpayers money on such things, it's not hard to enjoy the colourful piece by the Council's Parks Team. In fact the Parks Team have something in common with their creation, recently winning a London Gold themselves - albeit for the Chelsea Flower Show. Anyway, Bolt's impossibly wiry fingers point towards the Council House as a plinth supports him made from an explosion of blooms. Make sure you walk fully around the display to notice the Jamaican flag draped patriotically across Usain Bolt's wicker shoulders. This will be sure to get Brummies in the Olympic mood!

As Birmingham's laziest statue, this bronze statue of Thomas Atwood reclines playfully on the steps…read moreof Chamberlain Square. A slightly careless statue too, his bronze soap box and pages from his speech lie discarded on the steps behind him. So why is Tom so slothful? Well, on the one hand the teasing positioning makes him the best photo-op of the city's statues, rivalled only in popularity by the Bullring's Bull. On the other, the reclining pose makes a political point. Viewed in context to the nearby elevated sculptures of Watt and Priestly, Attwood suddenly becomes attainable. This is not so much a statement about him being a man of the people, more that Attwood's calling was to involve the people. Attwood was a democratic reformer who, amongst other things, increased the amount of representation Birmingham enjoyed in Parliament. Conversely, we're asked to get involved. He's on his behind, so we don't have to be.

Please do not be alarmed by Thomas Attwood, who is casually sitting on the Chamberlain Square…read moresteps; He won't cause you any harm. Many visitors to Brum have had their photographs taken next to the life sized bronze statue, which was created in 1993 to celebrate the life of one of Birmingham's most important residents. I, for one, have sat down rather inebriated after a night out, and been startled by the figure, which has been realistically positioned on the steps. Attwood was a Halesowen born banker and economist, most iconic for forming the Birmingham Politicial Union in 1830, and for later becoming one of the first members of parliament. So of course, it's fitting that Birmingham should commemorate their highly pioneering MP. The statue is fairly unnoticeable to passers by, and really could be mistaken for a resting member of public (if they were painted bronze). So keep your eyes peeled for Mr Attwood.