So, as part of the Festival of Firsts I asked the Yelp Community what they hadn't done in…read moreBirmingham. Renfield C. suggested a Ghost Walk (http://www.yelp.co.uk/topic/birmingham-yelps-festival-of-firsts) and what a mighty fine idea it was. Midlands Discovery Tours run 3 different ghost walks (as well as numerous other history related walks in the Midlands). Two are run monthly and one is run exclusively around Halloween. The main monthly Ghost walks are split into the "Sinister" and "Graveyard" varieties. The Graveyard Ghost Walk takes you into Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter and covers the catacombs in the two famous cemeteries in this part of the City (Warstone Lane and Key Hill). I haven't done this walk, but both of these locations are fantastically spooky anyway; so well worth checking out. For our #YelpFOF Ghostwalk, we chose the "Sinister" side. Starting off at Council House, we trekked around to Town Hall, Paradise Forum, New Street Station, Temple Street and ended up at the Cathedral. Our tour guide Mike was decked out like a Victorian Undertaker and led us around the City imparting his knowledge about where the bodies were buried, moved to and then reburied (did you know John Baskerville was moved from his resting place at least 4 times?). Poor Mike is normally part of a duo and was missing his partner on this particular eve. It was still incredibly enjoyable, but there were certain stories he wasn't as use to telling; saying that, even his minor mistakes were fun (as he was a fab storyteller). The tour costs £8 per person, but we ran at just over 2 hours. If I was to do another one, I would probably wait until it warmed up a bit. By half way around, my hands were frozen and I couldn't feel my ears! It was still incredible value for money and well worth cold pinkies for. A big thank you to Gem, Renfield, Emma and Dan (our intrepid Yelp explorers) for joining me for this installment of the FOF. We'll have to do it again (when it's warmer!).

As well as the regular tours that Midlands Discovery Tours run each weekend, they also offer…read moreprivate tours for groups on pretty much any topic. I know they've done one for international visitors about Heavy Metal, outside of Birmingham for those wanting to know more about Liverpool and Harry Potter tours based on some of the locations in the films. The one I asked for was for some students who were learning about the hospitality industry so we picked the topic of 'Tourism in Birmingham.' The angle very much lent itself to jobs as all the participants are looking to work in the industry and we learnt which the biggest hotel in Birmingham is, what sport was invented in Birmingham, why the Hyatt Regency was built and how many visitors come to Birmingham each year. Of course no walk/talk would be complete without the phrase 'more canals than Venice.'

To review Big Brum Sightseeing, I have to talk about what I think is their best tour; the Christmas…read moreLights tour. This is an open top bus, driving through Birmingham city centre when the Christmas lights are on. So yes it's freezing but it's dazzling too. I've been on it twice and whilst it doesn't get any warmer and each year we vow to take more warming things with us; another pair of gloves, and extra thermal hat, thermal socks, flask of hot chocolate etc etc. The best part of is it the commentary because although this is a Christmas tour, the guide is full of dark humour and we hear all about Christmas murders, wrong doings and mis-behaviour in the bygone era. Unmissable every Christmas!

Birmingham also has its famous sightseeing bus tours and I have been experiencing some of them. The…read moreBig Brum Open Top sightseeing is one of those experiences. Every first Sunday of each month, including this one now) until October, it's possible to check 30 touristic places of Birmingham, in a sightseeing that has the starting point on the corner of Colmore Row and Waterloo street, at Victoria Square. Take note: There are three different hours to join this adventure, at 10:30, 12:30 and 2.30 pm. When this tour guided started running in Birmingham, the admission was free but now it costs £12 (adults), £8 (students), £5 (15-5 years children) and under 5 years are for free. It's a bit pricey for a sightseeing compared to other bigger cities but if you just have a weekend to explore the city and this weekend is exactly when the Big Brum is running, it's a good way of visiting most of the heritage museums and landmarks in just one go!

Great company - great professional reliable service - our company have used them for over 25 years…read moreand they have never ever failed us!

From the owner: 24 Hour Taxi Service for business and leisure. VAT Registered, credit cards or credit facilities…read moreavailable (subject to terms)

You could be forgiven for not knowing about Martineau Gardens…read more Rather inconspicuous, it sits alongside a busy junction in the Edgbaston area and doesn't warrant much attention from the road. Once through the gates you find yourself in amongst fruit trees and carefully nurtured plants and flowers, on this occasion we didn't venture past the club house but had already witnessed an almost surreal scene of classes being given on the lawn with a tree being the focus of the lesson, needless to say the world of traffic noise and commuter squabble is soon forgotten. The staff were friendly when approached and assisted with our guesswork as to exactly which fruits blossomed within the protective netting of various beds. Martineau Gardens is a welcoming place and offers a great deal for anyone interested in the simple joys of gardening. Events are held regularly and more information can be found at their website: http://www.martineau-gardens.org.uk/visitor-information/plants-produce/

An oasis of calm just set back from busy Edgbaston roads…read more Volunteer gardeners are friendly and always willing to help. Produce and plants are also often for sale (wood chips, seasonal vegetables and fruit and preserves) There are always interesting things growing and it's good for a look around any time of year. They even have a mulberry tree, not many of those in the area. Their events are worth visiting as there's always a lot going on (from Seed swaps to Apple Days)There's also a great play area with large wooden ship for the tiddlywinks to have a play on.

I was recently caught in the position of being a tourist in my home city. A college friend was…read more visiting from London., and I met him at Moor Street Station. After answering his question as to what the differences between The West Midlands, Birmingham and The Black Country were, he asked me where we should go. 'Well, apparently we've got more canals here than in Venice' I said and we walked to Brindley Place (I refuse to call it 'Brindleyplace' like I refuse to call The Bull Ring 'bullring'. You can't just all-one-word places on a marketer's whim). We paid £6 each and then started off. The cruise travels on a route as far as Birmingham University. The sight lines are really good as there are continuous windows running down the length of the boat. The commentary is actually interesting and well-written and delivered, informing you of both canal boat and rail routes along the journey and their role in the development of industry of the area. Additionally, commentary on The Mail Box development gives some modern history to boot, and shows the change from industrial Birmingham to a city-living city. There's a licensed bar on board the boat as well as washroom facilities. An incidental bonus is the detailed graffiti that lines some of the walls along the tow-path, as well as gaggles of water fowl. There are a few canal cruises you can take from Brindley Place, but don't take your chances by going on one that takes you on the grim route north featuring dumped shopping trolleys-This is the one.