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

The Sutton War Memorial is another part of the town's local history that a lot of people possibly…read moredon't know exists. It's stood outside Sutton Town Hall since the early 1920s and is the focal point of Rememberance Sunday services. It's basically a large stone column engraved with the names of local men who died in the First World War, much the same as those in other parts of the region. A pacifistic soul such as myself looks at it more as a piece of local history and testament to the horrors of war than anything to puff my chest out about or wave a flag at, but however you look at it, it's still a vital part of who we are and where we come from. I know this bloke who takes an interest in his local history. He did a whole load of research on this particular war memorial and found it to be full of mistakes with names repeated and mis-spelt and allsorts. I can't verify that because I'm too busy writing an aesthetic review of the thing and only have 150-odd words in which to do so.

'What's so landmark and historic about a small, anonymous residential road on the edge of Oldbury?'…read more I hear you ask. Well in the case Apollo Road, what's so special about it is that it's where Kevin Rowland lived in the late 1970s, around the time he formed Dexys Midnight Runners. When I moved to this part of the world, I knew that he had once lived round here and was chuffed to find that the leader of one of my favourite bands had lived just a few minutes stroll from own doorstep. However, anyone expecting blue plaques, guided tours or people dancing round in dungarees will be sorely disappointed. Despite it's significance in local music history, Apollo Road does still remain a small, anonymous residential road on the edge of Oldbury. Only really worth a look if you're a big Dexys fan and want to walk down the road trying to work out which house he lived in, whilst humming 'Geno'. That's what I did anyway, and it made me feel good.

Currently nestled under scaffolding, The Clock Tower is a former Adult Education College whose…read morerather grand exterior dominates the High Street. I used to do yoga here (before heading off to The White Horse afterwards for a pint - oops!) and it ran all sorts of classes - wine appreciation, life drawing, languages, keep fit etc until just over 2 years ago when it became obvious from the chunks of roof coming away that it needed some fairly major refurbishment. Thankfully the building itself has been saved and it's hoped that the space will be transformed into a rather exciting mixed development consisting of a up to three restaurants, a cookery school, a public square and 10 luxury apartments. The Clock Tower itself was constructed in 1881 as a school and designed by Martin & Chamberlain in gothic red brick and terracotta. According to local records the actual clock face was made just a few doors away. The building was closed as a school after 1961 - here's hoping its next incarnation will be a successful one.

This is a very British take on a very North American tradition. But, the choice to install a totem…read morepole in the Park is clearly befitting to an area full of so much ancient history. The carving by Graham Jones was commissioned to celebrate the Park gaining nature reserve status in 1997. At 3.5 metres tall and carved from solid oak, this is a structure aptly marking the resolve to preserve the park as it is. The detail on the pole is more delicate in its message however. With an acorn at the base, the wildlife grows upwards culminating in a majestic and ancient deer at the crown. All life, flora or fauna, ancient or modern, come from the same place. The preservation of the park and its enjoyment by the people is a responsibility we all share, and depends wholeheartedly on us understanding the connectedness of all things. When I visit the park I'm always amazed at how beautiful this is - although I have never been tempted enough to dance around it!

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 didn't expect discovering Rock of Gibraltar is owned by the British Peeps! Who knew? I surely…read moredidn't know this fact . . . I was also surprised learning that Spain wants the Rock returned to them, too. Visiting here was astonishing because Spain is right outside, but peeps living on the Rock-everyone uses British currency. Everyone in McDonald's spoke with a British accent! http://gibraltar.costasur.com/ http://www.gibnet.com/tourist/basics.htm http://www.gibnet.com/tourist/general.htm http://www.andalucia.com/gibraltar/home.htm

The rock of Gibraltar is indeed something very, very special. Just the thought of all sailors that…read morefor thousands of years that have shared this grand view is breathtaking. Lord Nelson, Marco Polo, Vasco da Gama are just a few that have passed this mighty rock. The view from the top of the Rock is just as breathtaking as its history. If possible - wait for clear skies before going to the top. It is worth it. Clear days it is possible to see far along the Spanish coast and across the sea to Africa. And - beware of the apes. No kidding. Already when docking at the top they may enter the cabin in search for food. According to the guards they are calmer and nicer in the morning than in the hot afternoon.

Founded in the 13th century by King John, the ruins of Halesowen Abbey are a pleasing reminder of…read morethe area's medieval history. The ruins are now under the stewardship of English Heritage and can be visited on foot free of charge (there is no on-site parking, so it best to ark on a nearby housing estate or on the Black Horse pub car park). They sit in the middle of a large field just off the Halesowen bypass/Manor Way. Not much of the abbey remains, though there is a relatively intact gothic archway to admire. Many of the buildings have been incorporated in the nearby farm. It isn't exactly a "must visit" site, but the abbey is probably worth a gander if you are curious and passing by. As Dr Johnson once declared: "It is worth seeing but not worth going to see."

Popular culture tells us that in 1957 most kids were just about getting into rock and roll…read more However, this monument in Sutton Park paints a slightly different picture of '50s youth. This large and somewhat austere stone, situated in an equally austerely open part of the Park, commemorates an event in August 1957 when the 50th year of the Scout movement was celebrated by 32,000 camping boys from over 87 countries. Clearly these kids were more into toggles than blue suede shoes. However, rebels without a cause or not, the Stone and its plaque doesn't tell the full story. The beautiful nature and habitats on offer here in North Birmingham inevitably suffered damage from so many visitors. Conversely, this in fact ensured the Park's long term future, prompting the resolve of local conservationists and pressure groups to enable the park to be enjoyed by locals for years to come.

With so many individual places of interest within Sutton Park, it can be hard for the Sutton…read moreresident, let alone visitor, to keep track of all the names and what they represent. The Jamboree Stone is one such marker of which you hear, the significance of which becomes lost through over-use, or swallowed up by talk of different pools, entrances, or species. The Jamboree Stone commemorates the 1957 World Jamboree - a gathering of scouts from groups across the world. Here were international boys in hundreds of tents under the night sky. It's a charming image. But while it may have a slight historical appeal, or even prove a point of fascination to any scout within your family - that sense that they are part of a larger and planet-wide collective - the monument, unto itself, is not particularly impressive. In sheer practical terms, it's best used as an orientating reference point. You find it by entering Sutton Park at Boldmere Gate, via Monmouth Drive. From there to reach the stone, it's a walk, in a straight line, of around two miles. Psst, this is really the best means by which you stand a good chance of finding an ice cream van. The stone is a common parking point for the dispenser of Screwballs and 99s. It also marks a crossroads from where you can make your way to Wyndley or Town Gates. The area is pretty uncluttered here, so you also get a good impression of the size of the park, not to mention a few benches to help you take a breather.

To paraphrase John Lydon, 'side of Sutton that the tourists never see'. Not that many tourists…read moremake it to Sutton but, unless they're interested in old railway stations, those few who do would be highly unlikely to check this place out. Sutton Town station shut way back in 1924 and there's very few pictures of it in use. Thankfully, both buildings still remain. The one building can be seen quite easily simply by walking up Midland Drive and keeping an eye out for the very station looking building which is now an office block. For the more adventurous the building on the other side of the tracks is still standing (just), strangely never having been demolished (although it has been bricked up in the ten years since I first encountered it). A disclaimer: There are no signs that the building is on private land and I personally nor anyone I know has ever been challenged walking to it BUT it does lie at the end of a very overgrown path so go prepared and take care. The path to it begins between the railway bridge and Sutton College at the top of the High Street. You keep walking down, over a bridge which crosses the Cross City Line and then keep going straight and you will be confronted with a 1920s station building. It's very eerie and last time I went down there I got spooked out quite quickly and made good my escape. I've got a feeling some unsavoury activities go on there late at night too so go in the morning! If you like your historical buildings not to have been revamped and a long way off the beaten track, it's worth the nettle stings.