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

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*

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A lot of historic buildings are owned and run by either local councils, or other large bodies like…read moreEnglish Heritage. This one is neither, and as such provides a quirky and welcome anomaly in the landscape of heritage venues. Very unassuming, nestled between housing in a residential area - you might pass it and remark on how pretty a building it is, but really the beauty is inside. The building has higgledypiggledy narrow corridors and stairs with obligatory beamed ceilings and creaking floorboards. If any house was likely to open a doorway to Narnia, this would be it. Because it isn't supported by any larger organisation, accessing this beauty requires some planning in advance. I was lucky enough to attend a meeting by the Historical Society here (where they also served tea and biscuits and speakers retold their memories of the past - fascinating!) and was able to explore the building at the same time. Definitely worth a trip!

Handsworth Historical Society are an amazing bunch of people that helped to save the Old Town Hall…read more One half of this building is rented out to an artist whilst the other side is home to the Historical Society, a tea room and an upstairs full of old documents and postcards that pertain to the history of Handsworth. The Old Town Hall is a fin example of a 15th Centure Cuck built house and whilst I can't remember what that means, if you visit they will tell you. This building is a little gem that's lucky to be preserved and the knowledge about the local area is astounding, as soon as you get them talking you are lost in the history of the area. They even have a few books and bits and bobs to sell as well. As a member of the society they host regular outings and talks with guest speakers. As a visitor to the Old Town Hall you should attend one of their coffee mornings or free events they run over the summer. It's a quaint, fun trip out that is pleasantly surprising and it;'s great to support such a group to continue fighting for and preserving local history.

So, St. Nicolas Place was another 'stumbled upon' scenario today. I love the fact that I stumbled…read moreupon the largest collection of medieval buildings in the city, entirely by accident. I'm not sure that sort of thing happens every day... Of course, the down side of these things being entirely haphazard is the fact that I didn't coincide my accidental visit with the opening times, so the entire complex - which consists of the Tudor Merchant's House, St. Nicolas' Church and the Old Grammar School - was closed. However, as they are simply bang splat in the middle of Kings Norton, just off the Green, of course you can still wander around the complex, admiring the buildings from the outside. Which I greatly enjoyed doing. To be honest, that was perfect for me - there was enough information on the boards outside each building, and seeing as each element was very impressive externally, I'm not sure what more I'd have got out of going inside. They do do guided tours on Fridays and Saturdays, which I'm sure are worthwhile, and you'd find out more information on those. But I was happy to simply stroll around the Place, admiring the black and white Tudor frontages, the old stone church with its immense spire, a peaceful graveyard (yes, I have spent more time in Birmingham graveyards than average recently...) and the lovely little pathways that connect it all. I have made a mental note to return when the buildings are actually open. Watch this space.....