Birmingham

Birmingham is a multi-faceted modern metropolis, where centuries-old churches stand alongside architecturally adventurous mosques, and where a diverse population fuels a famously eclectic dining scene. Art aficionados can spend hours marveling at masterpieces in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, while shopaholics can sate their urges in the sleek surroundings of the Bullring centre.

Birmingham is the birthplace of the Balti, so a fiery Indian feast should definitely be on your to-do list while you're in town. And the city heats up after dark, with an array of cosy real ale pubs, chic cocktail bars and pulsing nightclubs to crawl between.