Surprising UK city named as one of Britain’s most underrated

Often referred to as the UK’s second capital, Birmingham offers far more than many would think, making the region one of Britain’s most underrated.

A recent report by West Midlands Railway from data gathered by Google, reveals search terms such as ‘cool things to do in Birmingham’ and ‘things to do in Digbeth’ have skyrocketed by more than 5,000 percent proving the city is a hot ticket for many.

It has smashed records, becoming the country’s most successful regional city of the decade with a booming future ahead.

Birmingham council also predicts that by 2040, the city will be a leading international city that will be operating on a global stage.

Best of all, compared to other major UK cities such as London, living expenses and accommodation are surprisingly low in Birmingham.

Called the Venice of the North owing to its array of canals, Birmingham may have been shrouded by its industrialised image but it turns out, there is more to this city than meets the eye.

Located near the coalfields of Northern Warwickshire, it is the UK’s canal centre hub. These fantastic transport links put Birmingham on the global economy map with products finding their way to Europe, America, Asia and Africa.

It’s also a city that’s far greener than many would think after it hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

During these games, Birmingham planted over 300,000 trees and created 72 tiny forests. These forests helped Birmingham’s zero carbon future and are enjoyed by local communities for years to come.

But it’s not just the Commonwealth trees that owe to Birmingham’s green image as the town holds 591 parks and green spaces over 8,000 acres, making it greener than any other European city.

According to Esri UK’s analysis of Landsat 8 satellite images, roughly 25 per cent of Birmingham is green space making it the fourth greenest city in the UK.

Birmingham has also boomed over the past few years with huge investments in its public realm benefitting from high-rise development with a modernised makeover.

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is one such example of the city’s Victorian classicism architecture.

Mixed with a European feel from its classic revival style of the Town Hall and recently restored Gothic Revival-style fountain, addig to the charm of this popular city.

Its historic canals may have been made popular by the Peaky Blinders, but they can now be enjoyed with a spot of water activities including kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.