10 reasons Birmingham is the best city in the world to live in

More than 12,000 people visited Birmingham for the 2022 Conservative Party Conference which took place at the ICC with then Prime Minister Liz Truss.

But not all of them were happy about it. The party’s Chairman and Operations Lead for the Young Conservative Network caused outrage by complaining about our city being chosen to host the annual Tory meeting.

Daniel Grainger was caught tweeting his disapointment about Birmingham, which he later deleted and apologised for after the West Midlands Conservative Mayor Andy Street and others rushed to defend Birmingham and hit out at Mr Grainger.

He said: “Off you pop then, and take anyone with the same views with you. Try and take some time to grow up and understand just why this city is so special whilst you’re gone,” the mayor wrote.

“I may be a Conservative, but I’m also a bloody proud Brummie. I won’t have anyone who’s never lived or breathed this place trying to put us down.”

Conservative Party members should obviously have been counting their blessings that they have been allowed to hold their conference in one of the best cities on planet Earth.

Here are our the best reasons why Birmingham is the best city to live in:

1) The youngest city in Europe

Birmingham is a great place to live and work for youngsters and our city has the youngest population in the continent, with under-25s accounting for nearly 40% of our population.

There are over 400 schools, 15 universities and three University colleges within one hour’s drive of the city. With a youthful spirit and relentless drive It’s no wonder that Birmingham also has a thriving start-up business scene too with hundreds of creative businesses breaking through. The city remains a champion of innovation since it’s days as leader of the industrial revolution.

2) Delicious dining

Birmingham has one of the best dining scenes in the country. It encompasses French fine dining, global fusion, craft cocktails, local brews and more.

The city is home to six Michelin star restaurants - the highest number in the UK outside London. There’s Adams, Opheem and Purnells in the city centre, Carters in Moseley, Peel’s in Solihull and Simpsons in Edgbaston.

There are many other brilliant independent venues offering fantastic, innovative food too - The Wilderness in the Jewellery Quarter and Craft at the ICC to mention just two.

Popular London wine brand Vagabond is one of the latest venues to join the scene - Birmingham is the first city it has chosen for its expansion, we fully understand why.

Manchester’s Albert Schloss is another exciting venue which has opened recently too.

The city is renowned for its baltis and we can’t mention our food scene without  we recommending a trip to our world famous Balti Triangle which has hosted the likes of David Cameron among others.

3) Thriving culture scene

There is so much culture to enjoy in Birmingham - the city even has its own ballet - Birmingham Royal Ballet - and orchestra - City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

There is an abundance of theatres featuring star-studded productions, art galleries are aplenty and we host some of the most colourful and energetic festivals you could ever imagine.

Its iconic Library of Birmingham is the biggest public library in Europe, which  is also home to one of the largest Shakespeare collections in the world and the famous Shakespeare Memorial Room, dating from the Victorian era.

4) Exciting transformation attracting big business

Birmingham is one of the fastest transforming cities in the world. Even Brummies are amazed at how quickly Birmingham is changing.

The re-opening of New Street Station in 2015 heralded a whole new era for the city - and it hasn’t looked back.

The skyline is changing dramatically with a host of new developments underway - from HS2 Curzon Street Station to Paradise to The Octagon.

Digbeth, where the BBC are moring to, is one of the areas benefiting from the investment with the tram being extended to run down the High Street and the historic River Rea being opened up.

The regeneration is attracting big business with Goldman Sachs and HSBC both opening up huge hubs in the city centre.

5) Commonwealth Games

Birmingham has hosted one of the best ever Commonwealth Games - the biggest sports event in the UK in the last decade.

The city welcomed top athletes from the 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth who competed in 286 sessions of sport across 19 different sports over 11 days of competition. The a Commonwealth Games Festival saw some jawdropping performances too, including the world premiere of the Peaky Blinders ballet, The Redemption of Thomas Shelby with Ramber Dance at Birmingham Hippodrome.

More tickets were sold across the West Midlands than any other Commonwealth Games host area and nearly half of all the adults in the UK adults watched, followed online or were involved in the magnificent event.

6) Shout out to Digbeth

Digbeth is known as the Creative Quarter and has been hailed as one of the coolest places to live in Britain. From colourful street art to a zero waste supermarket, Digbeth has it all and it’s a a popular spot for BCU students.

The Custard Factory oozes inspiration with rich industrial heritage and present-day collection of independent shops, creative and digital businesses and events spaces. There’s always something going on.

There’s some brilliant hospitality venues including some exciting competitive socialising opportunities at Ghetto Golf and Roxy Ball Room.

Hollywood hero Steven Spielberg chose Digbeth, which is just a stone’s throw away from BCU’s city centre campus to film his sci-fi action-adventure blockbuster Ready Player One.

7) Birmingham inspired iconic films and TV

It isn’t just Steven Spielberg who chose to film in the city. Birmingham has inspired many renowned film and TV series.

Peaky Blinders may be flying the flag for the city on national television but the inspiration for one of the most famous film franchises in the world also came from Birmingham.

JRR Tolkien, the author of The Lord of the Rings, which was turned into an Oscar-winning film trilogy, grew up in Birmingham. During 1895 to 1911, Tolkien lived in nine homes in the south of the city, including King’s Heath.

He also spent a lot of time in Hall Green, where Moseley Bog and Sarehole Mill would go on to provide the inspiration for the iconic series.

Line of Duty was also filmed here along with The Gadget Show and you may have heard that Tom Cruise was recently in town to film seventh instalment of the Mission: Impossible franchise.

8) More canals than Venice

This one sounds pretty ludicrous, but yes, Birmingham does in fact have more canals running through it than the prestigious Italian town. Venice has 26 miles of canal while Birmingham has 35 miles.

According to the city council, most of these canals were built in the 1700s and 1800s and at its height, the Birmingham Canal Navigation had more than 170 miles of them.

As the industry declined, over the years canals fell into disrepair. However, many have since been restored and their surroundings improved with modern developments for the locals and tourists to enjoy.

9) Sparkle in the Jewellery Quarter

One of the main things Birmingham is famous for is the historic Jewellery Quarter, where 40 per cent of all jewellery in the UK is produced – the highest concentration in Europe.

It’s a little known fact that both of the Wimbledon men’s and ladies’ singles trophies were made in Birmingham in the 19th Century.

Today the Jewellery Quarter is home to some of the city’s most desirable residences and has some great food and drink venues - while maintaining its historic links to the jewellery industry.

10) Birthplace of Cadbury’s

From trophies to chocolate - yes, Birmingham is the birth place of Cadbury’s chocolate.

Not only is this a great thing to boast to all your friends about, but you can also visit Cadbury World and eat as much chocolate as your stomach can handle.