Broad Street

One of most vibrant and busiest streets in Britain, Broad Street is at the heart of Birmingham's diverse, cosmopolitan nightlife and is the perfect base for exploring the city's abundant attractions. The street is also the headquarters of 100.7 Heart FM, BRMB and Galaxy Birmingham radio stations, and even has its very own 'Walk of Stars' pavement, emulating the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles. As you'd expect for such a central location in the UK's second city, there is a high density of hotels near Broad Street to suit all tastes and budgets.

The library of Birmingham

On the northern entrance of Broad Street is one of the finest contemporary libraries in the world, the library of Birmingham which, following an enormous £189 million investment, was reopened to the public in 2013. It is now considered to be the largest public library in the country, featuring ten floors and more than 20,000 square metres of space. The library is also home to 1 million books, one of which is Shakespeare's First Folio, now estimated to be worth around £6 million.

Brindleyplace

Adjacent to Broad Street is the charming Brindleyplace district, which was developed from the 1990s onwards and is the home of the National Indoor Arena, the National Sea Life Centre, and various shops, restaurants and nightclubs. Spend some time at the charismatic Ikon Gallery which is housed in an attractive Neo-Gothic Grade II listed building and features a special photography, sound and painting exhibition.

Other sights

Another formidable landmark on Broad Street is the Birmingham Repertory theatre, a theatre that celebrated its centenary in 2013 and was originally based at the Old Rep until 1971. Broad Street is also adjacent to the world-renowned Symphony Hall, opened by the Queen in 1991, and the iconic Baskerville House, a 1930s Art Deco landmark and Grade I listed building. Another major Birmingham landmark is Centenary Square, which inherited its current name in 1989 to mark Birmingham's 100th anniversary of city status and is the venue for the city's superb Frankfurt Christmas Market.

Where to eat

For some wonderful Indian cuisine, head to the award-winning Pushkar restaurant, which received the coveted BIBA Best in Britain Restaurant Award for 2013. Enjoy scrumptious Italian dishes at Strada near the canal, or treat yourself to some tantalising British classics at the traditional Vine Inn on Ruston Street.

Where to stay

Stay at the reputed Premier Inn or the Hampton by Hilton and enjoy quality contemporary style accommodation at excellent value for money. One of the most deluxe hotels near Broad Street is the MacDonald Burlington Hotel at the Burlington Arcade, which offers elegant 4-star accommodation and once hosted Sir Winston Churchill.