From the very first visit, a fleeting stop on the way to Leicester, I have loved Birmingham. As a city it's got everything a modern girl could need, with funky buildings and amazing architecture (the Mailbox and the Bullring spring immeadiately to mind). It also has a rather large central train station and excellent bus and coach links in and out of the city.

There is a wide, wide range of new shops and services in Birmingham, and everything has that sparkly feeling of just being built. The people are friendly and the night life is great. Brilliant if you end up going to uni here as there is always something to do, I know a couple of people who did just that and had a really amazing time.

The Bullring is great if you're looking for a diverse shopping experience, with it's iconic building and Selfridges store, it has many shops you wouldn't find anywhere else in the Midlands (such as a Krispy Kreme, yum!). One of the many reasons I adore Birmingham is it's hidden heart - did you know it has moire canals than Venice? The centre is a bustling hub, but it's not hard to find a quiet place to yourself (I'd highly reccomend Brindley Place if you're looking to while away a few hours) and of course there is the NEC, great for all the events and shows you want to see.