Overview
Birmingham is the UK's second city and the buzzing heart of the Midlands, reinvented over two decades into one of Britain's best short-break destinations. Expect grand Victorian arcades, bold modern architecture, a canal network said to be longer than Venice's, a superb food scene and some of the best shopping outside London. For UK travellers it is a domestic trip, which keeps things simple: no passport control and no currency to change.
Best time to fly to Birmingham
Birmingham is a year-round city break. May, June and September bring the most reliable weather and long, lively evenings along the canals. November and December are busy and festive thanks to the German-style Christmas market in the city centre. January to March is the quietest stretch and usually the cheapest, while July and August are warm but overlap with school holidays and big events at the NEC, which pushes demand up. Check the When to book chart above to see how fares for your dates are trending.
Airlines and routes
Being honest: there are no scheduled flights from London or Manchester to Birmingham. Rail wins door to door, with London Euston to Birmingham New Street taking about 1 hour 40 minutes and Manchester around 1 hour 30, so if you are searching for flights from London to Birmingham, book the train. Flying earns its place on longer journeys. easyJet and Aer Lingus link Belfast with Birmingham in about an hour, and easyJet also flies from Edinburgh and Glasgow in roughly 60 to 70 minutes. Loganair operates from the Isle of Man and Eastern Airways from Aberdeen, with seasonal Channel Islands services from Guernsey and Jersey. All of these routes are direct.
Things to do in Birmingham
Central Birmingham is compact and walkable, with more to explore a short tram or train ride out.
- Cadbury World: a family favourite in leafy Bournville tracing the Cadbury story, with plenty of chocolate along the way.
- Library of Birmingham: a striking modern landmark on Centenary Square with free city views and a garden terrace.
- The Bullring & Selfridges: the city's landmark shopping quarter, crowned by that famous curving, disc-covered facade.
- Jewellery Quarter: a historic district still making jewellery, now full of museums, cafes and independent shops.
- Gas Street Basin: the hub of Birmingham's canals, with towpath walks to Brindleyplace and the bars of Broad Street.
At Birmingham Airport (BHX)
Birmingham Airport sits about 7 miles east of the city centre, beside the NEC and Birmingham International station. The free AirRail Link people-mover carries you from the terminal to the station in around 90 seconds, and trains from there reach Birmingham New Street in roughly 10 minutes. A taxi to the centre takes 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic; National Express coaches and local buses also serve the airport, and the M42 and M6 are close by if you are hiring a car.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Birmingham
- Book domestic and short-haul routes roughly three to eight weeks ahead; fares on these hops seldom drop at the last minute.
- Fly midweek where you can, as Tuesday and Wednesday are usually cheaper than Friday evenings and Sunday returns.
- Use a flexible-date search and check the price charts on this page before committing to specific days.
- Compare easyJet, Aer Lingus and Loganair on the same route, and travel with cabin baggage only to avoid checked-bag fees.
Travel essentials
Visa: none needed. Birmingham is in the United Kingdom, so for UK travellers this is a domestic journey. You will still need valid photo ID to fly, and accepted documents vary by airline, so check whether a driving licence is enough or a passport is required. The currency is pound sterling, with contactless and mobile payments accepted almost everywhere. No vaccinations or health paperwork are required, and NHS care is available in an emergency.
