Birmingham is known as "the Second City" (a title also occasionally claimed by Manchester).
The city is commonly known to its inhabitants as Brum (from the old name "brummagem") and we are known as Brummies. We have the largest local authority in the United Kingdom (UK).
Birmingham balti restuarants produce the best Indian food outside India.
The vast majority of Balti houses are found in the Sparkbrook, Balsall Heath and Moseley areas of South Birmingham, which forms the famous "Balti Triangle (you can get a great meal for less than £5)
Balti Beer - You think we are joking? Well we’re not. There is now a Balti Beer courtesy of Aston Manor Brewery. Aston Manor Brewery say that the Balti Beer is specifically designed to enhance the richness and flavours of the spices found in traditional Indian Food. Take a look at their website at
www.astonmanor.co.uk
Birmingham have more canals than Venice but that it also has both more parkland and more trees (per person) than any other city in Europe.
There are more than 94,000 street trees alone plus all of the trees in parks, schools etc
The bands Black Sabbath, The Beat, Spencer Davis Group, Charlatans, Dexy's Midnight Runners, Dodgy, Duran Duran, ELO, Judas Priest, The Moody Blues, Magnum, Pop Will Eat Itself, Ned's Atomic Dustbin, The Move, Ocean Colour Scene, Steel Pulse, Traffic, UB40 and Wizzard all originated in Birmingham, as did the musicians Joan Armatrading and Steve Winwood.
Birmingham is home to two professional football teams: Aston Villa and Birmingham City & Warwickshire County Cricket Club play at Edgbaston.
Famous Residents - Sir Michael Balcon, John Baskerville, Matthew Boulton, Jane Bunford, Edward Burne-Jones , Arthur Chamberlain, Joseph Chamberlain, Arthur Conan Doyle, Sid Field, Tony Hancock, Washington Irving, Alec Issigonis, Albert William Ketèlbey, Henry Vollam Morton, William Murdoch, Bill Oddie, Ozzy Osbourne, Joseph Priestley, J. R. R. Tolkien, James Watt, William Withering