Located in the centre of the UK, home to 4.7m people, the West Midlands is one of Europe’s most energetic, forward-looking and ambitious metropolitan regions.
It’s also home to one of Europe’s youngest and most diverse populations with over 190 nationalities residing in the region, and 46% of the population under 30. Boasting three world-famous, distinctive and celebrated cities – Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton – the region is packed with incredible experiences and excellent infrastructure including some of the UK’s best universities, event spaces, cultural organisations, entertainment, attractions, shopping, and food & drink with its uniquely warm and welcoming character.
There’s a reason why Birmingham and the West Midlands is so often referred to as the ‘heart of the UK’. Positioned right in the centre of the country, this is the place where endless routes meet, making it the most connected part of the UK. With roads, rail and air all connecting the city to the rest of UK, and the rest of the world, the region provides a smooth uncomplicated journey for millions of visitors every year.
Did you know:
- It takes just over 10 minutes to get from Birmingham Airport to the city centre by train
- 400 global destinations are connected to the West Midlands by air with 143 direct routes
- 90% of the UK population is within a four-hour drive
The region is home to world-class venues, including one of Europe’s leading conference venues, The International Convention Centre (ICC) with its 10 meeting rooms and 10 conference halls. Connected to Birmingham Airport is the UK’s largest event venue The National Exhibition Centre (NEC) which offers 18 versatile event halls, 32 purpose-built conference suites and 186,000sqm of covered space – the venue offers a blank canvas that is flexible, futureproofed and a perfect fit for events big or small.
Donna Cunningham, Sales Director, NEC Group Conventions, says: “ICC Birmingham is one of the UK’s premier conference and meeting venues, welcoming more than 450,000 visitors each year, and the NEC Birmingham is one of Europe’s leading live event destinations, easily accessible by road, rail and air. The largest venue in the UK for hosting international events, it is home to Spring Fair International and Crufts.”
Beyond the event, delegates can discover a vibrant region with world-class culture and unforgettable experiences. From an internationally renowned food scene, with more Michelin starred restaurants than any region outside of London with 11, to an incredible street food scene where you can eat cuisine from around the world in a castle, warehouse or cathedral. Walking through Birmingham, you will uncover bustling streets filled with independent shops, stylish restaurants, chic canal-side venues, boutique bars to suit any style, and heaps of history – there’s a surprise around every corner. Packed full of attractions, with its own unique personality, Birmingham is the very heart of the West Midlands. If it wasn’t for this great region, we wouldn’t have delicious Cadbury’s chocolate, heavy metal music, or J.R.R. Tolkien’s and Shakespeare’s wonderful stories.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands says: “Our region is increasingly becoming the destination of choice for some of the UK’s most significant conferences and exhibitions.
“Our outstanding connectivity, broad choice of venues and plentiful hotel accommodation all help our cause – combined with our positive attitude and the warmth of the welcome visitors have come to expect.”
Did you know:
- Birmingham has more miles of canals to explore than Venice
- Over 300 attractions including over 60 galleries and museums in the region
- Home to the Birmingham Royal Ballet and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- There are 121,000 bed spaces in the region