Best Landmarks in Birmingham

St Martin in the Bull Ring is Birmingham’s original parish church, a striking Grade II* listed Gothic Victorian building located in the heart of the city’s bustling Bull Ring shopping district. With origins dating back to 1290 and possible Saxon worship before that, the church features an impressive timber hammerbeam roof, intricate stonework, and a rich history intertwined with Birmingham’s urban development.

St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham is the first Catholic cathedral built in England since the Reformation, designed by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin in a striking Gothic Revival style. Consecrated in 1841, it serves as the mother church of the Archdiocese of Birmingham and houses the relics of St Chad. The cathedral is renowned for its stunning stained glass, intricate interior decorations, and a remarkable history including surviving a WWII bombing.

Soho House Museum in Birmingham is the beautifully restored 18th-century home of Matthew Boulton, a key figure of the Industrial Revolution and founder of the Lunar Society. The Grade II* listed house showcases Georgian elegance, innovative early technologies like central heating, and displays of silver, ormolu, and clocks produced at Boulton’s Soho Manufactory. The museum’s peaceful gardens and historic interiors offer insight into Birmingham’s industrial heritage and Enlightenment-era innovation.

The Edgbaston Waterworks Tower, built around 1870 in Birmingham, is a striking Victorian industrial structure designed by John Henry Chamberlain and William Martin. Originally part of the city’s water supply system, this Grade II listed tower is famed for its architectural grandeur and rumored inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘Two Towers.’ It stands near Perrott’s Folly, together creating a unique historic and literary landmark in the Edgbaston area.

Rising like a giant silver amoeba in the heart of Birmingham, the Selfridges Building is one of the UK’s most striking modern landmarks. Clad in over 15,000 shimmering aluminium discs, this futuristic department store at Bullring redefines shopping as an architectural spectacle. Inside, it’s a curated world of luxury fashion, beauty, gourmet food, and in-store experiences, all beneath a sculptural roof that has become an icon of 21st-century British design. Whether you’re browsing designer rails or simply admiring its otherworldly form, Selfridges is a must-see in the city.

The Best of Birmingham Trail is a captivating historical landmark located at 2 Margaret Street in Birmingham city centre. This free trail offers an immersive journey through Birmingham’s rich heritage, connecting 20 key sites including museums, art galleries, churches, and public spaces. It serves as a perfect introduction to the city’s culture, architecture, and ongoing regeneration, inviting visitors to explore the vibrant heart of Birmingham.

The Gem Buildings, located on Key Hill in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter, are iconic early 20th-century diamond cutting and polishing works. Built in 1913 by architects Wood & Kendrick for Ginder & Ginder, these buildings showcase a modern industrial design for their era and reflect the area’s rich heritage as a global centre for jewellery manufacturing. They stand near the historic Key Hill Cemetery, embedding them in a landscape steeped in local history and craftsmanship.