Birmingham Essays - Birmingham, Ladywood, Edgbaston, Smethwick

Birmingham Essays - Birmingham, Ladywood, Edgbaston, Smethwick Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside London. Birmingham is home to five universities: the University of Birmingham, Aston University, Birmingham City University, University College Birmingham and Newman University Birmingham is an important centre for religious education. Birmingham Metropolitan College is one of the largest further education colleges in the country,[213] with fourteen campuses spread across Birmingham. Birmingham has 571 parks. One of Birmingham's most popular parks is Cannon Hill Park consisting of formal, conservation, woodland and sports areas. Recreational activities at the park include boating, fishing, tennis, putting and picnic areas. The largest of the parks is Sutton Park making it the largest urban nature reserve in Europe. Birmingham Botanical Gardens are a Victorian creation, with a conservatory and bandstand, close to the city centre. The Winterbourne Botanic Garden, maintained by the University of Birmingham, is also located close to the city centre. The city centre includes of numerous public squares among them are Centenary Square, Chamberlain Square and Victoria Square. The historic Old Square is located on Corporation Street. Rotunda Square and St Martin's Square are two of the newest squares in Birmingham. The Library of Birmingham is the new home for the largest municipal library in Europe. The former Birmingham Central Library, opened in 1972, was considered to be the largest municipal library in Europe. Healthcare The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Edgbaston houses the largest critical care unit in Europe. There are several major National Health Service hospitals in Birmingham. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, adjacent to the Birmingham Medical School in Edgbaston, houses the largest critical care unit in Europe,and is also the home of the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, treating military personnel injured in conflict zones. Museums and galleries Birmingham has two major public art collections Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. The council also owns other museums in the city such as Aston Hall, Blakesley Hall, the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Soho House and Sarehole Mill. The Birmingham Back to Backs are the last surviving court of back-to-back houses in the city. Cadbury World is a museum showing visitors the stages and steps of chocolate production and the history of chocolate and the company. Thinktank is Birmingham's main science museum, with a giant screen cinema, a planetarium and a collection that includes the Smethwick Engine, the world's oldest working steam engine.