Birmingham

Little had changed here since the early 1900s when they finally closed their doors in 1981. — Fodor's

Almost as far from the sea as you can get in Britain (which isn't very far), this imaginatively landscaped aquarium allows a glimpse into Davey Jones's locker. — Fodor's

This agglomeration of four restored houses on a courtyard offers an extraordinary trip back in time, to the daily life of four familes in 1840, 1870, 1930 and 1970 respectively. — Michelin Guide

This ornate English estates "Prodigy House" still bears the cannonball marks of civil war.  — Atlas Obscura

Once a busy port, Gas Street Basin now attracts locals and tourists alike with its colourful canal boats, first-rate wandering territory and laid-back cafés and restaurants. — Time Out

In 1761, the industrialist Matthew Boulton purchased this Georgian building which towered over his factory. — Michelin Guide

In Edgbaston, these are the Midlands' answer to Kew, with grand Victorian glasshouses full of flowers, cacti, palms and a collection of bonsai. Take bus 10, 22 or 23. — Lonely Planet

The village of Bournville (4 miles south of the city center) contains this museum devoted to—what else?—chocolate. — Fodor's

Prepare to be thrilled, bemused or outraged, depending on your take on conceptual art. — Lonely Planet

It’s a fairly short tour, but there’s a charming tea shop and the mill is also slap bang next to the Shire Country Park – a huge chunk of beautiful greenery in the middle of the Birmingham suburbs. — Time Out

It still resides there now, open as a museum run by the Bournville Village Trust and giving visitors the chance to experience a small taste of the Tudor era. — Time Out

On the inside, huge stained-glass windows by Burne-Jones depict the birth of Christ, the Crucifixion, the Ascension and the Last Judgement. — Michelin Guide

Birmingham has been a major player on the British jewellery scene ever since Charles II brought back a taste for fancy buckles and sparkly brocade from France in the 17th century. — Lonely Planet