A city with a rich industrial heritage and birthplace of some of the world’s most famous brand names. It is rich in greenery with 571 parks more than any European city totalling over 3500 hectares. Birmingham is a city and Metropolitan Borough in the West Midlands. It is the second largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million. It is approximately 100 miles (160 km) from London. There are direct trains from London Euston which will get to Birmingham New Street in 42 minutes. Birmingham has received a massive face lift with a regeneration that has completely transformed the profile of Birmingham. What may have once been seen as a typically traditional city centre has been revitalised over the last 20 years – starting with the Bullring, now a 1.2 Million sq ft retail destination with over 39 million visitors annually. Now, with the redevelopment of Grand Central and New Street Station, as well as HS2, Paradise, Arena Central and Birmingham Smithfield on the horizon, Birmingham has a lot to shout about.