Second cities tend to get overlooked, and this is an injustice that has been going on for far too long. We’re not going to beat around the bush — ignore Birmingham at your peril. Few cities in the United Kingdom come close to the capital of the Midlands when it comes to community spirit, creativity and a bit of that good old-fashioned ‘up the jumper’ spirit.

Birmingham has experienced something of a revival in recent times, and some of the UK’s most fascinating architectural gems are now found in beautiful Brummagem. But for all the talk of regeneration and hard work, it is easy to forget just how gorgeous this city is. This is a place with more miles of canal than Venice, more secret bars than you could possibly believe, and more soul than a soul convention.

Brum has long been admired for its grit and graft, but its glory shan’t be ignored along the way. With a perfect position in the very centre of the United Kingdom, Birmingham continues to attract new ideas and new outlooks like a moth to flame. With some of the best food in the country, a strong sense of musical independence and all the shopping you could desire, it isn’t difficult to understand why.