Birmingham in the West Midlands is the second most populous city in The UK and forms part of the third most populous urban area. Historically part of Warwickshire, Birmingham has been part of the metropolitan county of The West Midlands since 1974.
The city has a diverse population and is renowned for its large Asian communities. Having lost many of its buildings in the blitz of WWII, Birmingham has recently undergone something of an image change, with recent developments such as the Bullring and the city library showcasing bold modern architecture.
As with the majority of UK towns, Birmingham's economy is centered around the service industry. However the city has traditionally been an important centre of industry and innovation with such important technological advancements as the industrial steam engine invented in Birmingham. Where once the city was a transport hub thanks to its canal network, it is now a hub on the UK road network and served by several important arterial roads and motorways.
The city is home to a large student population and has the developed nightlife and social scene associated with this as well as a fantastic reputation for Asian cuisine and several notable sports teams.
Housing in Birmingham is considerably more affordable than in London and the south east of England and as a result attracts a lot of first time buyers looking to live and work in a major city and get on the property ladder at the same time.
