Places of Interest
The city centre contains many tourist destinations as well as landmarks. Brindleyplace, a regeneration scheme by Argent Group PLC, regenerated an area of derelict warehouses alongside canals near Broad Street. The final phase of the scheme, Eleven Brindleyplace, is under construction. Brindleyplace consists of three public squares, offices, retail units and the Sea Life Centre. Oozells Street Board School was refurbished to become the Ikon Gallery. On the opposite side of Broad Street Tunnel on the canal network is Gas Street Basin. Nearby is also the International Convention Centre and Birmingham Symphony Hall, which is considered one of the best performance venues in the world. This overlooks Centenary Square and is adjacent to the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Centenary Square was redeveloped in 1989 and given its current name in that year. Within Centenary Square is the Hall of Memory and Baskerville House.
Other public squares in the city centre include Victoria Square, Chamberlain Square and Old Square. There are two public squares within the Bull Ring complex and another in the Custard Factory.
Retail is mainly focussed on the Bullring Shopping Centre, Corporation Street, New Street and High Street. There are other shopping centres in the city centre such as The Mailbox on Suffolk Street and the Pallasades Shopping Centre above New Street station. Great Western Arcade is one of several arcades in the city centre. Digbeth is the focus for many independent retailers. Broad Street is the main centre for Birmingham's nightlife. There are further nightclubs in Digbeth.
Cultural attractions include Birmingham Central Library in Chamberlain Square and Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and the Council House, Birmingham in the same building together with the clock tower, Big Brum. Thinktank opened in the Millennium Point complex in Eastside in 2002, replacing the Museum of Science and Industry on Newhall Street. The history of the Jewellery Quarter is documented in the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter. Also in the Jewellery Quarter is the Colony art gallery, the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists and St. Paul's Gallery. A group of back-to-back houses on Hurst Street were restored by the National Trust. The Birmingham Back to Backs are the last surviving court of back to back houses in the city.
Colmore Row is the centre of the Colmore Row and Environs Conservation Area which consists of St. Philip's Cathedral. The Jewellery Quarter is also covered by a conservation area. Other quarters in the city centre are the Chinese Quarter, Irish Quarter and Learning and Technology Quarter.
Read more about this topic: Birmingham City Centre
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