Birmingham is widely known as the UK's "second city", having risen to prominence in the Industrial Revolution as the "city of a thousand trades".

It has also made its mark internationally, hosting the G8 summit at the International Convention Centre in 1998 - the building constructed on the site of Bingley Hall, the world's first purpose-built exhibition hall.

As such it is the fourth-most visited city in terms of foreign travellers in the UK, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics.

Traditions & Culture in Birmingham

Birmingham has a culturally and ethnically diverse population of just over a million people.

As a result, there is a wide range of religious buildings within the city's confines - including St Philip's, a Church of England cathedral, the Roman Catholic Cathedral Basilica of Saint Chad, the Birmingham Central Mosque and a further mosque in the Sparkhill area of the city.

Another indication of the cultural diversity of Birmingham is the hosting of the Caribbean-style Birmingham International Carnival every year ending in an odd number.

Things to do in Birmingham

As a holiday guide, one of the main attractions in Birmingham is Cadbury World, which offers tours detailing the history of chocolate and the Cadbury company and an insight into the chocolate making process.

Other notable visitor attractions include the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Barber Institute of Fine Arts.

Further holiday information includes the fact that there are over 8,000 acres of parkland in the city.

Destinations further afield include Stratford-upon-Avon, with cheap car hire advisable if Shakespeare's birthplace is to be reached.

Alternatively, travellers could stay in one of the many value Birmingham hotels.

Weather in Birmingham

While Birmingham has been known to experience tornados - the most recent of which was in July 2005 - the weather is, in general, reflective of that which is found in the rest of the British Isles.

This means it has a temperate maritime climate, with the highest average temperatures recorded in the months of July and August at about 21C, and the lowest in January and February at around 6C.

That said, those looking to find flights online to Birmingham should also know that summer heat waves are becoming increasingly common, and the city's inland position and relatively high location means that snowfall is fairly prevalent - compared to the rest of England at least - during winter months.

Destination Check List for Birmingham

The population of Birmingham, England is just over a million, but there are over two million inhabitants in the wider West Midlands conurbation.

There is no time difference at all - Birmingham is on BST.

The official currency is the pound.

English is the official language spoken - although there is a local accent to get used to.

England's - and therefore Birmingham's - international dialling code is +44.