Birminghamis a majorcityandmetropolitan boroughin theWest Midlandsof England.A medium-sizedmarket townin the medieval period, Birmingham grew to international prominence in the 18th century at the heart of theMidlands Enlightenmentand subsequentIndustrial Revolution, which saw the town at the forefront of worldwide advances in science, technology and economic development, producing a series of innovations that laid many of the foundations of modernindustrial society.By 1791 it was being hailed as "the first manufacturing town in the world". It's distinctive economic profile, with thousands of small workshops practising a wide variety of specialised and highly skilled trades, encouraged exceptional levels of creativity and innovation and provided a diverse and resilient economic base for industrial prosperity that was to last into the final quarter of the 20th century. Perhaps the most important invention in British history, the industrial steam engine, was invented in Birmingham.
Birmingham's major cultural institutions – including theCity of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, theBirmingham Royal Ballet, theBirmingham Repertory Theatre, theLibrary of Birminghamand theBarber Institute of Fine Arts– enjoy international reputations,and the city has vibrant and influential grassroots art music, literary, and culinary scenes. The city isthe fourth-most visited city in the UK by foreign visitors and offers many wonderful things to its people and guests.