Library of Birmingham — Europe's largest public library, opened in September 2013. Designed by Francine Houben of Dutch firm Mecanoo Architecten, this £188.8 million, 60-metre-high "People's Palace" features a gold and silver double-metal ring filigree facade stacked like three-dimensional bookshelves, inspired by Birmingham's traditional metalwork heritage. The library houses over 1 million books, including more than 43,000 Shakespeare-related items — the second-largest Shakespeare collection in the world. The seventh-floor Secret Garden offers the best free panoramic viewpoint in the city, while the ninth-floor Shakespeare Memorial Room preserves the complete Victorian wood-panelled study from the old Central Library built in 1882. A one-day in-depth tour covers architectural highlights, garden viewpoints, rare book exploration and a stroll through the surrounding cultural district.
From the geometric beauty of gold and silver filigree architecture to the panoramic cityscape from the Secret Garden, step into Europe's largest public library and experience the perfect fusion of knowledge and modern design
In the morning, walk about 5 minutes from Birmingham New Street station to Centenary Square, where a golden mega-structure stacked like "three gift boxes" comes into view — this is the Library of Birmingham designed by Dutch architect Francine Houben. The facade is covered in a gold and silver double-metal ring filigree structure, inspired by Birmingham's proud tradition of metal craftsmanship, with sunlight streaming through the rings casting shifting patterns of light and shadow on the ground. Stepping inside, the five-storey-high circular rotunda is breathtaking — a giant glass skylight floods natural light down, bookshelves rise layer upon layer around the rotunda, and escalators spiral upward against blue neon lighting strips, like a staircase to the universe of knowledge. First, take the escalators floor by floor to experience the different spatial atmospheres and thematic collections of each level. Then head straight to the seventh-floor Secret Garden — push open the fire door and the scents of rosemary and lavender greet you, with the entire Birmingham skyline visible beyond fully transparent safety barriers — Victoria Square, the canals, the Council House all laid out before you. Finally, ascend to the ninth-floor Shakespeare Memorial Room, where the complete Victorian wood-panelled study from the 1882 old Central Library has been relocated in its entirety, housing 43,000 Shakespeare-related items including the rare 1623 First Folio. In the afternoon, enjoy jacket potatoes and Earl Grey tea at the Book Café on the ground floor, and browse the design-led library shop.
A bright café on the library's ground floor with arched windows overlooking Centenary Square, serving homemade soups, jacket potatoes, sandwiches and freshly brewed coffee. £5-10 per person — the ideal spot for a mid-visit rest or afternoon daydream.
A 10-minute walk from the library, this Victorian-era pub sits beside the canal. Signature fish and chips with a pint of bitter ale is the most authentic way to experience Birmingham's flavours, £12-18 per person.
Helmed by chef Aktar Islam, Birmingham's first Michelin-starred Indian restaurant. Slow-braised lamb shoulder with smoked aubergine purée and gold-leaf curry sauces are stunning. Eight-course tasting menu approx £95, book weeks in advance.
A seafood restaurant in Birmingham's Chinatown Arcadian Centre. The signature seafood boil bag (crab, prawns, corn, potatoes with garlic butter sauce) is messy and delicious, £15-25 per person. About a 10-minute walk from the library.