These are just some of the attractions that are well worth a visit if you make a trip to The Old Crown with an approximate distance included as a helpful guide. To get a comprehensive list of everything Birmingham has to offer, please visit the official tourism web site at beinbirmingham.com.

BullRing (approx. distance: 0.5miles or 0.8km)
Birmingham’s newest shopping destination, and the most exhilarating city retail experience you’ll have anywhere in Europe. Look out for the landmark futuristic Selfridges store (see images left) and the beautifully restored St. Martin's church.

Built at a cost of over £500 million, Bullring brings over 140 shops, boutiques and restaurants into the centre of the city. It reintroduces some of Birmingham’s traditional streets and creates a stimulating, glass covered environment where you can shop, eat or just be seen.

Visit their web site

Arcadian Centre and China Town (approx. distance: 0.7 miles or 1.1 km)
The Arcadian and the local Chinese community have a very special relationship. The centre was built amid the established Chinese Quarter of Birmingham and has grown to be an intrinsic part of it. An array of bars, restaurants, a hotel and speciality shops make up a cosmopolitan mix that has proved to be a popular 'alternative' destination for locals and visitors alike.

Visit their web site

Hippodrome Theatre (approx. distance: 0.8 miles or 1.2 km)
The Birmingham Hippodrome has a proud history of presenting the very best in arts and entertainment for the people of Birmingham and the wider region.

Since 1899, the theatre has survived some tempestuous times, welcoming the biggest names in the business and bringing the city the broadest range of outstanding performances and events. Having completed an award-winning £30 million redevelopment in 2001, it's sights are now set on an even more ambitious future.

Visit their web site

Custard Factory (approx. distance: 0 miles or 0 km – next to The Old Crown)
The Custard Factory, Birmingham's revolutionary new arts and media quarter is a 5-acre sprawl of riverside factories built 100 years ago by Sir Alfred Bird, the inventor of custard. It was taken over in 1990 and has been transformed into a whole new inner city neighbourhood – intricate, fine grained and threaded by green spaces, fountains and sculpture.

The award-winning first phase is home to a dynamic bohemian community of 500 artists and small creative enterprises. The affordable studio workshops are complemented by a restaurant, antique shops, meeting rooms, dance studios, holistic therapy rooms, art galleries, the achingly stylish Medicine Bar and the electrifying Air nightclub, home of Godskitchen. Phase two, completed in the summer of 2002 comprises a hundred studio/offices, a ring of lakeside shops, galleries and restaurants plus the Green Man, a towering 40 ft sculpture made of earth, fire and water (see images left). Future plans include a small luxury hotel, live/work apartments, a riverside walk, a new bridge, a perfumed garden for the blind and a 40,000 sq ft international design/exhibition centre.

The Custard Factory is already a remarkable project. Soon it will take its place as the largest and most exciting concentration of artistic and creative activity in Europe.

Visit their web site

Cadbury World (approx. distance: 5.2 miles or 8.4 km)
Enjoy the taste of Cadbury's chocolate, and discover its history and origins at this unique venue. Packed with chocolately information and fun, for an event everyone will remember. Learn the story of chocolate from its discovery by Aztecs in the jungles of South America to how it is made today (you can even watch a copy of production line in action aand taste the end product!). Huge chocolate shop, refreshments. Very busy during school holidays, pre-booking is essential.

Visit their web site

The National Sealife Centre (approx. distance: 1.4 miles or 2.3 km)
Over 55 fascinating displays, café and gift shop. Exciting close encounters with marvels of marine life from shrimps to sharks, octopus to eels. A full programme of feeding demonstrations, talks and special presentations. Entertainment and enjoyment for all ages. Come and go as you please, your ticket covers all facilities all day. Fast food restaurant serving hot and cold food and hot and cold drinks, snacks and specials. Small gift shop with a range of sea-life merchandise. Disabled access throughout the centre including disabled toilets and lifts. Baby changing facilities available an soft play area. Look out for the The Seahorse Breeding and Conservation Centre, The Otter Sanctuary and the 360 degree Ocean Tunnel that offers fantastic underwater views of the giant Sea Turtles as well as many other creatures.

Visit their web site

Millennium Point (approx. distance: 0.8 miles or 1.2 km)
Millennium Point is a huge and dramatic building which houses Thinktank, the Birmingham museum of science and discovery, the region's first large format IMAX® Theatre, the Technology Innovation Centre, The University of the First Age, the Young People's Parliament, and commercial leisure, retail and office space around a stunning public mall – the hub. Entrance to the hub is free and there is a 700 space car park with spaces for disabled drivers, as well as a wheel-chair friendly environment.

Visit their web site

Irish Club (approx. distance: 0.1 miles or 0.2 km)
The Irish Club, formerly the Irish Centre, has been the focal point for the Irish community for many years. The Irish Welfare and Information Centre is now located at the Irish Club.

The Irish Club also provides a wide range of entertainment including concerts, comedians and the best bands around. There are also four function suites available for hire which can cater for 30 to 300 people and are fully licensed until 2am, Monday to Saturday. There is also a full Catering and Banqueting service, with a wide variety of menus to suit all tastes available. Function suites are also suitable for conferences, meetings, seminars, training events and corporate events. The Ulster Suite is also available to promoters/event organisers for concerts and theatrical performances and can accommodate up to 500 people. The Club also want to hear from up and coming Irish bands (trad, celtic rock, folk, blues, rock etc.) looking for a gig and anyone interested in staging Irish drama, Irish storytelling, Irish art & crafts, Irish music and any aspect of Irish culture. Interested? Please call Celia/Jack/Queenie on 0121 622 2314, email irish.club@btconnect.com

Visit their web site

Birmingham City Football Club (approx. distance: 1.2 miles or 1.9 km)
Birmingham City's roots can be traced back to cricket when, in 1875, a group of cricketers formed the Small Heath Alliance to further their interest in alternative sports, namely football. The club turned professional in 1885 bit it wasn't until 1905 – and after it's rapid expansion – that it became known by the name we know today: Birmingham City Football Club.

The Blues moved their current St Andrews ground the following year in 1906, and by 1931 they were making their first appearance at Wembley – losing 2-1 to local rivals West Brom in the FA Cup final. 1946 was one of the club's most successful years as they picked up the Football League Championships and got to the semi-finals of the FA Cup; their first Second Division title followed in 1948. Promotion was gained to the top flight in 1955 as a result of winning the title again under Arthur Turner, and their best ever season followed in 1955/56 when the Blues finished 6th in Division One and ended up with FA Cup runners up medals.

The following year Birmingham became the first ever club to play in Europe when they met Barcelona in the Fairs Cup final, losing 4-1. Cup success finally arrived in 1963 when they faced local rivals Aston Villa in the League Cup final; the Blues winning 3-1 on aggregate and picking up the trophy at Villa Park was particularly sweet for supporters. Fans had a long wait until 2002 for their next success in a major final when they finally achieved trophy success in the First Division play-offs and qualification to the Barclaycard Premiership at the fourth time of asking.

Visit their web site