City News

With some of the UK’s coolest shops and top restaurants, plus a lively programme of arts and culture, Birmingham is a great year-round choice for a city break.

Now visitors can stay in some of its most stylish accommodation at Brindleyplace, the buzzy new canal-side district right in the heart of the city where The Serviced Apartment Company SACO (0845-122 0405; www.sacoapartments.co.uk) is offering 35 luxury apartments.

Wide tree-lined walkways and fountain-filled squares, water-front restaurants, bars, art galleries and a theatre are all on the doorstep of the bright and contemporary high-rise apartments. Ranging from studios to double-height duplex suites, they all have amazing views over the city and are furnished and fitted out to the highest standard, offering much more flexibility and space than a hotel room.

Features include king-size bedrooms, luxury bathrooms, fully-equipped kitchens and separate lounge/dining areas. Many have spacious furnished terraces. Guests receive a welcome pack of food and drink and Molton Brown toiletries and have guaranteed car parking.

Prices from SACO (0845-122 0405; www.sacoapartments.co.uk) start at £117 per night for a studio apartment sleeping two, rising to £193 for a two-bedroom duplex apartment for four. There are discounts for longer stays.

Birmingham has been awarded Centre of Culture status due to the number of events staged there – including world-class opera, ballet and orchestral performances. It is also hard to beat for shopping, having a mixture of unique specialist shops, friendly markets and designer stores including Harvey Nichols. The newly-redeveloped Bull Ring, billed as ‘Europe’s newest shopping capital.’ is within a walk of Brindleyplace and other attractions on the doorstep include The National Sea Life centre, the Symphony Hall, the International Convention Centre, Raymond Blanc’s Brasserie Blanc and boat trips along the canals.