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Shopping for jewellery in the Jewellery Quarter

Classic wedding bands, trendy silver or gold bracelets and other sparkling beauty – the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham is the best place to find that perfect souvenir or gift. For generations, jewellers in this district have been crafting the most beautiful handmade jewellery in England. And the closer to the source, the lower the price tag.

Arts & Culture

Strolling through history

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the city lies a charming green oasis: St. Paul's Square. The tree-lined square is a favourite destination for a picnic or to relax at one of the patios to watch the shoppers. The main attraction on the square is St. Paul's Church, also nicknamed the Jeweller’s church, which was built in 1779. If you are hungry, you will find plenty of food options in and around the square: 'bangers-and-mash' in a British pub or a spicy curry at an Indian restaurant. The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, further down on Vyse Street, is undoubtedly one of the most authentic spots in the area. This used to be the Smith & Pepper goldsmith’s shop, until the owners decided to retire in 1981. They simply walked out and locked the door, hanging their dirty overalls on a hook and leaving their tools scattered across the workbenches. Their legacy has been transformed into a remarkable museum that tells the history of the Jewellery Quarter through authentic artefacts and presentations.

A smart move

Back in the 17th and 18th century, the forges in Birmingham were doing a booming business. Buttons, bottle caps, buckles, pins and metal toys – you name it, it was made here. In 1780, the neighbourhood also boasted 26 goldsmiths. They cleverly managed to establish a name for themselves: in 1845, a group of representatives travelled to Buckingham Palace with a set of jewellery to convince Queen Victoria of their craftsmanship. And with great success, as the Jewellery Quarter became the main supplier of valuable jewellery in the British Empire. By the end of the 19th century, the city counted more than 700 workshops. Even today, 40% of all British jewellery is made in Birmingham.

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Arts & Culture

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Active & Outdoor

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Arts & Culture

Houston and Dallas may be bigger and more famous, but Austin is in fact the capital of Texas. It’s also the least Texan city in Texas. And the weirdest city in the country. This is something its residents take pride in, as evidenced by the Austin motto of Keep Austin Weird! Have a peek inside weird houses or admire a cathedral of junk in a city where there is even a museum devoted entirely to the weird and strange.

Nightlife

When it comes to music, you might be inclined to think New Orleans (jazz), Memphis (rock ‘n’ roll), Chicago (blues) or Nashville (country), but Austin is actually the music capital of the US. The city boasts over 250 music venues, more than any other American city. You can choose from countless live performances and a fantastic music festival every month, such as SXSW. Austin lives and breathes music.

Beach, Water sports, Nature

The airport in Liberia is the gateway to the Province of Guanacaste, the sunniest part of Costa Rica. Thanks to its large number of snow-white buildings and tree-lined streets made of white gravel, the city itself is also referred to as ‘la ciudad blanca’. But, let’s be honest, most visitors who arrive here are primarily interested in white sand. Only a half hour by car from the airport is the fantastic Pacific coast with beaches that are postcard perfect.

Nature

In the Rincón de la Vieja National Park, you can hike, swim in natural hot springs, picnic and camp. The park features a variety of ecosystems around nine craters and 32 rivers with spectacular waterfalls during the rainy season. The diversity of flora and fauna is amazing: look up and chances are you’ll see toucans, sloths and monkeys in the treetops.

Active & Outdoor

Old towns, stunning constructions and wonderful nature: admire all of this and more in THIS IS HOLLAND, a brand-new 5D movie attraction by the producers of De Nieuwe Wildernis (The New Wilderness). It is the perfect introduction to Holland for first-time visitors, but also an interesting surprise for Dutchies who think they know their country inside out. This is a magical 5D experience with smells, colours, images, sounds, rain and shine.

Culinary

Everyone in Sweden knows Småland as the nation’s culinary centre. The region’s cuisine goes above and beyond the famous meatballs: a Michelin-star restaurant serves innovative Swedish haute cuisine, coffee is elevated to an art, and you can visit a lovely castle and pretend to be Lord or Lady of the manor. Here are three suggestions for typically Swedish restaurants in the city of Växjö.

Arts & Culture

Älmhult is the birthplace of renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus and children’s books author Astrid Lindgren, however its most famous ‘offspring’ is IKEA. Life in this southern Swedish town evolves around the blue-and-yellow furniture giant: from the IKEA Hotel and IKEA Museum to the IKEA Bar and IKEA Spa. Welcome to the one and only IKEA Småland – meatballs and ball pit included.