A mate emailed this list to me a while ago and I was reminded of it last night. It's a list compiled by the Birmingham Evening Mail back in May 2011 of the 100 best things about Birmingham. Please note I am thrilled to be more popular than the Birmingham Outer Circle Bus route.
Top 100
100. Jamelia - R&B singer, model, TV presenter, actress.99. The Bull - Tourist attraction standing at 2.2m and weighing six tonnes.
98. Carl Chinn MBE - Birmingham historian.
97. Birmingham Science Museum - Museum On Newhall Street from 1951 to 1997
96. King Kong - Statue in the 1970s
95. The Birmingham Outer Circle bus route - The number 11 bus. Hosts the BRMB 27-mile Walkathon.
94. Birmingham City University - began life in 1971 as Birmingham Polytechnic.
93. Steve Winwood - Musician in bands including Blind Faith, plus Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech.
92. Les Ross MBE - Local radio DJ.
91. Birmingham pubs - Brummies love their beer – fact.
90. John Salt - Artist who paints precision-perfect portraits of cars.
89. Mike Gayle - Novelist.
88. Snobs Nightclub - underground club on the corner of Paradise Circus and Queensway.
87. Ian Lavender - Actor who played Private Pike in Dad’s Army.
86. The Glee Club - Now a small chain of club across the country.
85. Thinktank - Birmingham’s new science museum.
84. Toyah Willcox - Singer, actress, writer and television presenter.
83. The Barber Institute of Fine Arts - Art gallery
82. Cat Deeley - TV presenter.
81. Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre - Hosts touring theatre, music and comedy.
80. Trevor Eve - Actor.
79. Birmingham clubs - Includes the former Rum Runner nightclub that is synonymous with Duran Duran.
78. Charlie Hall - Carpenter turned actor was born in 1899.
77. Library of Birmingham - Designed by Dutch architects Mecanoo.
76. Mike Skinner - Rapper from West Heath.
75. Judas Priest - Rock band
74. The Lickey Hills -Cover 524 acres and provide a rich habitat for wildlife.
73. China Town - Based around Hurst Street and Pershore Street.
72. Moseley Folk Festival - Mix of traditional, contemporary and experimental folk and acoustic music.
71. Martin Shaw - Actor.
70. BRMB Walkathon - A 26-mile sponsored walk for charity.
69. Birmingham Pride - A when the city's gay and lesbian community takes to the streets.
68. BSA - Small Arms Company that also produced motorbikes.
67. Bill Oddie - Comedian, actor and writer.
66. The Belfry - Golf course.
65. National Sea Life Centre - Boasts a million litre underwater tank, 4D cinema and over 1,000 creatures.
64. Birmingham Half Marathon - 13-mile race around the streets of Birmingham.
63. Alfred Bird / The Custard Factory - Inventor of egg-free custard in 1837.
62. Brindleyplace - 17 acre site home to shops, bars, restaurants and offices.
61. Sutton Park - 2,400 acres with a seven-mile perimeter.
60. The Chamberlain Family - Dynasty with businessman, politician, and statesman Joseph.
59. Glynn Purnell - Chef
58. Spaghetti Junction - Major motorway intersection, Birmingham’s is believed to be the first.
57. Ocean Colour Scene - Rock band.
56. The Rotunda - Cylindrical high rise landmark.
55. Electric Light Orchestra - Rock band.
54. The Ikon Gallery - Contemporary art gallery.
53. Birmingham Botanical Gardens - Offers more than ‘175 years of plants.
52. Birmingham Repertory Theatre - Theatre with 100 history.
51. The Iron Man - Public piece of art.
50. Pre-Raphaelite Collection at BM&AG - Art collection.
49. Benjamin Zephaniah - Poet.
48. Cannon Hill Park - A source of healthful recreation.
47. Murray Walker - Voice of motor racing for the best part of 50 years.
46. The Mailbox and The Cube - Shopping center.
45. The markets - 140 stalls, six million visitors a year.
44. Birchfield Harriers AC / Alexandra Stadium - Athletic venue.
43. The accent - makes Brummies unique.
42. TISWAS - 1970s children Saturday morning TV.
41. Pebble Mill - BBC Edgbaston studios.
40. James Brindley - Canal engineer.
39. Duran Duran - Resident band during the late 70s/Early 80s. Sold more than 80 million records worldwide.
38. Fort Dunlop - Former Dunlop Rubber tyre factory and main offices.
37. Aston University - Founded in 1895.
36. Aston Hall - Grade I listed Jacobean Mansion.
35. Edgbaston Cricket Ground / Warwickshire CCC - Cricket Club.
34. Birmingham Royal Ballet - Internationally recognised for classics such as The Sleeping Beauty.
33. Oscar Deutsch - Founded metals firm Deutsch and Brenner in Harford Street, Hockley.
32. Jasper Carrott OBE - Comedian.
31. The canals - At its peak the city canals totalled about 160 miles.
30. The Bullring - Shopping center.
29. MG cars - Car manufactures.
28. University of Birmingham - Founded in Edgbaston in 1900.
27. The Electric Cinema - Britain’s oldest working cinema.
26. The Archers - Radio show with more than five million fans.
25. JRR Tolkien - poet, author, philologist and university prof, writer of The Lord Of The Rings.
24. Birmingham Hippodrome - venue for touring shows.
23. West Bromwich Albion - Football Club.
22. HP Sauce - Sauce that remains an icon of the Great British dinner table.
21. The Spitfire - Second World War plane designed by RJ Mitchell.
20. The Golden Mile - Area of bars and nightclubs.
19. The Staffordshire Hoard - Largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork.
18. Matthew Bolton - Key figure in the Industrial Revolution.
17. Frankfurt Christmas Market - Market located in Chamberlain Square.
16. Tony Hancock - Actor, comedian.
15. Selfridges Birmingham - Landmark building.
14. The LG Arena at the N.E.C. - Host of concerts and sporting events.
13. CBSO / Symphony Hall - Renowned 90-piece ensemble.
12. Jaguar Land Rover - Car manufactures.
11. St. Patrick's Day Parade - 80,000 turn out to line the streets.
10. Town Hall - Modelled on the Temple of Castor.
09. Jewellery Quarter - Center for Jewellery.
08. UB40 - Pop group.
07. Birmingham City F.C. - Football Club.
06. The Mini - Motor car.
05. Aston Villa - Football Club.
04. Cadbury - Chocolate factory (place where Andy Wickett worked).
03. Ozzy Osbourne / Black Sabbath - Rock band.
02. The Balti - An Asian meal invented in Birmingham.
01. The People - The residents of Birmingham.
