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here’s a lot more to Birmingham than meets the eye – especially if you’re used to seeing it from the M6 motorway, which many people are.

While thousands whizz straight past Britain’s second city every hour, on their way north or south, they’re missing out on some fabulous shopping, delicious food – and cutting edge contemporary art.

There are also some rather cool apartments just minutes away from Birmingham’s best cultural and shopping hotspots, meaning you can start the day with some retail therapy at the Bullring, where 160 shops are bursting at the seams with gorgeous (and some not so gorgeous) clothes. French Connection, DKNY, Ben Sherman and All Saints are only some of the names you’ll recognise as you stroll around.

It’s also home to a space-age Selfridges store – the alien-looking metallic blob with a space-age glass walkway leading up to it.

However, you don’t have to spend money in this city to have a good time – reassuring news if you’re trying to be good this month. Head to the Ikon gallery at Oozells Street School and you can check out the latest and greatest in contemporary art, free of charge.

There’s a hip South American cantina called Bodega just a few streets away too, where you can dip into a wide range of Mexican street foods or fragrant Cuban dishes and debate the greatest of questions: Is it art?