With its position right in the heart of the West Midlands, Birmingham stays well connected with giant exhibition centres, fine dining and thriving commerce. The old manufacturing hub now leads in advanced engineering, business, professional and financial services. Canals and back-to-back houses hark back to an industrial past. There's no limit to delegate numbers at conventions and expos at huge-capacity venues like the central ICC or the NEC. Retail therapy goes high-end at the aluminium-fronted Bullring shopping centre inspired by sequin dresses and the high-carat Jewellery Quarter. Michelin-starred dining gets inventive at Purnell's and down-to-earth at Turner's restaurants. Treat colleagues to away days at chocolatey Cadbury's World and overs at Edgbaston.