Based in the centre of England, Birmingham is the second city of the United Kingdom with a population of just over one million people (2006). Birmingham's population is a diverse mix of many cultures including the Indian subcontinent, South East Asia and more recently those from Eastern Europe. Birmingham also has a thriving Chinese quarter and a large Irish population which holds the biggest St. Patrick's Day Festival outside of Dublin and New York.

As the present time Birmingham has two Premiership football teams with Aston Villa at Villa Park located in the Aston area of the city and Birmingham City at St. Andrews in Small Heath.

Birmingham has a long and proud history and it is believed that the history of Birmingham goes back as far as the bronze age and evidence of Birmingham as a Saxon settlement can be seen in the town names that end in ley which means forest clearing. Names such as Yardley, Bordesley Green, Saltley and Moseley are indicative of the historic presence of the Saxons.