The Jewellery Quarter’s most famous museum dedicated to Birmingham’s jewellery making heritage was not only recently ranked top of 144 attractions in Birmingham but in the world’s top ( free) tourist attractions.

Situated in Vyse Street, Hockley, Birmingham, B18 - the Museum rubs shoulders with the likes of the Pantheon in Rome and Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral in the survey carried out by Trip Advisor.com.

The European list is as follows :

1. Pantheon, Rome

2. The National Gallery, London

3. Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, England

4. Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris

5. Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, Brussels

6. Dumomo, Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence

7. Retiro park, Madrid

8. Westminster Abbey, London

9. St. Mark’s Basilica, Venice

10. The Giant’s Causeway, Bushmills, N.Ireland

The Museum is situated in the former home of the Smith & Pepper jewellery manufacturing firm, which ceased trading in 1981, with the museum preserving the workshop as a  “time capsule” to a bygone age. The Museum tells the story of the 200-year-old Jewellery Quarter and the ancient craft skills still practised in the workshop that made the area famous throughout the world.

For those interested the 10 top U.S. attractions are as follows :

1. Bellagio Fountains, Las Vegas

2. Arlington National Cemetery, VA

3. Waimea Canyon, Kaui, Hawaii

4. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

5. Angel’s landing, Zion National Park, Utah

6. USS Arizona Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii

7. Pacific Coast Highway, Route 1 California

8. U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington D.C.

9. The Freedom Trail, Boston

10. Central Park, New York

Plans for a working museum showcasing Birmingham’s role in the silver manufacturing industry have moved a step closer to reality.

Tourists will be able to visit the former premises of silversmiths J W Evans & Son in the Jewellery Quarter and watch modern craftsmen use late 19th century equipment and machinery if a proposal by English Heritage is approved.

The heritage watchdog has bought a terrace of three-storey Victorian houses in Albion Street, which were the site of the firm’s silver manufactory from 1882 to 2008, along with more than 170 original tools, and intends to restore the buildings to their original character……More

PLANS to bulldoze six empty buildings in the Jewellery Quarter before an agreement has been reached about redeveloping the site would set a bad precedent and could result in land remaining unused and fenced-off by hoardings for years, Birmingham planners warned.

The city council insists that developers sign contracts committing to a timescale for replacement before demolition in conservation areas is permitted   - To right say I………Full Story

The Jamhouse, the stylish live music venue in the Jewellery Quarter is certainly gaining credibility with the quality of it’s guest performers. Most recently the old historic Georgian building saw the former Texas leade singer Sharleen Spiteri grace the venue ………. more

Ann from the U.S. is looking for information on Winston Elizabeth & Windsor who recently made and sold more than 300 limited edition commemorative silver coins to the Democratic Party to hand out to key members of the campaign to elect Obama prior to him becoming the next president of the United States of America.  More Info

No surprise there then! - Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter has been voted the best urban neighbourhood in the UK by top architects and designers - beating such competition as Nottingham’s Lacemarket and Stockbridge in Edinburgh.  Judges were impressed by the area’s distinctive buildings, emphasis on small businesses and partnership between residents and traders. Dating back 250 years, the conservation area has more than 200 listed buildings, 400 jewellery businesses and 3,500 residents - Read More

Then why not visit the now famous Frankfurt Christmas Market which is held in Victoria Square/Upper New St area - which just happens to be only a few minutes walk from the Jewellery Quarter.

Now in its eighth year the Frankfurt Christmas Market is expected to attract more than two million visitors to the city during its six-week run and as a result the market is now the world’s largest authentic German Christmas market to be staged outside of Germany or Austria.  If you have not visited such a market then you are really missing out on a unique part of the build up to Christmas.  On a personal note, whilst living in Nuremburg in Bavaria, Germany - a highlight of Christmas was always attending the world famous ” Nuremburg Christkindlesmarkt ” So now you to can experience Christmas on your doorstep - Read More

Apparently, the Birmingham Council’s long term aim is to help Birmingham break into the world’s top 20 cities  ( according to the international Mercer Quality of Life index ) For the record, Birmingham is currently a joint 56th with Glasgow with London being ranked 38th. - To do so it would surely need the help of the Jewellery Quarter!  - What do you think?

Birmingham’s famous Newman Brothers’ coffin fitting works is another step closer to being transformed into a visitor attraction and creative workspaces after councillors gave the go ahead to development plans - Full Story