BIRMINGHAM - THE SITES by Andrew Ralph (Year 10)
Birmingham in general is a nice city. Birmingham has a good transport network including rail, road, canal and air.
In the centre of the city there are buildings like the International Convention Centre which is where most big conferences are held. They also have the Symphony Hall, which holds the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (C.B.S.O.)
The next building is the National Exhibition Centre or the (N.E.C.) is where most big shows come e.g.
Shows include the C.B.B.C. big-bash which is a show put on by the BBC catering for children. Other include the Home Computer Show and the Ideal Home Exhibition.
Suddenly it's not so far from the coast. The new National Sea-Life Centre is bringing Britain's seaside to Birmingham
The centre, which has cost £5.5 million to build has been dubbed the jewel in the crown of the Brindley Place office and leisure complex.
It is the biggest aquarium centre in Europe, filled with more than 3,000 creatures and more than 100 species from crustaceans to conger eels. Also it has the world's first 360 degree see-through tunnel which allows visitors to walk though a huge ocean display filled with fish including native British sharks.
Thrilled visitors will be given the impression of being under water as sharks and rays pass overhead, alongside and even beneath their feet.
A giant tube forms the centre section of a 21.5 metre tunnel which runs though the centre of a one-million litre display of various large British sea creatures
.Shipped 6,000 miles from Japan. The 100 mm. thick acrylic tube had to be secretly craned into its resting position. I was expecting to be able to walk on the transparent tube but it had a steel plate on the bottom. That was disappointing but my advice is to go there.
I want to know your views on the city of Birmingham because in a survey of towns that are good to go to, Birmingham was not listed.
You can speak on anything to do with Birmingham. If you have visited the city or lived in Birmingham tell us what you think. If you live in the city tell us what would make Birmingham a good place to visit.
Send your comments to:
sirwilf@rmplc.co.uk