7 Days. 2N BIRMINGHAM 4* (BB) | 4N LONDON 4* (BB)

About the destination: Birmingham, Britain’s second-largest city, was the beating heart of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, making it especially appealing for anyone interested in industrial heritage. Today, ambitious urban regeneration and a more outward-looking cultural scene give the city a fresh, dynamic feel that captivates visitors. The city’s story is a compelling one. In the ‘Birmingham: its people, its history’ galleries, you can explore how Birmingham’s industrial might and its diverse communities have shaped its global identity. These galleries sit within the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, home to one of the finest collections of Pre-Raphaelite art anywhere in the world. For a hands-on dive into science and technology, head to Thinktank Science Museum. Its ten themed galleries are packed with interactive exhibits, there’s a digital planetarium to explore the universe, and an outdoor science garden that’s great for all ages. Birmingham’s modern skyline has its own icons too. The Selfridges building, with its bold, futuristic curves and shimmering façade, is one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. Right beside it stands the much older St Martin’s Church. Its striking Gothic architecture forms a dramatic contrast with the ultra-modern Bullring shopping complex and Selfridges, and the interplay between old and new here is well worth taking time to appreciate. To see Birmingham from a different angle, take to the water. The city has more miles of canal than Venice, and a boat trip along these historic waterways reveals unexpected views, peaceful corners and a very different side of the city. When you’re ready to swap city streets for green space, make for the Lickey Hills, a lovely range of wooded hills just outside Birmingham. This is a perfect spot for an easy walk among mature trees and local wildlife, and the landscape is said to have inspired J.R.R. Tolkien in creating the world of The Lord of the Rings. Alongside its impressive museums and galleries, Birmingham now boasts an ever-growing food scene, from high-end dining to relaxed street food, as well as stylish cocktail bars and buzzing waterside pubs and restaurants. Welcoming, diverse and constantly evolving, Birmingham has firmly established itself as one of Britain’s most exciting city-break destinations.

About the destination: Of all the European capitals, London resonates most profoundly in the minds of travellers. We soak up London before we even realise it exists and when we finally approach the city, it doesn't let us down. There are the red double-deckers, the bobbies and stoic guards at Buckingham, Westminster Abbey, and the chimes of Big Ben, sounding familiar, as we've heard them before. We see these things with a sense of satisfaction. Yet there's plenty to surprise. London isn't quaint. London isn't a museum, though you could spend all your time hopping from one to the next. It's a bustling, urban sprawl, with traffic jams, shops, and a remarkable international population. Visit the many monuments with nearly a millennium's worth of history, from Chaucer's grave to the pub where the captain of the Mayflower had a pint to Piccadilly Circus, one of London’s most snapped sights. But don’t overlook modern London, with its intensely active theatres, international cuisine, political protests, the latest in music and fashion, punks and peers, and everyone in between. In 1777, writer Samuel Johnson said when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life, and the phrase still rings true. There's something different to experience every day in London.