Birmingham might not be the first place you think of for a romantic weekend away, but this bustling city is not to be underestimated.

It has a shopping scene to rival London, an excellent mix of old and new architecture and some fine dining to wow even the fussiest of foodies.

And for a central base to stay, the five and four star serviced apartments offered by Staying Cool at the Rotunda couldn’t be better placed.

Apartments come in four sizes – studios, one bed, two beds and two-bed penthouses.

And if you think the apartment names sound familiar – Minis, Clubmans, Maxis and Roadsters – you’d be right. They’ve all been named after famous cars made down the road at Longbridge.

An hour or so from London on the train to New Street and you’re there with the Rotunda – a striking glass tube stretching up into the sky – right on the station doorstep.

We stayed in a one-bedroom Clubman apartment on the 19th floor, complete with spacious living area, en-suite bathroom and kitchen.

With its bank of floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over a spectacular cityscape, you might have to drag yourself outside, but it will be worth the effort.

Just outside the Rotunda and you’re in the heart of the city with the Bullring shopping centre and its plethora of retail big-hitters including Selfridges just a two-minute walk away.

Further out there’s the Mailbox which is home to Harvey Nichols and a selection of eating places and bars along the canal front.

Talking of canals, the city has more than Venice with 56 kilometres of waterways and is also one of the greenest cities in the UK with more than 8,000 acres of green spaces and parks.

As for food, Birmingham and balti cuisine go hand in hand, but you might not know the city has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other in the UK outside London.

And if all that’s not enough to keep you entertained, outside the city centre there’s Cadbury World, the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park and Drayton Manor a drive away in Staffordshire.

Fans of BBC’s Peaky Blinders may also be interested to visit the award-winning Black Country Living Museum in Dudley. The open air museum not only offers a glimpse into 300 years of history, but was also the base for some scenes in all three series.

It’s on my to-do list next time – if I can drag myself away from the Rotunda’s stunning views, that is.

---

Accommodation details:

Gemma stayed in a Clubman suite in the Grade II listed Rotunda

Prices start from £129 per apartment per night. Lower rates for longer stays.

Clubman suites come with king size beds, free Wi-fi, Sky TV, proper coffee and fresh milk and oranges to use in the juicer.

You can also order supplies for breakfast, midnight munchies and a bottle of champagne.

For more information or to book visit www.stayingcool.com

---

Planning a trip to Birmingham? Here's some diary dates:

June 18: The free City of Colours Street Art Festival is one of the UK’s largest celebrations of graffiti, street art and urban culture.

June 13-19: The Aegon Classic tennis tournament is held at the Edgbaston Priory Club each year and hails the start of the summer tennis season.

June 21-25: The BE festival celebrates the best of European theatre.