With Visit Rwanda becoming Aston Villa's new principal partner and front-of-shirt sponsor, Rwanda's tourism brand is now linked to one of England's most historic football clubs and its home city Birmingham. Here is what you need to know about the city the ‘Villans’ call home. ALSO READ: Aston Villa unveils Visit Rwanda as front-of-shirt sponsor England's second-largest city Birmingham, England's second-largest city after London, is home to more than 1.1 million people and is located in the West Midlands, at the heart of the United Kingdom. Known as the City of a Thousand Trades, it earned the nickname during the Industrial Revolution, when thousands of skilled craftspeople produced everything from jewellery and buttons to steam engines and precision tools. Today, Birmingham is one of Britain's leading centres for business, manufacturing, higher education and innovation. It is home to prestigious institutions such as the University of Birmingham, Aston University, and Birmingham City University, making it a hub for research, entrepreneurship and technology. ALSO READ: Aston Villa: What to know about Visit Rwanda’s new tourism partner A city of culture and diversity Birmingham is one of the UK's most multicultural cities, with residents from more than 180 nationalities. The diversity is reflected in its festivals, music, cuisine and everyday life. The city is famous for creating the Balti curry, a dish that originated in Birmingham's Balti Triangle and has become one of Britain's best-known culinary specialties. It also boasts one of the country's highest numbers of Michelin-starred restaurants outside London. Football at the heart of the city Football is deeply embedded in Birmingham's culture. The city is home to Aston Villa, founded in 1874, and Birmingham City FC, whose rivalry is among England's oldest local derbies. Aston Villa remains one of England's most successful clubs, having won seven English league titles, seven FA Cups, the European Cup in 1982, and most recently the UEFA Europa League in 2026, marking the club's second major European trophy. The Visit Rwanda partnership is expected to strengthen ties between Rwanda and Birmingham by promoting tourism, investment and cultural exchanges through one of the world's most-watched football leagues. Landmarks and global reputation Beyond football, Birmingham is known for the Bullring Shopping Centre, the historic Jewellery Quarter, the Library of Birmingham, and a canal network that stretches farther than Venice's. The city also hosted the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
