Birmingham

Birmingham doesn’t shout out about itself enough. With more canals than Venice, the UK’s second biggest city is a melting pot of culture, music, food and plenty of student life. With 5 universities, there’s a massive student population, and always something to do.

Food and Drink

Birmingham is famous for its food. Home of the Balti, there’s plenty of choice here without having to break the bank.

Balti Triangle - 4.5/5

Simply Birmingham’s most iconic food experience. The true birthplace of the Balti, the Triangle used to just be a cluster of curry houses, but these days it’s a major hotspot for all things food.

Bacchus Bar - 4.5/5

If you’re after some classic pub grub, Bacchus bar, tucked away underneath the city, is a great spot. High quality dishes and an interesting selection of premium ales and gins, at pretty reasonable prices, Bacchus Bar definitely worth checking out.

Digbeth Dining Club - 4.6/5

Street food central. Here you’ll find a world of choice, good vibes, and good music. Way bigger on the inside than you think too.

Damascena - 4.5/5

A wonderful little coffee shop, serving delicious Middle Eastern food and drink. Always popular, generally busy, but well worth the trip.

Boston Tea Party - 4.5/5

A great little student hub, perfect for brunch or pretending to study.

Whatever you’re after, Birmingham’s food scene is affordable, varied and never, ever boring.

Things to Do & Culture

You can’t be the second biggest city in the country and not be packed to the brim with things to do. Whether you’re into shopping, music, or just looking to get out of the city, there’s something for everyone here.

Bullring & Grand Central - 4.4/5

The shopping centre everyone knows. All the shops you could ask for, with a couple hidden gems in and around the area making the trip out more than worth it.

Cadbury World - 4.2/5

A bit of a classic Brum day out. Surprisingly interesting, not too expensive and plenty of free samples.

Digbeth - 4.5/5

The creative corner of Birmingham. Street art, indie venues, and quirky little cafes. A proper student favourite.

Villa Park, St Andrew’s, The Hawthorns and The Molineux - 4.5/5

Whether you’re a premier league fan, a championship fan, or league one fan, or just not a fan of football at all. Any of the 4 main clubs in and around Birmingham are well worth visiting a game for. Known for being some of the best fans in the country, you’ll experience an atmosphere like no other.

Cannon Hill Park - 4.6/5

A wonderfully well kept park, great for escaping the city bustle when needed. With tennis courts and minigolf, it’s a good spot to bring some friends too.

Birmingham balances big-city life with plenty of space to breathe. And if you’re looking to get out of the place, Birmingham is one of the best connected cities in the country too.

Going Out & Nightlife

Nightlife in Birmingham is lively to say the least. But the best part of it is how affordable it is.

Broad Street - 4/5

The main strip for clubs and bars, especially if quiet drinks are not the plan. Loud, busy and where most student nights end up.

Rosies - 4.6/5

Found on Broad Street, with 5 themed rooms, there’s something for everyone in here. Plenty of cool events and DJs to dance the night away with,

Circo Student Bar - 3.9/5

With pool and darts on offer, good events throughout the week and plenty of student friendly prices. There’s a reason Circo is one of the student go tos.

Digbeth - 4.3/5

Keep an eye out for events that are on around here. Not always open for an impromptu night out but when there’s something on, it’s got some of the better venues in Birmingham.

Whether you want a big night out on Broad Street, or something more underground over in Digbeth, Birmingham has something for every mood.

Hidden Gems

The lesser known spots of Birmingham are what really make the city, here is where everyone finds a different reason to call the place home.

Earlswood Lakes - 4.6/5

Earlswood Lakes are beautiful nature reserves where you can fish, sail, or just appreciate where you are. If you’re lucky, you can even spot the rare lesser spotted woodpecker around here too.

Red Brick Market - 4.7/5

Found in Digbeth, Red Brick Market, is a treasure trove of independent businesses, with anything from art to vintage street wear.

Lickey Hills Country Park - 4.6/5

Another great example of the beauty of the areas surrounding Birmingham. Lickey Hills are a favourite for hikers and mountain bikers alike.

Whatever you enjoy, Birmingham has you covered.

Study Spots/Student Essentials

With the 5 universities here, Birmingham has loads of student friendly spaces and plenty of student staples.

Main Library (UoB) - 4.7/5

Modern, massive, and a real hub of student life at the University of.

Aston University Library - 4.5/5

Central and reliable, great for group study.

Curzon Library (Birmingham City) - 4.2/5

BCU’s main library is bright, modern and right in the city centre. Open 24/7 in term time, this is a reliable spot for some late-night cramming.

Newman University Library - 4/5

Smaller than the big city uni libraries, but well-stocked and tailored to Newman’s close knit campus.

University College Library - 4/5

Focused on the vocational courses on offer at UCB, the library is packed with practical resources, and perfectly designed for the students that use it.

Student Unions - 4.3/5

Every uni has its own. Cheap food, bars, clubs, study spaces and endless societies. If you’re looking to get involved at uni, this is the place to go.

Birmingham has everything you need to study hard, and just as much to distract you from it.

City Advice

Getting Around - Birmingham is very well connected. The buses and trams are reliable. Cycling is an option but honestly, walking around the centre is plenty easy.

Saving Money - Street food, student deals and cheap nights out make Birmingham far kinder on your wallet than the likes of London or Manchester. Make sure you check out the student union for any deals they have going there too,

Where to Live - Definitely depends on which university you’re attending but Selly Oak is a classic for UoB, Aston for Aston and the city centre for BCU.

Local Quirks - Brummies will tell you the accent grows on you, even if it never does. Don’t be surprised when the city shuts down for the football. And yes, there really are more canals here than in Venice, there’s just a few less gondolas about.

Birmingham sometimes catches a lot of flack, but the underrated nature of the place is part of the charm. Once you’re here, you’ll see just how much the city has to offer.

Here's a map with all the spots for you to go visit.