Cultural spots on the University of Birmingham campus

You might think the iconic spots at UoB are Old Joe and the lecture buildings, but there are so many brilliant cultural and artistic spots around the university that are absolutely worth visiting. Sometimes these spots get overlooked, which is why I’ve made a list of the cultural spots on UoB campus that you can’t miss!

I’ll start with my favourite, Winterbourne Gardens. It’s just a five-minute walk from North Gate, and entry is free for all UoB students and staff (make sure you bring your student ID). Winterbourne House was built in 1904, and the Edwardian house is now a brilliant and informative museum. However, the best part is the surrounding gardens! In the grounds, you can walk past a lake, visit the orchid and cactus houses, and walk along stepping stones in the Japanese gardens. They also hold events, such as performances that are part of the Birmingham Jazz and Blues Festival. If you’re visiting, I recommend walking around the gardens and having a scone at the café – or you could even bring a picnic! I love going here to get away from the sometimes-hectic atmosphere of the city and to appreciate nature for a while.

Back on campus, the Bramall Music Building is another great cultural spot. It’s easy to locate, as it’s the building to the left of the Aston Webb Building and Old Joe. Within this beautiful red brick building is the Elgar Concert Hall. This venue seats 450 people, and there’s always something happening. The University Music ensembles often perform their concerts there. The venue also holds a concert every Friday lunchtime in term time, where you can see professionals play for free! The building also has practice rooms and recording rooms for students, and a café and social spaces.

Another brilliant cultural spot on campus is the Lapworth Museum of Geology, which houses one of the leading geological collections in the UK. It’s easy to find as it is also next to the Aston Webb building, and like all our other cultural sites, entry is of course free! There is 4.6 billion years of history to explore, with items like fossils, crystals, and dinosaurs. There are loads of interactive elements around the museum, making visiting a fun experience. The museum also holds different events for students, such as film nights, concerts, and quiz nights.

The final spot in this list is the Barber Institute of Fine Arts. Unfortunately, this has been closed to the public for renovations, but it is absolutely worth a mention as it will hopefully be ready to reopen soon. The institute houses a beautiful Art Deco Concert Hall, which hosted the weekly concerts that have moved to the Bramall building during renovations. The collection of fine arts is excellent, and I have no doubt it will, once again, be a leading cultural spot soon. Works by Van Gogh, Monet, and Botticelli, among others, are displayed in the galleries, and make it a key cultural spot to visit.

As you can see from this list, UoB offers extensive accessible and free cultural spots for students and the public. Not only do these sites display different areas of history and the arts, but they also frequently have events on. This makes them interactive and relevant for students, and they should be your next place to visit!