My favourite things to do in Birmingham

Birmingham City Centre

Birmingham city centre always has so much going on, and it super easy to get to. Get the train from University station (located right next to the Medical School) to New Street station and you will arrive in less than 10 minutes. Here are some of my favourite things to do in and around Birmingham City Centre:

• Explore the shops in the Bullring.
• Catch a show/concert in the Alexandra, Hippodrome or Utilita Arena.
• Grab a drink along the canal by Brindley Place.
• Go to a craft and flea market in Digbeth.
• Grab food in one of the amazing restaurants near Cathedral Square (or pigeon park as the locals call it).

Harborne High Street

A high street with lots to do only 20-minute walk from the Medical School or 30 minutes from the Vale accommodation village. The perfect day out in Harborne for me starts at one of their many charity shops, with so much to explore you will always find the perfect item for you. Then I would go to one of my favourite restaurant/pubs The Plough. But if you don’t fancy a gastropub there is also Boston tea party, Pizza Express, Rudy’s, Arco Lounge, and lots more. There are also lots of other shops to explore and if you’re lucky you might catch a craft market in the car park.

Winterbourne Gardens

Winterbourne house and gardens is the perfect place to go when feeling a bit stressed or caught up in city hustle and bustle. Beautiful botanical gardens with flowers and streams, as well as a manor house where you can get an afternoon tea or a coffee just a 10-minute walk from the centre of university campus. It’s also free for students when showing a student ID card!

Bournville High Street and Cadbury Factory

For students living in Selly Oak, this is a must do for a relaxing weekend. Walk down to Bournville high street where you will find cute cafés and bakeries, and a garden centre which at Christmas, is like winter wonderland! If you fancied more of a day out, Cadbury chocolate factory is right next door to the high street and with discounted student tickets how could you refuse. A 20-minute walk from Selly oak or a 10-minute drive from university, this is a must see whilst living in Birmingham.

These are only a few of the amazing places around University of Birmingham and doesn’t include any of the events that happen on campus or many of the other things available in the second biggest city in the UK!