Getting around Birmingham

The University of Birmingham campuses are well-connected for local and national transport links. There are a range of options for travelling around the local area, into the city centre and further afield, whether you are a commuting student or looking to explore the area.

We've put together a few top tips to get you started, but for the full range of travel information, have a look at the Sustainable Travel pages.

1. Finding your way around campus

We have a beautiful campus at Birmingham, so you'll want to make the most of it from the time you join the University. There are many amenities in the surrounding area for you to explore: the local shopping areas of Selly Oak and Harborne are easily accessible, offering a variety of shops, banks, pharmacies and other services.

Walking

Walking remains the most popular option for students getting around on a daily basis - many students choose to live within walking distance of the campus, and the Vale Village, Pritchatts Park, and Selly Oak Village are all within easy reach of the main Edgbaston campus. A dedicated footpath links the Vale Village and campus, providing an easy route away from traffic. 

Cycles and scooters

Many students choose to cycle at the University, and we offer a range of services and benefits for cyclists. You can even hire a bike for a term or academic year, which is a great way to try out cycling without a long term commitment. 

We also have nine docking stations for West Midlands Cycle hire, and 14 parking locations for Voi's electric scooters.

MyUoB app

Download the University's official app to get access to key services and resources. As well as giving you access to your personal timetable and emails, you can use the campus maps to help you get around and the study spaces feature to find the best space for you.

Download MyUoB

Campus maps and directions

Visit our campus maps and directions pages to find out more about where the different campuses are located, especially when you first arrive, including information on disability access. 

2. Getting around the city

If you are new to Birmingham, you'll find a lot to explore in our muli-cultural city. Working out the best way for you to get around will help you access all that Birmingham has to offer. 

There are many ways to get around Birmingham, from walking and cycling to using Birmingham's recently installed e-scooter and cycling networks, as well as rail and bus options, it's worth considering the best options for the different journeys you plan. 

Plan your journey

You can use the Transport for West Midlands (TFWM) journey planner to Plan you journey by bus, train and tram across the West Midlands.

Swift Go is a smart and contactless way to travel around the West Midlands. Make as many journeys as you like across different operators, and Swift Go will automatically cap you at a day or weekly ticket. Simply tap and go on trams and most buses.

The £1 hop service

A special University Hop fare is available for University of Birmingham staff and students, allowing you to travel for £1 one way between Selly Oak and Birmingham city centre when you show your University ID card. Find out more about the short hop fare from National Express West Midlands, who also offer a range of student bus passes for travel across the West Midlands.

3. Buying tickets and deals

There is a wide range of options of how to buy your travel tickets and these can be confusing at times. We have picked out a few good options to get you started.  

Bus

National Express bus portal is an app specifically for UoB students to allow you to decide on and buy the best bus pass to suit your needs.  

There are a number of local bus services connecting the University to the city centre, as well as Harborne, Edgbaston, Bearwood, Northfield, Longbridge, Solihull and further afield.

Visit National Express for more information on all timetables and ticket details. You can also download the National Express app mTicket app | NX Bus West Midlands to pay for and download tickets - or search NXBus mTicket on Android and iOS.

Rail

The University has its own train station - simply called University - right on the main Edgbaston campus, so that is an obvious option for many students. Selly Oak and Five Ways stations are also nearby, and particularly handy for some of our student accommodation. 

Many students decide to get a 16-25 Railcard (also available for those over 25 who are in full-time study) or a 26-30 Railcard to save money on rail travel. 

The University station can become busy at peak times - you can avoid the queues by buying your tickets or collecting pre-booked tickets at the ticket machines located in University Centre (R23 - Edgbaston Campus) and the Murray Learning Centre (R28 - Edgbaston Campus), or by using a train ticket app. You can buy your Railcards online to avoid needing to queue at the station.

Combined passes

There are some combined bus and rail passes available from providers if you require that.

Swift

National Express bus portal

4. Traveling further afield 

Birmingham has good links to other parts of the UK. Travel by rail is usually faster, whilst coaches (buses that travel longer distances) can offer cheaper travel options.

Rail

You can check train times, routes and ticket prices using the National Rail website, as well as other ticket providers (some examples are TheTrainline, RailEasy, TicketySplit).  

From University station it is only two stops to Birmingham New Street for the city centre and rail links to Wales, Scotland, and locations across England including direct links to London and Birmingham International Airport. 

Coaches (buses)

The two main inter-city coach companies in the UK are National Express and Megabus and can often offer cheaper (although usually longer) travel options. 

5. Traveling to campus

Moving to campus

If you're moving into University accommodation and planning your journey to campus for the first time, have a look at the moving in Welcome pages. You will need to book your time slot and work out your travel plans.  There will be specific guidance from our accommodation teams about drop off plans and where to park during this time.  

Commuting to campus

If you are planning to commute to campus each day, it is likely that you will already have worked out the best ways to travel, as outlined in the information above. 

You may still find some of the information on this page useful - there are always new options available and you might also like to read our tips for commuting students. 

Driving and parking

When considering travel options, travelling by car will be necessary for some students in some situations.

You may be eligible for a student parking permit, otherwise parking on campus is available on a pay and display basis. Parking at student accommodation is very limited and requires a permit from the accommodation reception.

Sustainable travel