Your bags are packed, and your passport is ready. Next up, is planning your arrival. If you’re travelling to the UK by air we can support you, so you can start settling in quickly.
Birmingham Airport
We recommend that you travel to Birmingham Airport (BHX) where possible, which is the closest airport to the University.
Birmingham Airport has great transport connections and our Welcome Assistants at the airport will help direct you to the taxi rank or the train station, depending on how you prefer to travel.
A taxi from Birmingham Airport to campus will usually cost between £35-£50. There's a dedicated taxi rank outside the arrival terminal, including wheelchair-accessible taxis.
Birmingham International train station is directly connected to Birmingham Airport by the Air-Rail Link monorail system. The Air-Rail Link is free to use and takes two minutes, operating between 03:30-00:30 each day. Outside of these hours, you can walk or take a taxi. Trains from Birmingham International run frequently through the day. A train fare from Birmingham International to University station (changing at Birmingham New Street) will usually cost around £5-£7.
Your choice might depend on where you're travelling to, how much luggage you have, and the time of day. Whichever option you choose, you'll need to pay for your own travel.
Our Welcome Assistants will be there during the day from Friday 15 - Monday 18 September 2023.
London Heathrow
We will be running a free airport collection coach from London Heathrow (LHR) over Arrivals Weekend, from Friday 15 - Monday 18 September 2023. This is when most students will arrive to campus.
The bookings are now open for you to reserve your seat. Please be aware that reservations are offered on a first come, first serve basis.
Reserve your seat
Other ways to travel from London Heathrow
If you are arriving outside of the times of our airport collection service, you will need to make you own travel arrangements. You may also wish to make your own arrangements if you are travelling with family members, who cannot be accommodated on the airport collection service (with the exception of one parent/guardian for students under the age of 18).
London Heathrow has a number of travel options. Coaches (provided by National Express, Megabus and FlixBus) provides the most direct route to Birmingham, with coaches travelling to Birmingham city centre. Coach tickets will usually cost between £15 and £40, depending on the time of day and which service you choose. From the city centre, you can take a taxi to your accommodation.
You can also travel by train, however there are no direct trains from Heathrow to Birmingham, so you will need to transfer through central London. A one way train fare may cost between £35 and £80 depending on the time of travel, the route taken, and whether you book in advance. The Trainline can be useful for finding and purchasing tickets.
You may also wish to consider a private taxi transfer, especially if you are travelling as a group, with guests, or have bulky luggage.
Other airports, trains and ferries
If you're arriving to other airports, or travelling via train or ferry (by sea), you'll need to make your own way to campus. Remember to allow yourself enough time to collect your luggage, and bear this in mind when booking any further travel.
Please see our page on arriving in the UK for more general information about travelling to Birmingham.