Things to do in Birmingham: a student’s guide
Wondering how to fill your free time as a student in Birmingham? Good news: the UK’s second city is packed with hidden gems, budget activities and trendy hangouts that offer endless entertainment.
Whether you’re looking for the best food, a bit of culture or just want to know where to go out clubbing, this guide will take you through the top things for students to do in Birmingham. Let’s dive in!
Map of Birmingham's student attractions
Arts & culture
Birmingham's cultural scene is heavily underrated. In just a short walk through the city centre, you’ll find world-class art galleries, the UK’s busiest theatre and historic venues where locals have gathered for decades. Best of all, most of these sites are either free or offer a student discount!
Art galleries
Need a culture fix that won't cost you? Birmingham's galleries have you covered! Housed in a stunning listed building on Chamberlain Square, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is the crown jewel and houses an incredible range of collections that you can view for free.
Just a short walk away, IKON Gallery has some fantastic contemporary exhibitions and is also free to enter. Barber Institute of Fine Art, over on the University of Birmingham campus, boasts works by Van Gogh, Monet and Picasso, with admission again free.
Performance venues
If theatre is your thing, you’ll feel right at home in Birmingham! Birmingham Hippodrome, over in the Chinese Quarter, gets more footfall than any other UK theatre and is your go-to for everything from West End musicals to ballet and opera – plus, you can grab a discount with your student ID.
The Symphony Hall is another world-class venue that you simply have to visit at least once. It doesn’t just do classical music, either – you’ll also find rock, pop and jazz artists as well as comedians performing here. It’s the perfect place for a special night out with your parents when they visit!
Independent cinemas
Tired of mainstream multiplexes? Birmingham's indie cinemas are the perfect alternative. The Electric Cinema on Station Street is the UK's oldest working cinema (dating back to 1909!) with comfy sofas and a bar that delivers drinks to your seat.
The Mockingbird Cinema in Digbeth screens cult classics, new indie releases and hosts themed movie nights where you can meet fellow film buffs. Both venues offer student deals, making them a fair bit cheaper than the big chains.
Food & drink
Birmingham’s food scene is super diverse, reflecting its rich mix of cultures. There are plenty of affordable options where you can grab a tasty meal for under a tenner, as well as trendy cafes and bottomless brunch spots.
Restaurants
Birmingham has plenty of amazing restaurants, but there are a few in particular you’ll find students raving about. Dishoom is beloved for its hangover-curing breakfasts – grab a naan roll all wrapped up for under £10. Bonehead serves the crispiest fried chicken in town, while Tiger Bites Pig has bao buns to die for.
When it comes to pizza, you can’t go wrong with Rudy’s – but you also need to check Otto over in the Jewellery Quarter. For the best street food in Birmingham, hit up Hockley Social Club on the weekend for a selection of highly skilled vendors under one roof.
Cafes & bakeries
Need a study spot that isn't the library? Birmingham's many cafes have your back. With branches in Harborne, Edgbaston and the city centre, Boston Tea Party is a student favourite where you can grab tea and cake before knuckling down for some work.
Doubling up as a cafe and bakery, Medicine over on New Street is famous for its Instagram-worthy pastries – especially the croissants and cinnamon buns! For amazing speciality coffee, get yourself to Faculty or 200 Degrees – both in the city centre.
Bottomless brunch
What better way to celebrate submitting an assignment than a bottomless brunch? A main meal and as many drinks you can handle (most places offer prosecco, beer and cocktail options) for up to two hours – all for £25-35!
You’ll find plenty of bottomless brunch spots along the canal in Brindleyplace, including Pitcher & Piano, All Bar One and Slug & Lettuce. Other standout options include Gas Street Social and The Button Factory.
History
Beyond the modern city centre, Birmingham has a fascinating history waiting to be explored. Grand historic houses, unique museums and the city’s infamous back-to-back houses – all of these tell the story of its complex, industrial past.
Birmingham Back to Backs
Based in the Chinese Quarter, the Birmingham Back to Backs are the last surviving court of back-to-back houses left in the city. Typical of the 19th and 20th centuries, this compact style of housing was used to accommodate Birmingham’s fast-growing urban working class.
The guided tour now offered at this perfectly preserved site tells the story of how ordinary Brummies lived and worked from the 1840s through to the 1970s. No student discount is offered currently, but you can still grab a ticket for around £10!
Manors & mansions
Standing in stark contrast to the back-to-backs, Birmingham’s historic manors and mansions showcase another side of the city. Selly Manor – one of Birmingham’s oldest buildings – dates back to the 13th century and today offers tours with student discounts available.
Aston Hall is a magnificent red-brick mansion that serves as a leading example of Jacobean architecture – as well as a great backdrop for your next Instagram post! Blakesley Hall, a picture-perfect, timber-framed Tudor house, is also worth checking out.
Jewellery Quarter
Today, the Jewellery Quarter is known as one of Birmingham’s trendiest areas – but tucked away between the hipster cafes and jewellery shops lie some interesting museums where you can explore the neighbourhood’s industrial past.
The J.W. Evans Silver Factory is the place to go to learn about the area’s jewellery-making past, while the Coffin Works takes you inside one of the world’s most successful coffin factories. You’ve also got the Pen Museum, which tells the story of how Birmingham once produced 75% of the world’s pens.
Nightlife
The nightlife is one of the best things about being a student in Birmingham. There’s always something going on, with options catering to every taste – whether that’s cheesy chart-toppers, underground raves or a casual night of bar-hopping.
Broad Street
The city’s main nightlife hub, Broad Street runs from Five Ways roundabout to the city centre and is lined with pubs, bars and nightclubs. That includes student favourites like Rosies and Snobs, as well as not one but two Wetherspoons pubs!
Most clubs run student-themed nights during the week where you’ll find cheap drinks and plenty of other students – check out Snobs Wednesdays or Vodbull Thursdays at Rosies. It does get busy on these nights, so consider arriving early to avoid queuing in the rain!
Digbeth
Pop music not really your thing? Then get yourself over to Digbeth! Formerly Birmingham’s industrial heartland, the area is now packed with cool activity bars and warehouse venues spinning everything from hip-hop and house to techno and drum and bass.
Lab11 and XOYO are the places to go for a rave, while Mama Roux’s and Luna Springs offer a more casual mix of drinks, street food and live music. Fancy something a bit different? Head to NQ64 for retro games and cocktails or Golf Fang for crazy golf on a wacky course!
Chinese Quarter
Just a short walk from the city centre, the Chinese Quarter is another area that comes alive after dark. It's home to a host of pubs, karaoke bars and late-night dining options where you can combine a delicious meal with a few drinks.
The nightlife here centres around the Arcadian, an entertainment space with numerous bars and restaurants. Here you'll also find the Glee Club – Birmingham's premier comedy club – which offers a handy student discount on tickets!
Outdoors
Good weather in Birmingham is never a guarantee – but when the sun comes out, it’s good to know there are lots of lovely outdoor spaces to enjoy. Picture local parks teeming with students, sprawling nature reserves just outside the city and, of course, canals!
Parks & gardens
On a sunny day, there’s no better place to be than Cannon Hill Park! Nestled next to Edgbaston Stadium, it’s got tennis courts, a boating lake and even a mini golf course. Selly Park, though smaller, is another student favourite where you’ll find lots of people playing sport and listening to music.
If you’re looking for something a bit more secluded, Birmingham Botanical Gardens has four glasshouses filled with tropical plants and peacocks wandering around. Winterborne House & Garden, over on the University of Birmingham campus, is also a must-visit and offers free entry to students at the university.
Canals
As you’ve probably heard, Birmingham has more miles of canals than Venice! Formerly used to transport heavy goods like coal and iron, today the canals are great for walks, jogging and bike rides.
Brindleyplace and Gas Street are the liveliest parts of the canal system, but if you want to escape the crowds you can actually follow the canal from Gas Street all the way through leafy Edgbaston to the University of Birmingham campus!
Country parks
Birmingham also has a couple of incredible country parks on the outskirts for when you really want to escape the city. Sutton Park is absolutely massive (it’s one of Europe’s biggest urban parks!) and boasts several lakes, woodland trails and even wild ponies.
Lickey Hills Country Park to the southwest of the city offers amazing panoramic views over Birmingham – you can see for miles on a clear day. Both parks are easiest to reach with a car, but you can also take the train and walk the final stretch.
Shopping
Birmingham has all the big-name brands you’d expect of a major city. Add to that some stunning arcades lined with boutiques and a thriving vintage scene, and you have one of the best shopping cities in the UK.
The Bullring
Probably Birmingham’s most iconic landmark, Bullring & Grand Central is home to over 200 shops, cafes and restaurants. From Selfridges’ iconic bubbly building to student favourites like Nike, TK Maxx and Kick Game, it’s got pretty much everything.
Battling through the crowds on weekends isn’t for the faint-hearted, so weekday shopping is your best bet if you have an afternoon free from lectures! Some shops also offer student discount, so it’s worth asking before making a purchase.
Historic arcades
There’s much more to Birmingham’s shopping scene than the Bullring! In fact, there are six historic shopping arcades all within the city centre where you can find a mix of cafes, restaurants and quirky independent shops.
Dating back to the 1870s, Great Western Arcade is a real gem and has some lovely boutiques and dining options. Piccadilly Arcade and Burlington Arcade, both off New Street, offer a similar vibe but also have a few bars.
Vintage shops
Looking for a wardrobe refresh that’s not going to wipe out your student loan in one go? Birmingham’s vintage scene has exploded in recent years! Red Brick Market over in Digbeth is home to dozens of vendors selling pre-loved fashion, vinyl and jewellery.
Right around the corner from Red Brick Market, Cow Vintage is another favourite and has plenty of vintage pieces that won’t break the bank – it also hosts pop-up events at local venues, so it’s worth keeping an eye on their socials!
Birmingham: a student city
From its bouncing nightlife to its vibrant cultural scene, Birmingham offers a wealth of things for students to do. Add to that several top universities, a reasonable cost of living and an ideal location in the heart of England, and it’s not hard to see why it’s such a popular student destination!
Now you know all about its top attractions, why not check out our guide on you’re looking for somewhere to stay, browse our range of student accommodation in Birmingham!
More on student life in Birmingham...
UoB, Aston, BCU and more...
Birmingham university guide
Keen to study in Birmingham but not sure where? Get the lowdown on all five of the city’s universities and find the right one for you with our handy guide...
Tips and tricks for finding your dream living space
Birmingham student accommodation guide
Heading to Birmingham for your studies but still need to sort out accommodation? Check out this guide...
Library alternatives
Birmingham's hidden study spots
Fed up with long study sessions at the library? Switch up your surroundings with these little-known study spots in Birmingham!
Frequently asked questions
Birmingham truly is one of the UK’s best student cities. It’s way more affordable than London but still has all the amenities you’d expect of a major city, including some great universities, amazing nightlife and a host of cultural attractions. The location also makes it easy to visit friends and family in other parts of the UK.
Birmingham has something for every student – if it’s culture you’re looking for, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and Birmingham Back to Backs are both essential. In Digbeth, hit up Red Brick Market for vintage clothing before heading to Golf Fang, or stick to the city centre for a boozy brunch at Brindleyplace or a night out on Broad Street.
Birmingham has lots of student-friendly areas, ranging from bohemian Digbeth with its vintage shops and warehouse raves to the countless clubs that line Broad Street. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, there are lots of options in and around the city centre, as well as suburbs like Selly Oak and Harborne.
