About Birmingham
The spectacular Library of Birmingham is Europe’s largest regional library and is a flagship for the redevelopment of the city. Grab a coffee, a book and sample the extraordinary views from the roof.
Birmingham boasts more canals than Venice, and there is nowhere better to experience this than Brindley Place on Broad Street, its canal side location hosts a wide range of restaurants, bars and cafes. Just a short walk away you will find the Mail Box, Selfridges Store and the Bullring; the site of a market for more than 800 years, it has been revamped into a state-of-the-art shopping centre making it one of the most popular destinations for retail therapy in the UK.
birmingham and BEYOND
"A city beating at the heart of the country with a quiet confidence like no other. We’re a hotbed of culture that's rich and diverse.”
Harborne
A 15 minute walk from the campus, Harborne High Street offers everything you could need; an abundance of bars, coffee shops and restaurants to suit all tastes. We recommend The Plough (excellent food), The Junction (excellent beer) and the Arco Lounge (excellent coffee). Use postcode B17 9NT, this will direct you to the top of the High Street.
Bournville
Bournville is home to the Cadbury’s World Attraction. Visiting will provide a fun filled chocolate day trip to one of the UK's most popular family attractions.
Birmingham City Centre
Taking just one stop from University Station to Birmingham New Street, you will disembark at the newly developed Grand Central station in the very heart of Birmingham. Whilst Grand Central is Birmingham’s newest prime shopping centre, it is also located next to the Bullring, Birmingham’s state of the art shopping centre, backed up with the astounding Selfridges store and Mailbox.
Victoria and Chamberlain square bring together the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, home to some of the finest art collections in the world and the magnificent Council House and Town Hall. Close by you can also step back into the past at the National Trust’s Back to Backs.
The new spectacular Library of Birmingham is Europe’s largest regional library and is a flagship for the redevelopment of the city. Grab a coffee, a book and sample the extraordinary views from the roof terraces.
If you are looking for somewhere to eat and drink, try Brindleyplace, a 10 minute walk from New Street Station, with tree-lined squares, international cuisine and canal-side views, Brindleyplace is one of Birmingham’s most exciting destinations.
Digbeth is one of the most distinctive parts of the city and is less than ten minutes walk from Bullring & Grand Central. It has been named the 'Coolest Neighbourhood in Britain' by the Sunday Times, hailing the Custard Factory's cafes, independent shops, cinemas and arts venues, whilst celebrating 'the best bar snacks in the postcode' from The Old Crown.
Still looking for more to do, or places to go, find more at VisitBirmingham.com.
Places of interest outside of the city
With an enviably central location in the heart of England, Birmingham offers fantastic opportunities to explore the history and culture of the UK.
Black Country Museum
The Black Country Living Museum is an award-winning open air museum that tells the story of one of the very first industrialised landscapes in Britain. Experience sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the Black Country as you explore shops, houses and industrial workshops rebuilt in our canalside village and high streets.
From the Industrial Revolution to post-war prosperity, discover the history of a small region that made a big impact on the people, culture and industry of the world as you say “ow am ya” to the people that made this place home, from metalworkers and miners to nurses and schoolteachers – and even a pub landlord or two.
Stratford-upon-Avon
A mediaeval market town in England’s West Midlands, Stratford-upon-Avon is the 16th-century birthplace of William Shakespeare, and a must-see for visitors.
Immerse yourself in sixteenth-century life, inside the house where the world-renowned playwright was born and lived with his family. Visit his wife Anne Hathaway’s romantic cottage, or New Place where they enjoyed the benefits of his success for 19 years. And, of course, complete the experience with a play at one of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s three theatres.
Warwick Castle
Soak up 1100 years of history in one day. The stone buildings in place at Warwick Castle today date from the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, although records show a motte and bailey castle was first constructed here in 1068.
History buffs will love the sense of scale, the thoughtful exhibits and the extensive grounds, landscaped by Capability Brown. The regular programme of live shows featuring jousting, birds of prey and seasonal events provides fun for all.
Oxford
This historic university city is a must-see for any academic visitor to the UK. 38 colleges of the prestigious university are nestled within a city of buttery Cotswold stone and winding mediaeval streets.
Visit Magdalen College’s deer park and Christ Church Cathedral. Book a tour of the Bodleian to see Duke Humfrey’s remarkable fifteenth-century library. Take a punt along the Thames (here known as the Isis) for a relaxed view of those famous ‘dreaming spires’, then have a drink at the Eagle and Child where the ‘Inklings’ C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and friends read their manuscripts aloud.
The great outdoors
Birmingham may be a bright bustling city, but its central location means five designated Areas of Natural Beauty and a National Park are all within 50 miles, an easy drive away.
For dramatic scenery, pull on your hiking boots and head north for the Peak District. Dovedale is a beautiful limestone valley and nature reserve, ideal for walking all year round, with caves to explore and a famous set of stepping stones.
Nature reserves and trails through ancient woodlands offer options for hardy walkers and afternoon strollers alike in the Malvern Hills. Further southwest lies the Wye Valley, with its spectacular limestone gorge scenery and beautiful riverside walks. For an authentic sense of England’s beech woods, stone walls and rolling fields, visit the Cotswolds.
Contact us
Event Management Team, Great Hall, Aston Webb Building, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, West Midlands B15 2TT
E: academic.conferences@contacts.bham.ac.uk