Living in Birmingham

With its cultural diversity, exciting job prospects and thriving independent scene, it is little wonder that Birmingham, as Britain’s second city with one of the youngest city populations in Europe, is a dynamic place to study.

At Newman University you have the advantage of being near to the city, but living in peaceful and comfortable surroundings on campus.

Cuisine

Dining out in Birmingham

From dining in Brindley Place to on-trend street food at Digbeth Dining Club, there is an amazing selection of restaurants, markets and events to go to – no matter what your preferred cuisine. And don’t miss the Balti triangle, home of and justifiably renowned for the best tasting authentic Balti curries in the world.

Eclectic tastes and styles

Shopping

The vibrant city centre is home to numerous shopping experiences, including the Bullring with the iconic Selfridges building, the Mailbox with designer shops aplenty and the new Grand Central which is home to one of the biggest John Lewis stores in the UK. Alongside the shopping centres there are fantastic independent shops and boutiques, catering for a range of eclectic tastes and styles.

What's On

Entertainment

When it comes to entertainment, Birmingham will leave you spoilt for choice. Whatever hobby or interest you have, there is sure to be something for you to do and a host of new things to try out. Birmingham’s heritage is steeped with wonderful art, theatre and music. The city is home to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, the MAC and the IKON Gallery, where there are a number of great exhibitions and boundary pushing art, throughout the year. Many of these are either free or offer student discounts.

Music, Theatre and Dance

If you are an avid gig-goer, the music scenes in Birmingham will not disappoint. The world’s biggest artists headline here at a whole host of amazing venues, such as the Genting Arena, Barclaycard Arena, Symphony Hall and the O2 Academy. There are also smaller venues, such as The Institute, around the city where you can watch established and new musical and comedy talent.

The theatre and dance scene in Birmingham is world-renowned and bursting with talent. The Hippodrome, New Alexandra Theatre, Symphony Hall and Birmingham Royal Ballet have packed calendars including West End musicals and comedy shows.

Clubs and bars

Nightlife

As a student city, Birmingham has an array of clubs and bars to suit all tastes. Broad Street sees many well recognised pubs, clubs and bars on offer including Walkabout, Revolution and Reflex whilst bars in areas such as Digbeth and Moseley offer a more relaxed vibe. If you are a sophisticated cocktail drinker you can head to the Mailbox, Jewellery Quarter or Colmore Row and Temple Row. For the beer connoisseurs, real and craft ale establishments are also plentiful. It is safe to say there is something in Birmingham for everyone.

Sporting venues

Sport

If sport is more your thing, Birmingham is the home of Warwickshire Cricket Club and hosts international test and one day fixtures. Aston Villa and Birmingham City are the two local football rivals with West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers close by. National indoor sporting events feature Arena Birmingham and international athletic meets are held at the Alexander Stadium. Just over the road from Newman’s campus you’ll be able to see the Bartley Green reservoir which is an RYA-approved water sports centre and the home of Bartley Sailing Club.

Transport

Located at the centre of the UK motorway network with the M6, M5 and M42 motorways all nearby, Birmingham has excellent links to the rest of Britain. For rail travellers Birmingham New Street station has regular services to destinations throughout the country, and Birmingham International Airport has flights to destinations across the globe. Birmingham also has use of a tram system and even has 35 miles of canals within the city if you fancy a very different mode of transport!