Birmingham is an exciting city to visit in the West Midlands, with its rich history, huge shopping centre, and many parks and restaurants. Known as the second city of the UK, Birmingham is a trendy place and one of the major cities in the UK, outside of London, that people from around the world come to visit. There are many different Birmingham suburbs, making it difficult to choose where to stay in Birmingham, especially if you have never visited before. As a whole, it is a safe city to visit. However, some areas can be rougher than others, so it’s good to know where the nicest areas in Birmingham are.
This guide spotlights five nice areas in Birmingham. You’ll leave knowing what you can see in these nicest areas of Birmingham, where you are near, and what suitable accommodation is on offer. All five of these Birmingham suburbs are close to the city’s top attractions, meaning you won’t have to travel far to have fun! Whether you want to spend one night or a whole week in the city, this guide will help you decide which area to stay in.
Birmingham City Centre: Where to Stay in Birmingham To Be Within Walking Distance of Main Attractions
The city centre is certainly one of the best places to stay in Birmingham if you want to be within walking distance of the city’s top attractions. If you stay in the city centre, the main bonus is that you can pretty much walk everywhere without public transport; there are many places to eat and drink too. Accommodation is also cheapest here; for a cheap bed and breakfast, Birmingham doesn’t get better than its city centre.
With that said, when it comes to choosing where to stay in Birmingham city centre, definitely take hotel location into serious consideration so you get a peaceful night’s rest. The city centre can be a noisier option, so pay attention to attractions and pubs next to potential hotels.
In the city centre, you can walk around the Bullring Shopping Centre and stroll through Centenary Square and Victoria Square to see the library or the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. You are also close to Digbeth, a quirky area in Birmingham with trendy bars and golf and gaming experiences. Digbeth is home to lots of Peaky Blinders tours and street art too if you want fun guided experiences in Birmingham.
Things to do in Birmingham City Centre:
– Shop at the Bullring Shopping Centre
– Visit Centenary Square
– Admire Victoria Square
– See the exhibits Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
– Visit the Library of Birmingham
Hotels in Birmingham City Centre:
– Premier Inn Birmingham City Centre £
– Holiday Inn Express Birmingham City Centre £
– Radisson Blu ££
Harborne: Where to Stay in Birmingham To Be Surrounded By Greenery and Suburbia
Harborne is one of my favourite areas in Birmingham. While there isn’t a massive amount of things to do here, what makes it such a nice area in Birmingham is its proximity to the city centre and plenty of green spaces. The high street in Harborne has a lot of charity shops and independent restaurants; one of my favourites is Barsana, a vegetarian and vegan Indian restaurant, and The Plough, a rustic pub with ginormous pizza and pub grub food. Harborne is where to stay in Birmingham for a slow-paced and easygoing experience. It is actually rated as one of the best places to live in Birmingham, which is super telling.
Harborne is also close to other areas in this guide, such as Edgbaston and Bournville, so it is a central place to explore all Birmingham offers, not just in its main area. The hotels around Harborne tend to be pricier, but if you have a mid-range budget, this area in Birmingham may be the one for you.
Things to do in Harborne:
– Visit the High Street for shops, restaurants, and cafes
– Take a stroll in Grove Park
– Walk to Edgbaston or Selly Oak
Hotels in Harborne:
– Edgbaston Park Hotel ££
– The High Field Town House £££
Brindley Place: Where to Stay in Birmingham For Canal Walks and Cocktail Bars
While technically still the city centre, Brindley Place is a thriving area of the city that feels like its own district; it is certainly worth looking into staying in trendy addition to the top Birmingham suburbs. Located along Birmingham’s canal (which is longer than Venice’s), Brindley Place is perfect for canal strolls, cocktail bars, and tasty food. This area is one of the best places to stay in Birmingham because it is close to many iconic venues and attractions, such as Arena Birmingham, the Symphony Hall, Sealife, and the Ikon Gallery.
Most of the hotels in Brindley Place are more mid-range and costlier. However, there is a Premier Inn around the area for a more budget stay in one of the nicest areas in Birmingham.
Things to do in Brindley Place:
– Go for a canal walk
– Sip photogenic drinks at cocktail bars
– Visit the Arena Birmingham
– Spot marine animals at Sealife Centre
– Stop by Symphony Hall
– See the exhibits at Ikon Gallery
– Visit Mailbox
Hotels in Brindley Place:
– Hyatt Regency ££
– Crowne Plaza Birmingham City Centre ££
– Premier Inn Birmingham City Centre Bridge Street £
Edgbaston: Where to Stay in Birmingham For Green Spaces and Student Vibes
If you are looking for somewhere that is quieter in the evening and offers more green spaces, then Edgbaston is one of the nice areas in Birmingham to stay. Edgbaston is only a seven-minute drive or 15-minute bus from Birmingham New Street. The area contains a large, beautiful reservoir perfect for nature lovers, with 70 acres of water, woodland, and grassland. Birmingham Botanical Gardens is also in the area, which contains exotic plants, glasshouses, and a vast green space for picnics.
The area is also close to the University of Birmingham, which is worth a visit, even if you’re not a student. Its gorgeous green heart and clock tower are enough to stun anyone. You could pop over to Winterbourne House and Gardens or take a longer walk to Cannon Hill Park; there are so many beautiful spots in this underrated part of Birmingham. It is easily one of the best areas to live in Birmingham – so it’s definitely a brilliant place for tourists to experience the real Birmingham.
While there aren’t many budget-friendly hotels in Edgbaston, a handful of B+B style areas and mid-range hotels suit its diverse array of travellers. When it comes to hotels, Edgbaston has a high quality selection of options and some of the best 4 star hotels in Birmingham. It is the price you pay to stay in the nice areas in Birmingham, right?
Things to do in Edgbaston:
– Check out Warwickshire County Cricket Club
– Tour the University of Birmingham campus
– Walk around the beautiful Edgbaston Reservoir
– Admire flora at Birmingham Botanical Gardens
– See the exhibits at Barber Insitute of Fine Arts
– Tour Winterbourne House and Garden
– Walk in Cannon Hill Park
Hotels in Edgbaston:
– Edgbaston Park Hotel ££
– Edgbaston House £££
– Best Western Plough and Harrow Hotel £
Bournville: Where to Stay in Birmingham For a Village Atmosphere and Cadbury World
Bournville is a gorgeously quaint area in Birmingham that is most famously known for being the home of Cadbury World (which is worth a visit). The area is rich in history and has stunning architecture and green spaces that make you feel like you aren’t even in the same city. A fun fact about the area is that the Cadbury family who founded the garden village of Bournville were famously Quakers. They set up the Bournville Village Trust, which has a rule that no alcohol can be sold anywhere in the village, and it still stands to this day.
Only a 12-minute train from Birmingham New Street, Bourville is one of the best areas in Birmingham because it is close to the city’s attractions while also holding its own with Cadbury World, Selly Manor Museum, and the beautiful Bourville Village Green. Hotels-wise, there are plenty of inns and B+B’s in the area for a unique stay in Birmingham.
Things to do in Bourville:
– Enjoy Bournville Village Green
– Walk the canal
– Visit Cadbury World
– Learn at Selly Manor Museum
Hotels in Bourville:
– Old Farm Hotel ££
– Bournbrook Inn £
– Bournville House and Cafe ££
Conclusion: Where to Stay in Birmingham
Overall, there are many nice areas in Birmingham to stay in, and whichever area you choose, you will be sure to have a fun time (take note of these brilliant day trips from Birmingham to spice up your itinerary). All of these areas are close to the top attractions while offering unique museums, green places, and restaurants that are often underrated or forgotten about by travellers and locals who don’t properly research where to stay in Birmingham.
Enjoy these brilliant Birmingham suburbs. And if you are wondering where not to stay in Birmingham, just check out our Birmingham safety guide.
By Cara-Louise Scott
Cara-Louise Scott is a UoB graduate now living as a hotel waitress in London. She has a passion for writing about all things travel, food, and mental health. She will be studying her part-time NCTJ course in autumn to become a qualified journalist.