The Birmingham Student Guide: Birmingham City Centre

About the author: Hi! My name is Ash Sutton, and I am a Digital Media and Communications student at the University of Birmingham. I am an aspiring lifestyle, arts and culture journalist and all-around geek. In the times I’m not spending an absurd amount of money in restaurants, you can usually find me tucked in the corner of my bedroom with a coffee and my latest cross-stitch kit, rewatching a Marvel movie or listening to Broadway soundtracks until I am sick of them.

There’s a reason Birmingham is so popular – Britain’s second city is a sought-after location for students moving to university thanks to its London-esque bustle and down-to-earth accessibility. And whilst Birmingham city centre isn’t massive (though suburbanites may beg to differ), it’s full of things to do, see, eat, and drink. Still, the big-city life may intimidate you, so here’s a quick guide on the absolute must-visits for students in Birmingham city centre.

The city

Birmingham was one of the world’s first manufacturing towns, making us a particularly rich part of the UK’s industrial culture. Birmingham actually produces 40% of Great Britain’s jewellery, a reputation that lives on in our appropriately-named Jewellery Quarter. Head here for unique jewellery pieces, artisan markets, independent bars and restaurants, and niche museums.

The main staple of Birmingham city centre, however, is without a doubt the Bullring. This 110,000 square meter shopping centre resides right off New Street, and is home to famous brands like Zara, Sephora, H&M, and more. The establishment has roots all the way back to 1166 when it was once a historic market centre.

By the way, if you ever come to Birmingham and wonder what our obsession with bulls is about (because there are an awful lot of them dotted around the city), it’s because Birmingham was once a hotspot for bull-baiting in the 1500s.

The shops

As mentioned, the Bullring is the place to be when it comes to spending; with 3 floors of branded shopfronts, the products on offer range from designer suits to nerdy tat. The shopping centre splits in two, with the west side favouring the on-the-highstreet locations and the east specialising in the higher-end labels. The east side even features a four-floor Selfridges which is perfect for mooching around looking at clothes you definitely can’t afford, taking a visit to Paddington’s bench, and picking up Christmas gifts when the festive season arrives.

The shops span further than the Bullring though, with stores dotted all the way down New Street and beyond. This is where you’ll find the more common shops like Primark, Lush, and Waterstones.

Birmingham city centre isn’t quite the place for a supermarket (unless you want to walk all the way up to the Five Ways Morrisons) but there are many a corner shop to get you by whether it be the Tesco Express on New Street or the Co-Op and Sainsbury’s Local by Snow Hill station.

The food

Birmingham city centre prides itself on its food offerings and has almost any desirable meal you could think of. If you fancy a cheeky Nando’s, we’ve got three of them within a 10-minute walk. If you’re feeling Asian cuisine, China Town is just around the corner. Want brunch? I can offer you Gail’s, Wayland’s Yard or Perch for your fix of pastries and eggs Benedict.

If you’re in a rush, the food court on the balcony of the Grand Central shopping centre is the place to be. There’s a selection of grab-and-go options for commuters, and with options ranging from a classic bagel to a quick stop at Yo! Sushi, I can guarantee you’ll find something to please everyone.

With the recent opening of Dave’s Hot Chicken, Blank Street, and Insomnia Cookies, we are one of the few places outside of London to have a little bit of America in our culture. I really would recommend Blank Street too; while their matcha is infamous, their Shaken Brown Sugar Cold Brew is also heavenly.

The nightlife

Whichever mood you’re in for a night out, Birmingham’s got you covered. The bulk of bars and clubs can be found on Broad Street, just a 15-minute walk from the Bullring. This is the place you will undoubtedly end up. Snobs, Barbara’s Bier Haus (RIP Heidi’s), and Coyote Ugly are the greatest that Broad Street has to offer.

For something a bit more chill, Brindleyplace is the best place for you. Located right on the canal, the fairy-lit area has a multitude of bars for those who want to sit down with their friends and vibe to great music over an even better cocktail. The Slug & Lettuce can get rowdy, but The Alchemist and Be At One are great alternatives.

Read my recent blog post on the best student nights out in Birmingham for more nightlife info or, if you're not a big drinker, check out my blog post on the best alcohol-free activities in Birmingham.

Housing & popularity

With three universities in Birmingham (University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, and Aston University), the city centre is the second most popular area for student housing as of the 25/26 letting season according to UniHomes. Rent prices on the UniHomes website (as of August 2025) tend to average out at £200.13 per person per week but can be as low as £105 or as high as £365, and even include bills so that you don’t have to sort out your own utilities.

Whist this guide covers a lot of what Birmingham city centre has to offer, there is still plenty missing. The library, museum and Treetop Adventure Golf are also great trips out and make sure to visit nearby Digbeth for the best indie eats and bars in the city.

Our UniHomes Content Ambassadors are current students across the UK who share tips about student life in their city to help you make the most of your time at uni. If you're interested in writing for our programme, click here for more details.

The views and opinions expressed in these blogs are those of the UniHomes Content Ambassadors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of UniHomes. UniHomes accepts no liability for the content of these Student Blogs.