Birmingham Travel Forum

Hi, I'll be moving to Birmingham from Manchester in March, and am about to start looking at flats. I don't know the area well at all, but I'll be working in Edgbaston - is this a good place to look for a flat to rent, or should I stick to the city centre? The flat needs to be big enough for myself, my boyfriend, a double bass and a huge record collection! We can pay up to around £600 pcm but would prefer to pay between 500-525. Any ideas for decent places to look around this price bracket?

Also, I know there is lots of nightlife in Birmingham but is this all dance/chart oriented and dressy or is there anything a bit more boho?

Any advice much appreciated

Hi,

Ok - first things first - the nightlife! There is a pretty cool indie scene in Brum. There's is the ironically named 'Snobs' nightclub, which is an underground club in the centre, with the cheapest drinks in Brum (50p shots!) and two rooms - one indie, one sixties. It's chilled and guarenteed fun where the clientelle ranges from sixties chicks to jeans and trainer types. Open weds (student night - even cheaper!), Friday and Sat. Also check out The Sanctuary - home to PANIC! A huge place with god know how many rooms catering from sixties, to emo, to indie, electro and all that - thats on every other Saturday - take your phone you're guaurenteed to get lost there! There is also 'resurrection' at Subway every other Friday - again indie and sixties and electro. Flyers get you in cheaper everywhere so look out in the record shops and decent pubs.

If you want to steer clear of commericail dance and all that keep off broad street - home of cheese. Not a bad place to go for drinks in the day mind - and take advantage of two-for-ones in a wide range of bars - but beware going there after dark! Cheese central.

Ok enough about that, I could go on forever! Edgbaston - what can I say about that area...hmm it's 'complex' in that some parts of it are beautiful, but if you choose the wrong end you'll know about it! Harbourne is an area right next to Edgebaston - on the nice side, I'd also advise looking there for your price range, it's very nice too.

Personally if you don't NEED to be in the city centre - ie for work or whatever then there's no point paying the extra to live there - transport - esp from edgbaston/harbourne into the city is very frequent and fast.

Hope this helps. Feel free to email me. I can give you directions to Snobs!

x Sar

Thanks!! I'd given up on anyone answering this post! I've got a couple of flats to look at, in Edgbaston and in Harbourne. Hopefully I can find something decent!

I might drop you an email at some point as my boyfriend is a DJ in Manchester and we may need some tips on good places in Brum to drop his mix CD to

Thanks again for the tips,

Lucy x

Hi
Most of Edgbaston is very nice. Harborne and Moseley are also good places to live. The City Centre would be a great place to live but I believe it is very pricey.
Good luck with the flat hunt.