When I was in first year and living in Selly Oak, I felt slightly suffocated at times. I found myself either on campus, my flat (which overlooked campus), or in Selly. As somebody who can get restless after being in one place for too long, many a time I would walk to Cannon Hill Park from my lectures to escape campus, even just for a couple of hours. It was such a breath of fresh air (literally) to go somewhere that was so close and yet removed me from the university environment. I would walk on the residential streets of Edgbaston, marvelling at the beautiful houses, before entering the park which (after you have been in Selly for so long) seems like a little slice of paradise and temporary calm. The lake, the little hills, the different shades of green layered upon one another with the little spots of yellow and pink and orange flowers scattered around everywhere. I remember them looking a bit like fireflies amongst the frosty blades of grass in the winter months. I have so many fond memories walking around here collecting my own thoughts and learning to enjoy my own company. I would take myself to the MAC’s café to warm up and read – really it was just an excuse to get a hot chocolate and a sweet treat! It is so cosy in there – light and airy and yet homely and comforting. It was really what I needed when I was missing home and finding university life challenging.
… a little slice of paradise
B-Town Indie Night – Ash Sutton
It’s rare that you can stumble upon a good night out these days. When clubs are so full of remixes and far too much bass. There is a gap in the market for decent music. What if I told you a pub in Digbeth could fill that gap. B-Town is a regular gig night that runs in The Rainbow, while this is a little bit of a trek from our Edgbaston campus, the night promises a line-up of fabulous indie instrumental. The night usually consists of 4 relatively unknown bands, with the hopes that one of them will become your new favourite artist. Even if these bands don’t quite top Taylor Swift on your Spotify Wrapped, there are some amazing hidden gems you are guaranteed to find. And to top it all off, tickets cap at £6 on the door!
… a line-up of fabulous indie instrumental
Birmingham Hippodrome – Hannah Gadd
Birmingham Hippodrome offers a unique night out or daytime treat for students in the second city. Situated in the Chinese Quarter, the theatre boasts a capacity of just under two-thousand and a beautiful auditorium with options to sit in the stalls or the balcony. Whilst this is dependent on the show, the size of the theatre means affordable tickets are often available and still provide you with a spectacular view. Whether you’re after a glitzy musical, an elegant Birmingham Royal Ballet number, or a hilarious comedy set, the Hippodrome is guaranteed to keep you satisfied with everything from Frank Skinner to The Nutcracker. Just a five minute walk from New Street Station, the Hippodrome is easy to get to especially for students living in Edgbaston and in Selly Oak. Birmingham Hippodrome is a real gem and hosts a variety of productions that so many people can enjoy; a few standout shows arriving at the Hippodrome in the coming months are Six The Musical, Rob Beckett: Giraffe and Kinky Boots.
LA-POP! – Eve Hutchinson
I discovered LA-POP! during my first year at UoB when I was exploring the local restaurants and food places near Edgbaston. Located on Islington Row Middleway in Five Ways, LA-POP! is a small, cosy family-run dessert cafe. LA-POP! specialises in handmade gelato lollies using locally sourced organic milk. Visitors to LA-POP! can customise their lollies by selecting their own lolly; dip and drizzle to create your perfect Italian gelato. With bright, neon feature walls and 3D lolly lights, LA-POP! is a warm and welcoming café run by friendly staff with lots of Instagram-ready photo spots. I would highly recommend visiting LA-POP! if you want a delicious sweet treat on the go or want to hang out with friends on a trip into Birmingham city centre.
Ikon Gallery – James Richards
Two minutes from the mayhem of Broad Street sits Birmingham’s beloved Ikon Gallery. Spanning photography, painting, performance art and sculpture. Ikon exhibitions range from the traditional (an Edward Lear retrospective) to the not-so-traditional (monochrome photographs of brutalist buildings), to the downright unusual (performance artist Melati Suryodarmo grinding blocks of charcoal for 12 hours straight). Now approaching its seventh decade, Ikon remains both permanent and transient: its premises are Victorian; its exhibitions change every couple of months. The University of Birmingham, too, is Victorian; its students, too, migrate every couple of years. It is only in the Ikon, however, where these trajectories find themselves touching. The student encounters the art, a moment passes, then each spins out once again: locked on its own diverging orbit.
River Rea – Mickey van Tonder
It’s now Autumn, and the leaves are turning gorgeous shades of orange, brown and yellow. It’s especially the time of year that I find myself really looking out for things to do to immerse myself back in nature. I find the colder months make me feel far more miserable, and very very homesick, but I’ve found the best way to combat it, is by taking walks away from the big city. My friends and I have been loving taking walks along the River Rea, especially next to the Holders Lane Playing Fields. It’s a great area for a dog walk, if you have any pets, but it’s equally brilliant to just sit in the calm and enjoy the sounds of nature. It’s a great place to snap some photos too, especially now the leaves are vibrantly coloured. I highly recommend bringing a sketchbook to do some sketches of the wonderful nature and trees in the surrounding area. It’s so picturesque, and a perfect place for an artist to set-up shop. If bird-watching is more your style, the river is home to a variety of brilliant animals including kingfishers, ducks, buzzards, and plenty of other creatures burrowing along the riverbanks.
Reloved – Hannah Cleallsmith
My current favourite thing to do in Birmingham is to visit the Reloved charity shop in Harborne. The shop is arranged over two floors, encompassing retail and a café; it sells clothes, books, CDs and DVDs in aid of Birmingham Hospice. It caught my eye when I first went to Harborne, as it is rare that my interests in second-hand shopping and good coffee can be indulged on the same site! What I love is the welcoming atmosphere of the shop: I could easily spend an entire day there, rummaging through its plethora of wares in the knowledge that purchases I choose to make will be supporting a local cause. I was recently required to meet a dress code for an event, and I knew that Reloved was the place where I could find items that would help with this task: the clothes there are not expensive (great for students!) and are arranged by colour and style so that frantic rummaging through every rail is not required.
Winterbourne House & Gardens – Vidhi Bhanushali
Located just about a 10-minute walk from the main campus of the University, is a cosy, old cottage surrounded with the most vibrant and well-maintained garden. The Winterbourne House and Garden is one of those underrated spots in the city that is a perfect getaway for anyone!
Explore the history behind the house and garden as you walk through them. Find the most instagrammable spots by the small ponds and the pergolas. Get a chance to experience the workings of the Winterbourne Press that is still used to make cards and bags sold at the Winterbourne Gift Shop. For all antique and art freaks, the House has a collection of paintings, portraits and even dried plant specimens for you to look at. It’s cute and aesthetic mini-library and Book shop is definitely not to be missed.
… a perfect getaway
Just buy a cup of nice coffee at the café, sit outside amongst the nature for a solo, relaxing study session or a perfect, cute date or simply even a gathering.
Sign up to their newsletter online and get latest updates on the events, shows, talks happening in the House and Gardens!
The admissions fee is £8.80 for general single ticket, you could also buy a membership to avail more benefits!
Students studying at the University of Birmingham get a free entry with just their identity-cards!
Reel Brum – Ash Sutton
Reel Brum can only be described as a filmmaker’s dream. A monthly networking event held in the city’s centre of creativity Digbeth, usually at Fazeley Studios. Reel Brum gives aspiring filmmakers a place to meet peers and experts already in the industry. The event has been running for just over a year but provides the perfect opportunity to make contacts and seek advice. They hold short film screenings of amateur productions so new creatives can get their work noticed, and there are panels in which professionals will give tips and tricks to help hone in your creative skills. It’s a perfect place for film students to get a head start and meet new people in the hopes of catching their ‘big break’. Tickets are only £3!
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