You’ve heard of The Seven Wonders of The World but have you heard of The Seven Wonders of Birmingham? If you’re a university student, you might want to find out.
Bournville
You’ll find Bournville on the southwest side of Birmingham. The Village was founded by the Cadbury family for the employees at their factory and is now the home of Cadbury World.
Cadbury World makes for a great day out. They even offer discounted student tickets! What’s more, being surrounded by chocolate sounds like a dream to me.
Nearby there is a small high street with a charity shop, a book shop and the star of the street, Kafenion. Kafenion is an independent cafe in Bournville, their food is delicious and so is their coffee! Whether you want a new coffee shop to study in or a spot to go for a gossip with a friend, Kafenion is perfect. It is truly Bournville’s hidden gem.
Brindley Place
You will never run out of things to do in Brindley Place. Known for its array of restaurants, bars and theatres, Brindley Place is where it’s at.
My personal favourites in the area are:
- Pitcher and Piano (a bar that serves amazing food and has 2-for-1 cocktails every weekday from 3-8pm!)
- Cocoa by Ali (a tea room and patisserie owned by Great British Bake Off star Ali Imdad)
- IKON (an internationally acclaimed contemporary art gallery)
- Everyman Cinema (a lush cinema with elegant couches that offers student prices!)
On top of the great options Brindley Place has to offer, it is a gorgeous area. With the canal running through it, it is a lovely place even if you just fancy a stroll.
Chance & Counters
You’ll find Chance & Counters, a board game café, in the Custard Factory in Digbeth. For just £3 per person, you can play any board games for up to two hours, or £6 per person for four hours.
Recently I played a somewhat competitive, but friendly, game of Scrabble in Chance & Counters with some friends and, if I’m honest, it was a highlight of my week. The staff are super friendly and the atmosphere in the café is warm and inviting.
To add to that, the food and milkshakes are delicious. They can even add a shot of Bailey’s into your shakes! I never thought of mixing alcohol in a milkshake but it definitely upgraded my Oreo one.
Circo
Circo is a very well hidden student bar in Selly Oak. If it wasn’t for the massive queues on Circo Mondays, you wouldn’t even know that there’s a nightlife venue there.
The reason this venue has made it on this list, while many other suitable venues didn’t, is because I think every student should experience Circo at least once. You will either love it or hate it, there’s no in-between.
The outdoor area is decently sized and is perfect to have a gossip, smoke or even order more drinks at the outdoor bar! The dance floor is a sauna. If you can find the small section where the air conditioning hits, congratulations. Whatever you do do not leave that spot! The music is usually great (if there’s a themed night then that may differ), this tends to make up for the intensity of the heat on the dance floor.
While it may not be regarded as the best club in Birmingham, for students living in Selly Oak it is just a couple minutes walk away at most. It’s convenience makes up for the other areas it may lack in. On top of that, the drinks are decently priced!
The Gay Village
Birmingham’s Gay Village is home to various bars and clubs catered to the LGBTQ+ community. Some of the gems of Gay Village include The Nightingale Club, Missing Bar and The Village Inn.
The Nightingale Club holds a student night every Thursday, even over the summer! On Thursdays, both drinks and entry are cheaper.
The Gay Village is a safe space for all members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies are welcome too. Most importantly, just ensure you respect the safe spaces you enter into and remember that they are settings where LGBTQ+ people should feel comfortable and accepted.
Cannon Hill Park
I would consider Cannon Hill Park the Hyde Park of Birmingham. Not only is it a gorgeous park, perfect for picnics on sunny days, but there are so many other things to do there.
Fancy some swan lake boating? Just like on the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park, the same can be done in Cannon Hill Park.
Alternatively you can play some mini golf or visit the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park!
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
The Birmingham Botanical Gardens opened to members of the Birmingham Botanical and Horticultural Society in 1832, almost 200 years ago! Today anyone can visit and some of the elements of the gardens from the 19th century are still there such as the terrace glasshouses.
The gardens are regarded as an important centre for social functions in the City. I have attended a university ball and a student group’s award show at the gardens and in all honesty the social aspect of the gardens is excellent.
As for the plants, they are nothing short of stunning. If you’re a student in Birmingham and haven’t visited the gardens yet then you know what needs to be done. They even offer discounted student admissions at just £5.50 (without GiftAid)!