Blog: 5 things to do outside of the city centre and campus
Written by Eloise
Living in Birmingham for university will be the time of your life, as there is so much to do around campus and in the city centre. However, sometimes these places might feel repetitive and there’s nothing better than exploring!
Birmingham and its surrounding areas are full of unique and surprising activities, whether it’s for a solo trip or a day out with your friends. To save you the hassle and stress of finding things to do, this list compiles everything that you should experience at least once during your time at the University of Birmingham.
1. Cafe hopping in Moseley and Kings Heath
Moseley and Kings Heath are two areas of Birmingham super close to campus and easy to get to. They are full of independent coffee shops and cafes. My personal favourites include:
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Maison Mayci, which does the best, most authentic pastries in the area, alongside wines and main meals at an affordable price.
Even if none of these sound like your thing, there are plenty of other cafes in these areas. If you walk down the High Street you are guaranteed to find your perfect coffee match in coffee form.
Moseley and Kings Heath are incredibly easy to get to from campus. You can either get the 76 bus directly to Kings Heath High Street from Dawlish Road, or the 1 bus from Chamberlain Hall to Moseley. Alternatively, you can travel to Birmingham New Street and get the train to the brand-new stations for Moseley and Kings Heath. You can also choose to walk from Moseley to Kings Heath which takes around 25 minutes or get the 50 bus which connects them.
2. Malvern Hills
Birmingham is surrounded by natural beauty, and you might not even know it! The Malvern Hills are a hiking trail perfect for beginners, and perfect for people who love the outdoors (rumour has it that if you follow the Worcestershire Beacon or Black Hill trail then you will find highland cows!). It’s a perfect place to chill and watch the sunset or to spend a day out filled with beautiful views.
The Malvern Hills is extremely accessible from campus as the University train station will take you directly to the Great Malvern station. From there all you have to do is walk into the landscape and take in the views.
3. Charity shopping in Harborne
Get jealous when you see American thrift store hauls? Harborne is as close as you will get! The e High Street is overflowing with a range of charity shops, including one that has its own cafe and the biggest Acorn’s you will ever see. You can easily spend an entire day in Harborne shopping, as every time you think you have reached the end, another shop will emerge.
Harborne is a stone’s throw away from campus: you can either walk there in around 25 minutes or get the 23, 24, or 48 buses from campus.
4. Leasowes Park
Leasowes Park is a magical haven that will help you get away from the busy bustle of campus. It is full of endless wildlife, waterfalls, lakes and viewpoints. You can walk around for hours getting lost in the scenery. There are not many people around in this park, so it is the perfect escape, and it’s completely free to enter. This Grade I listed parkland is described as having a ‘Roman aesthetic’ which was designed to inspire poetry.
From campus, Leasowes Park takes around an hour to get to. You have to get to Birmingham City Centre and catch the X10 or the Platinum 9 bus which will take you straight to the park.
5. Warwick and Stratford-Upon-Avon
One of the many things that people from the West Midlands take pride in is the fact that Shakespeare was born here, and you can easily visit where he lived. Stratford-Upon-Avon is saturated with unique activities and makes for a perfect day out. There are plenty of small antique shops throughout the town for you to wander around and get lost in, or you can embark on a relaxing boat ride along the canal. Once you’ve done that, you can visit Shakespeare’s house or the Butterfly Farm, followed by a Ferris wheel ride and an ice cream. To end the day, you can watch a play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, which offers student discounts!
A short distance away from Stratford-Upon-Avon is the medieval town of Warwick, home to the infamous Warwick castle. In the summer, Warwick is perfect for wild swimming in the River Avon or simply relaxing beside the river with a picnic. On a rainy day, it is still perfect for exploring independent shops and visiting the Saturday markets.
Getting to Warwick and Stratford-Upon-Avon is easy, and the journey takes around an hour. There are frequent, direct trains to both Warwick and Stratford-Upon-Avon from Birmingham Moor Street station and (at the time of writing) return tickets cost less than £10 with a railcard!
So, next time you’re feeling uninspired, trying to plan a fun day out, remember that Birmingham is the second biggest city in the UK, and there is plenty to explore in the surrounding areas!