Where To Stay In Birmingham: The Ultimate Neighborhood Guide

The capital of the West Midlands, Birmingham is one of the UK's biggest and most vibrant cities.

But before you can head out to enjoy what the city has to offer, you'll need to find a place to stay in Birmingham. And while central Birmingham and the city centre certainly have plenty of hotels to choose from, it will help a lot if you know what area of the city you want to stay in. After all, the UK's second city is a big place, and it is full of neighborhoods that each have their own unique character.

Check out our guide for an idea of where to stay in Birmingham. And no matter what neighborhood suits you the best, don't forget to drop off your bags at a Bounce luggage storage in Birmingham. Traveling light will make it much easier to get around and experience everything the city has to offer.

You'll find plenty to do here, from impressive exhibits of ancient and modern art at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery to catching a game at Villa Park to exploring the past at Soho House. And that's to say nothing of the great food and unmissable things to do at night there are in Birmingham.

Home to Birmingham International Airport, the city is easy to reach from just about anywhere in the UK and around the world, and as a major transportation hub, it's a really easy place to explore.

City Centre

Birmingham city centre is where to stay in Birmingham if you want to be close to the heart of the action. The recently redeveloped Bullring shopping centre has revitalized the once struggling heart of the city and turned this former industrial and manufacturing town into a great place to have fun. Many streets in Birmingham city centre have been pedestrianized, making it a great place to go for walk. And if you want to stay within walking distance of the city's top attractions and main shopping areas, this is where you will be able to do it. Birmingham city centre is a cultural and economic hub for the entire West Midlands region, and you'll find it impossible to run out of things to do here.

Birmingham city centre is well served by New Street station, making it easy to figure out how to get around Birmingham. You can enjoy the beautiful green space of the city centre gardens, learn more about the city's history at the Birmingham Museum, enjoy modern art at IKON Gallery, or savor some of the best food and shopping in the country at Bullring shopping centre. Treat yourself to a waterside dinner at a charming restaurant at Gas Street Basin, or enjoy the hustle and bustle of the lively market at Burlington arcade. You'll also find some great pubs, bars, and nightclubs in Birmingham city centre if you're more of a night owl.

With so much to do in the heart of the city, it's no surprise that some of Birmingham's best hotels are located close to the city centre. The Grand Hotel lives up to its name with pure Victorian opulence and is within easy walking distance of many of the city's top attractions. If you prefer something a little more modest, the Holiday Inn Express Birmingham City Centre doesn't offer many surprises but does provide clean, comfortable rooms in a great location. Staying so close to New Street Station also makes it easy to visit some of the surrounding towns or travel across the UK. In short, if you like to stay busy on your vacation, the city centre is the answer to the question of where to stay in Birmingham.

Jewellery Quarter

Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter is a historic district right next to the city center. Although it has declined since its late 19th and early 20th century heyday, the Jewellery Quarter remains one of Europe's most important districts for jewelry production. And with its well-preserved jewelry workshops and factories, this historic neighborhood is a great place to stay in Birmingham for history buffs and architecture fanatics. Plus, it's close enough to the city centre that you can walk or take public transportation to most of Birmingham's top attractions. Therefore, this is where to stay in Birmingham if you'd like to be close to lots of things to do but still have a somewhat relaxing trip.

This neighborhood has some of Birmingham's most interesting museums, including the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter and the Pen Museum. And as one of the city's more touristed areas, it also has a great selection of restaurants, including places where you can get the best brunch in Birmingham. But despite its understandable popularity, this neighborhood still offers some quiet corners where you can enjoy a more relaxing break in the West Midlands. For example, St Paul's Square is a peaceful neighborhood within the Jewellery Quarter that preserves the city's last remaining Georgian Square.

Hotels in this area include the ritzy Crowne Plaza and the Clayton Hotel, but there are also some bargains to be found like the Premier Inn and the firmly no-frills easyHotel Birmingham City Centre. This neighborhood offers a great balance between being close to the heart of the action while being far enough away to get some rest and relaxation on your holiday.

Convention Quarter

Anchored by Birmingham's International Convention Centre, Convention Quarter is a great choice for a stay in Birmingham if you like to stay busy but would rather not be right in the city centre. Naturally, it's also a great place to stay in Birmingham if you're in town to catch a show at the National Indoor Arena or Birmingham Symphony Hall. Bordering the lively nightlife area of Broad Street, this commercial area offers plenty to do. And while it may lack the historic charm of Birmingham city centre, it has plenty of more modern attractions to keep you busy and entertained during your stay in Birmingham.

Thanks to the presence of the convention centre, this area has tons of places to stay, though they usually tend toward the blandly corporate. If you're looking for boutique hotels in Birmingham, this area may not be the best choice for you. However, you will find clean, comfortable, modern rooms to suit all budgets.

Westside

If a trip to you just isn't complete without some exciting nightlife, Westside is the only answer for where to stay in Birmingham. This neighborhood lies close to the city centre and Convention Quarter, giving you easy access to many of the top things to do and see in the city including Symphony Hall, Birmingham Repertory Theater, the Bullring Shopping Centre, and all the great museums and cultural attractions the city has to offer.

But Westside is perhaps best known for being the location of Birmingham's notorious Broad Street. One of the city's major shopping centers by day, Broad Street transforms at night into one of the top nightlife destinations in the West Midlands, if not in the entire country. You'll find a virtually limitless selection of wine bars, restaurants, pubs, clubs, and live music venues along Broad Street, so you can party the night away and mix with friendly locals as well as fellow travelers.

The area around Broad Street also offers plenty of hotels if you need a place to crash after the night's excitement. Jurys Inn, overlooking the canal basin, is close to all the action on Broad Street and offers a comfortable place to stay in Birmingham. If this four-star hotel is a little out of your price range, there's also the Hampton by Hilton or a Travelodge in the area. Wherever you choose to stay, you'll be right in the beating heart of one of the UK's best nightlife districts.

Digbeth

In many ways, the story of Digbeth represents the story of Birmingham as a whole. Back at the start of the 20th century, Digbeth was a grimy district of smoky factories and forbidding tenement housing. This is a neighborhood that was home to the notorious Peaky Blinders gang, and Digbeth was a byword for crime and urban blight. However, in recent decades, like the rest of Birmingham, Digbeth has come a long way. And as is often the case with downtrodden neighborhoods, what was once a neglected corner of the city has become its coolest and trendiest district.

Modern Digbeth is home to the Digbeth Dining Club, a monthly outdoor dining event where you'll find some of the best street food in Birmingham. Cultural institutions like the Custard Factory have given the area a much-needed shot in the arm, and now you're more likely to find fashion boutiques and pop-up restaurants than you are shady pubs and gambling parlors. If you want to be close to what's new and exciting in Birmingham's cultural scene, this is the place to do it.

If you want to give Digbeth a try during a stay in Birmingham, check out the Adagio Aparthotel for cozy and reasonably priced lodging. If you're traveling on a budget, Birmingham Central Backpackers hostel is also in this area.

Edgbaston

Located on the outskirts of Birmingham, the neighborhood of Edgbaston is perhaps best known for its international cricket ground. And that stadium brings thousands of visitors to Edgbaston every year. However, even if you're not a cricket fan, Edgbaston has its own unique appeal for a stay in Birmingham. This suburban area combines the best of the city and the country, and a walk around Edgbaston Reservoir will make you feel like you've traveled a long way from the bustling heart of Birmingham. This is also the location of Birmingham Botanical Gardens and the much loved Cannon Hill Park, where Birmingham locals come to relax and get some fresh air.

Hotels in Edgbaston can be harder to come by than in the city centre, but you still won't struggle to find a place to stay. The Edgbaston Park Hotel lies close to the popular theme park Cadbury World and offers free parking along with comfortable accommodation. Alternatively, High Field Town House is a boutique hotel offering countryside ambiance in this relaxing neighborhood.

Conclusion

Each of Birmingham's different neighborhoods has something different to offer. From the commercial buzz of the city centre to the lively nightlife of Westside to the semirural charm of Edgbaston, whatever you like to experience on a holiday, chances are good you'll find it here. And with so many top attractions and cultural activities to take part in within the city itself, you'll never run out of things to do here.

Don't forget to drop off your bags at a Bounce luggage storage in Birmingham so you can enjoy your time in the city unencumbered. And don't forget to set aside some time to explore these unique neighborhoods so that you'll come away with a better understanding of what makes this big city so special.