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Lakeside residences
Aston University, Birmingham
Birmingham
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What are the better areas in Birmingham?

Now that my degree is over, I have to move off campus, but I fancy staying in Birmingham for a while longer. What are the better places to live? Or alternatively, which places should I avoid like the plague?

For example I hear Selly Oak is a prime crime target because of all the students. Handsworth and Perry Barr are apparently dangerous and dirty. I like the City Centre, but rents seem really expensive here, etc etc.

Any advice from anyone who's moved off campus would be welcome.

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Reply 1
Avatar for TRS-T
TRS-T
13
Sutton Coldfield is the best part of Birmingham.

I think areas like Harborne, Edgbaston, Bournville are also supposed to be some of the best areas in Birmingham.

I think the worst areas are probably like Handsworth, Lozells, Aston and Nechells.

Mainly the worst areas seem to be where they are high ethnic minority population (which tend to be the inner-city areas) although there are poor white areas as well.

Good map showing ethnic diversity - http://www.birminghameconomy.org.uk/wards/wardethcomp.htm

This should give you a good rough idea:

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2011/03/16/revealed-birmingham-children-in-poverty-shock-97319-28342785/2/
(edited 12 years ago)
Lakeside residences
Aston University, Birmingham
Birmingham
Visit website
Reply 2
Avatar for TlanTlan
TlanTlan
6
Sutton Coldfield going out to lichfield are lovely, basically the further you get from new street on cross city line the better.
Reply 3
Avatar for LSE-or-Broke
LSE-or-Broke
OP
7

Thanks a lot, that's a good start.
Sutton Coldfield
Harborne
Edgbaston
Bournville
Lichfield

I'll start looking around these areas. Any other suggestions? Places to stay the heck away without a 2x4?
Original post by LSE-or-Broke
Thanks a lot, that's a good start.
Sutton Coldfield
Harborne
Edgbaston
Bournville
Lichfield

I'll start looking around these areas. Any other suggestions? Places to stay the heck away without a 2x4?


I'm living in the Jewellery Quarter pretty much in Hockley and it's alright!
Reply 5
Avatar for gillipies
gillipies
12
I live in Northfield at the minute. It's a little chavvy in certain places but generally a nice place to live. Excellent high street and it's on the cross city train line, 20 minutes from New Street. It's also a stone's throw from the Worcestershire border and some beautiful countryside if you like that kind of thing. Probably cheaper than places like Sutton Coldfield etc. My flat is up for sale at the moment too if you're interested :wink: :tongue:
Reply 6
Avatar for moesy
moesy
9
Edgbaston
Moseley and Kings Heath(parts) are quite nice.
Solihull is better than Birmingham in general, apart from Chelmsley Wood that is.
Reply 8
Avatar for LSE-or-Broke
LSE-or-Broke
OP
7
Original post by gillipies
My flat is up for sale at the moment too if you're interested :wink: :tongue:


For sale? I couldn't possibly afford to buy a whole flat.

Thanks for all the replies so far, they're helping me narrow down my options.

Three areas I've seen a lot on gumtree but haven't heard anything here about: Saltley, Alum Rock and Small Heath. Yay or no.
Reply 9
Avatar for TRS-T
TRS-T
13
Original post by LSE-or-Broke
For sale? I couldn't possibly afford to buy a whole flat.

Thanks for all the replies so far, they're helping me narrow down my options.

Three areas I've seen a lot on gumtree but haven't heard anything here about: Saltley, Alum Rock and Small Heath. Yay or no.


They are deprived inner city Muslim areas lol.

(I'm guessing you're white?)
Original post by TRS-T
Sutton Coldfield is the best part of Birmingham.

I think areas like Harborne, Edgbaston, Bournville are also supposed to be some of the best areas in Birmingham.

I think the worst areas are probably like Handsworth, Lozells, Aston and Nechells.

Mainly the worst areas seem to be where they are high ethnic minority population (which tend to be the inner-city areas) although there are poor white areas as well.

Good map showing ethnic diversity - http://www.birminghameconomy.org.uk/wards/wardethcomp.htm

This should give you a good rough idea:

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2011/03/16/revealed-birmingham-children-in-poverty-shock-97319-28342785/2/



thanks very much, two excellent ways of analysing brum. i think by the looks of things that selly oak is a pretty fair bet. fairly central and at least reasonably good socially.
Reply 11
Avatar for LSE-or-Broke
LSE-or-Broke
OP
7
Original post by TRS-T
They are deprived inner city Muslim areas lol.

(I'm guessing you're white?)


Race doesn't matter to me, but "deprived" and "inner city" do.

Thanks for all the replies. Here's hoping I get something good!
Original post by LSE-or-Broke
For sale? I couldn't possibly afford to buy a whole flat.

Thanks for all the replies so far, they're helping me narrow down my options.

Three areas I've seen a lot on gumtree but haven't heard anything here about: Saltley, Alum Rock and Small Heath. Yay or no.


I drive through those parts of Brum pretty often and I wouldn't live there!
Harborne/Edgbaston :daydreaming:
Reply 14
Avatar for LSE-or-Broke
LSE-or-Broke
OP
7

Last question: Erdington. There are a lot of Erdington houses on studentpad.
Reply 15
Avatar for avion111
avion111
so if aston is part of the worst areas, then aston university is unsafe and a dump?
Reply 16
Avatar for Smtn
Smtn
16
Aston is B6, Aston Uni is B4


Original post by LSE-or-Broke
Last question: Erdington. There are a lot of Erdington houses on studentpad.


Pretty ****ty, can be ok if you're closer to Gravelly Hill area
Reply 17
Avatar for avion111
avion111
Original post by Smtn
Aston is B6, Aston Uni is B4


what????
Original post by avion111
what????


Different post codes (I assume). Aston uni isn't actually in Aston, it's much closer to the centre of town.
Reply 19
Avatar for LSE-or-Broke
LSE-or-Broke
OP
7
Original post by Smtn

Pretty ****ty, can be ok if you're closer to Gravelly Hill area


****ty in terms of crime or just not very posh? And Gravelly Hill is good?

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