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.

Reply 1

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 13 years ago)

Reply 2

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

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?

Reply 4

Lil Lee Lee

2

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

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:

Edgbaston

Moseley and Kings Heath(parts) are quite nice.
Solihull is better than Birmingham in general, apart from Chelmsley Wood that is.

Reply 8

LSE-or-Broke

OP

7

Original post by gillipies

My flat is up for sale at the moment too if you're interested :wink:

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

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?)

Reply 10

Redreynard

10

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

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!

Reply 12

Lil Lee Lee

2

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.