Birmingham is the largest city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, with unique, picturesque neighbourhoods.
Explore the artistic and activity-filled Digbeth area, delve into delicious Indian cuisine in the Balti Triangle, and experience the world of the Peaky Blinders in Small Heath.
In this article, we’ll cover the 19 main neighbourhoods or cities in Birmingham, a few surrounding towns and introduce you to Birmingham’s rich history.
| Read More: Discover all you need to know about Birmingham’s Diverse Population. Go beyond the city with these 15 Day Trip Ideas From Birmingham, United Kingdom. |
This Article Contains:
- 19 Main Neighbourhoods or Towns in Birmingham
- Other Popular Towns in the West Midlands Region
- A Brief History of Birmingham
19 Main Neighbourhoods or Towns in Birmingham
Here’s a list of the main towns in Birmingham, West Midlands:
1. Digbeth
Located near Birmingham City University, Digbeth is an eccentric part of Birmingham city named the ‘Coolest Neighbourhood in Britain’ by the Sunday Times. This urban area is home to the Custard Factory – where every person can enjoy events, activities, and craft cocktails!
Nearest bus/train stations
Train: Birmingham Coach Station (1 min walk and drive)
Bus: Oxford St (Stop DS10) (1 min walk and drive)
Nearby attractions: The Custard Factory (5 min drive and walk)
2. Erdington
This West Midland town was established by settlers who travelled up the River Tame from Tamworth. The village is well-known for its Spaghetti Junction – a large and complex motorway junction on the M6.
Nearest bus/train stations
Train: Erdington train station (12 min walk)
Bus: Six Ways Erdington (Stop EK) (1 min walk)
Nearby attractions: Star City (8 min drive and 37 min walk)
3. Edgbaston
Edgbaston is a local government district – one of 40 wards that make up Birmingham City Council.
This central Birmingham town is home to the St Martin Church, kid-friendly play areas, and The Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Edgbaston is also the headquarters of The Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce.
Nearest bus/train stations
Train: Five Ways (17 min walk)
Bus: Edgbaston Old Church bus stop (3 min walk)
Nearby attractions: Cannon Hill Park (7 min drive and 22 min)
4. Harbourne
Located 10-minutes from Birmingham city centre, Harbourne offers you the best of both worlds – a rustic environment that’s a stone’s throw away from the bustling city life.
Additionally, the town is located near attractions like the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and St Peter’s Church.
Nearest bus/train stations
Train: Selly Oak station (39 min walk)
Bus: Court Oak Rd, Lordswood Rd (1 min walk)
Nearby attractions: Cadbury World (10 min drive and 51 min walk)
5. Moseley
Located near Kings Heath, Moseley has a strong village community and many visitors thanks to the town’s beautiful green space, lively pubs, and independent shops.
Nearest bus/train stations
Train: Moseley Village (2 min drive and 3 min walk)
Bus: Wake Green Rd (1 min drive and walk)
Nearby attractions: Cannon Hill Park (5 min drive and 23 min walk)
6. Solihull
Located 7.5 miles south east of Birmingham, Solihull has many transport links into Birmingham city, making it a fantastic choice for commuters. Solihull is also one of the main venues for the 2022 Commonwealth Games and one of the closest cities to the Birmingham Airport.
Nearest bus/train stations
Train: Solihull (12 min walk)
Bus: St Alphege Church (2 min walk)
Nearby attractions: Solihull Malvern Park (2 min drive and 6 min walk)
7. Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield is home to the legendary Sutton Park – one of the largest urban parks in England. The park boasts picturesque lakes, green space, and wildlife, and offers every person fun activities like canoeing and horse riding.
Nearest bus/train stations
Train: Sutton Coldfield (8 min walk)
Bus: Bishop Vesey’s School (5 min walk)
Nearby attractions: Sutton Park National Nature Reserve (13 min drive and 37 min walk)
8. Small Heath
Apart from being home to the iconic Peaky Blinders TV show, Small Heath is located near exciting tourist attractions like the Birmingham Hippodrome, Ghetto Golf, and the Bullring and Grand Central.
Nearest bus/train stations
Train: Adderley Park (13 min walk)
Bus: Muntz Street (1 min walk)
Nearby attractions: Bullring and Grand Central (9 min drive and 35 min walk)
9. Balsall Heath
Located in Birmingham city centre, Balsall Heath is home to a diverse group of Birmingham residents and is within walking distance to the Balti Triangle.
Nearest bus/train stations
Train: Bordesley (BBS) (28 min walk)
Bus: Moseley Road Baths (4 min walk)
Nearby attractions: Creation Climbing Centre (2 min drive and 5 min walk)
10. Balti Triangle
The Balti Triangle is a neighbourhood in Birmingham metropolitan borough with various Balti restaurants, stylish Asian fashion, and dessert parlours.
Nearest bus/train stations
Bus: Ladypool Rd bus stop (3 min walk)
Train: The Bordesley station (26 min walk)
Nearby attractions: Creation Climbing Centre (5 min drive and 16 min walk)
11. Brindley Place
Brindley Place is one of Birmingham’s most beautiful and exciting destinations. Located near the canal and Broad Street, Brindley Place offers exquisite dining and party experiences with a view.
Nearest bus/train stations
Bus: Crescent Theatre bus stop (3 min walk)
Train: Five Ways train station (16 min walk)
Nearby attractions: Broad Street (7 min drive and 3 min walk)
12. Holloway Head
Holloway Head is an urban area that’s located in the city centre. Here, you’ll find popular attractions like Chamberlain Square, which is named after Joseph Chamberlain – a former mayor who played a significant role in the Second Boer War in South Africa.
Holloway Head is also near the Thomas Attwood Statue and Victoria Square.
Nearest bus/train stations
Train: Birmingham New Street (7 min walk)
Bus: Ernest St (Stop HH2) (1 min walk)
Nearby attractions: Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (8 min drive and 13 min walk)
13. Jewellery Quarter
Located in Central Birmingham, the Jewellery Quarter is home to over 700 jewellers and independent shops. In fact, around 40% of jewellery in Great Britain is made in the Jewellery Quarter. The area also boasts lively pubs and fine arts scenes and is within walking distance of Birmingham City University.
Nearest bus/train stations
Bus: Regent Place (1 min walk)
Train: Jewellery Quarter Station (6 min walk)
Nearby attractions: Centenary Square (11 min drive and 15 min walk)
14. Ladywood
Birmingham’s Ladywood is located near many world-class attractions like Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Symphony Hall, Centenary Square, and Victoria Square.
Nearest bus/train stations
Train: Jewellery Quarter (19 min walk)
Bus: Cope St (2 min walk)
Nearby attractions: Legoland Discovery Centre (4 min drive and 7 min walk)
15. Chinatown
Birmingham’s Chinatown is a culturally rich neighbourhood near the city centre. The area boasts beautiful local landmarks, Chinese architectural designs, and authentic dishes like dim sum and hot pot. Commuters can reach Chinatown via the Birmingham New Street station.
Nearest bus/train stations
Train: Birmingham New Street (5 min walk)
Bus: Pershore St/Bromsgrove St (Stop PS2) (3 min walk)
Nearby attractions: Genting Casino Chinatown (3 min drive and 2 min walk)
16. Great Barr
The Great Barr is a spacious area near the north west of Birmingham, United Kingdom. The area was previously known as Perry Barr.
Today, Perry Barr is an independent Birmingham district near the Great Barr.
Nearest bus/train stations
Train: Hamstead railway station (28 min walk)
Bus: Morjon Drive Junction (3 min walk)
Nearby attractions: Red House Park (3 min drive and 12 min walk)
17. Bournville
Bournville is a model village founded by the Quaker Cadbury family for their Cadbury factory employees. Bournville is home to the only functioning Cadbury World ever since the one in New Zealand closed permanently.
Interestingly, this West Midland town was previously known as “The Dry Village” due to a booze ban that ended after 120 years.
Nearest bus/train stations
Train: Bournville (21 min walk)
Bus: Mary Vale Rd (1 min walk)
Nearby attractions: Cadbury World (1 min drive and 5 min walk)
18. Kings Heath
Kings Heath is home to two beautiful parks – Kings Heath Park and Highbury Park. The latter is located near the former home of Joseph Chamberlain.
Nearest bus/train stations
Train: Bournville (34 min walk)
Bus: Institute Rd (Stop KN) (1 min walk)
Nearby attractions: Highbury Hall (4 min drive and 18 min walk)
19. King’s Norton
Kings Norton is a commercial area with plenty of retail shops, parks, and exciting activities for kids like indoor karting and the Tumble Jungle.
Nearest bus/train stations
Train: Kings Norton (KNN) (20 min walk)
Bus: Elderfield Road (1 min walk)
Nearby attractions: King’s Norton Park (4 min drive and 16 min walk)
Other Popular Towns in the West Midlands Region
Here are a few other popular areas near Birmingham city, West Midlands:
- Rowley Regis
- West Bromwich
- Wolverhampton
- Coventry
- Leicester
- Derby
- Nottingham
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Oldbury
- Lichfield
- Leamington Spa
- The Black Country (Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall)
A Brief History of Birmingham City
Birmingham is the second-largest city in Great Britain and lies 100 miles north west of London. The city covers 267.8 km² and is home to approximately 1,140,500 Birmingham residents.
Historically, Birmingham was a medium-sized market and medieval town with a small population.
Birmingham’s creative industry blossomed during the West Midlands Enlightenment period, and the city rose to prominence thanks to its inventions throughout the Industrial Revolution.
By 1791, Birmingham city was characterised by thousands of small workshops and was known as the first manufacturing town in the world.
Today, Birmingham is run by the Birmingham City Council (the local government), while Boris Johnson leads the UK government.
Birmingham also has internationally-recognised fine arts institutions like the Birmingham Royal Ballet and Birmingham Repertory Theatre and is set to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games!