Birmingham

Birmingham is located in the West Midlands in the heart of England. Often described as England’s second city it is a hub of business, tourism and importantly – is home to Cadburys dairy chocolate. Our Birmingham Area Guide looks at the residential regions of the city centre. These areas can be broken down into several quarters and are currently undergoing some exciting regeneration. As well as this, it explores the best places to live in Birmingham and reviews from residents who own or rent in Birmingham.

Birmingham residents, or Brummies, provide a welcoming home to new visitors and old. Birmingham’s history is built on its industrial power and majestic waterways, music, shopping and culture.

4.82
Average Location Score

Excellent

84%

Very Good

13%

Average

3%

Disappointing

0%

Very Poor

0%

Best places to live in Birmingham

HomeViews Top Rated Development ranking takes into account the Star Rating and HomeViews Transparency Rating of every development in the area

New flats behind a train line

Getting Around Birmingham

Birmingham city is very much at the heart of the UK. It thrives off links to all the major motorways with links to the M5, M6, M40 and M42 via the Spaghetti Junction. As a transport hub with national bus and train links and a smart new tram system, Birmingham is easily connected to the rest of the UK. Also, Birmingham’s Finance district highest number of insurance and finance businesses outside of London. With a number of luxury offices with restaurants, cafés or commercial outlets there are also a growing number of residential apartments.

Old canal building in front of Office blocks in Birmingham, West Midlands

The Jewellery Quarter

The Jewellery Quarter dates back over 250 years and is home to more than 500 jewellery retailers making it one of the largest concentrations of jewellery businesses in Europe. The JQ, as it’s known locally, is home to bars, independent restaurants and creative businesses. The Jewellery Quarter home to Islington Gates and Regency Place is often described as the perfect place to work, rest and play.

 

“Close to the city centre and canal side. Love the view.” Anon, Verified Resident of Islington Gates

East Side

Birmingham’s East Side is undergoing some of the most active redevelopment. A number of parks, office buildings and luxury apartments are being built whilst incorporating some of its old charm. As well as this, the Hs2 link offering fast speed connections to London will be arriving into Curzon Street Station. Not far from the Bullring shopping centre is Digbeth, also known as the Irish Quarter and Birmingham’s creative district. With galleries, music venues, and independent shops, this area of Birmingham is home to the famous Custard Factory.

Birmingham's new library

China Town

China Town, more formally known as Southside, perfectly sums up much of Birmingham multi-cultural charm. With clubs, shops, residential apartments like Madison House and The Forum as well as a multitude of restaurant. Also, this area incorporates The gay village, Chinese quarter and Hippodrome theatre.

 

“I think the area is quite fine. As it is close to the city centre, I find it very accessible and convenient to get around. There are also lots of shops and restaurants nearby.” James, Verified Resident of The Forum

The City Centre

If you are, however, looking for canal side living and a huge variety of leisure facilities then the west side of the Birmingham City Centre, home to Liberty Place, is the area for you. The Brindley Place area contains international entertainment centres including: The International Convention Centre, Symphony Hall and Sealife Centre. The Gun Quarter which previously supported the productions of guns now has a number of unconverted buildings ripe for conversion. As such this is an area undergoing a lot of change and is forecasted to be one of the best areas to rent in Birmingham.

 

“Good area, classed as city centre but outside city centre. Close to nice bars and restaurants. Don’t need to use buses or trains you can easily everywhere.” Anon, Verified Resident of Liberty Place

 

You can find out more about living in Birmingham by reading reviews from residents. Click on the developments below to find out more about residents’ experiences and discover great places to rent in Birmingham. Although, if there’s a Birmingham property that you can’t see on HomeViews,  you can add a new listing and leave your review here.

Reviews in Birmingham

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Excellent location

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Oct 2023

You are a couple of minute walk to Fiveways a small hub where bus, tram and train lines intersect to almost anywhere in Birmingham and the West Midlands. You can see Broadway from your window and can walk few minutes up Hagley Road to posh restaurants. If you are a City person, Birmingham City centre is a 10 minute walk. You are surrounded by cinemas, bowling, entertainment, Cafes and very close to most City luxuries.

What you may not like though is the noise and busy streets. Parking especially if you have visitors coming to you can be very difficult.

Please review your development:

The development is designed and operated to maximum efficiency. I like the picturesque view from my window of Edgbaston greens and beyond. Everything is designed to keep temperature within optimum through autumn and winter months. Fire systems are optimum. Entrances are functioning to optimum security. 24/7 concierge and management support makes life easy in the Lansdowne. Also good community areas … occasional activities …

What you may not like could be the limited parking areas available to residents and visitors. There are no electric car chargers in the development and no plans to install any either in the near future as we have been told.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Nothing really. I’ve known well enough beforehand.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Management has always tried their best to get any issues solved the soonest they can. All previous issues were solved very timely and efficiently.

4
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
4
Value
5
Management
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Excellent place to live, work and enjoy🙂

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Oct 2023

Good:
I really enjoyed and enjoying living in this apartment.
I came to UK 1.5 yrs back as a IT employee and I lived here 2 months as a guest. I liked the apartment very much as well we have all the shops very near to this apartment Morrison, sainsbury’s, domino’s, pizzahut, hair salon, parlour, electric bike, movie theater, nearby park, play area for childern etc., everything in very near from this apartment. Then I have planned to extend here but by that time there is no 1bhk furnished flat available, then I moved to some other place. But, I keep checking the apartment availability in lansdowne site and finally I saw one flat available for rent. Immediately I booked viewing and visited the apartment, paid my initial advance amount without second thought.
Till the date I live happy in this apartment and I personally feel this apartment is very lucky for me and my husbandI really enjoying living in this apartment🙂
Bad:
I don’t have anything to say bad about this apartment but we get lots of ambulance noise in the night time and it disturb our sleep and I know we can’t do anything for that.

Please review your development:

One thing which I observed is people who are living with pets. When they come to play area in the snookers room or cultural mix coming with their pet, I saw so many dogs hairs in the chair, sofa and snooker table. Because it is not good for health and tenants can avoid coming to these areas with pets.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I personally love this apartment bcz its not a very big or very small apartment. Perfectly
desinged and compact for all ages.
Coming to communal area especially the green space, play room, gym, cultural mix. Perfect space for our free time to sit and relax.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

If we raise any complaints they are taking the action immediately and fixing the asap.

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
5
Value
5
Management
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Modern yet warm and homely apartment building

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Oct 2023

Quite difficult to get to any large supermarket for shopping which means we have to order all of our food. The local bars and restaurants are very good though with an active nightlife. Parking is limited on the streets. Traffic is also quite loud and doesn’t die down at night.

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The building is a very attractive design with modern interior throughout the public areas. Despite the modern design the areas definitely have a warm and homely feel where it really makes you feel comfortable. There are three public kitchens which are often used. They are well stocked and with modern appliances, including a very fancy coffee tap in the main lobby kitchen.

The apartments them selves are also well equipped with modern appliances. The ceramics in the bathroom are not the best quality and the toilets have plastic toilet lids. I would have also included ethernet access points in the bedrooms as this is quite awkward. Especially as I use the second bedroom as an office. Plug access however, is plentiful, with plugs at every point you would need it.

The main issue i noticed as soon as i moved in was the garbage disposal system wasn’t very efficient. All of the bins provided were full and because of that people have started just leaving their rubbish on the floor in mounds, making it quite difficult to dispose of rubbish. I want to just say tho that it is a completely closed rubbish building, no ugly sights of rubbish everywhere from the outsides. The main grounds of the building are well kept.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

The shower pressure is powerful with always hot water. The kitchen sink water pressure isn’t too strong however. The wifi is often not as fast as advertised.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

We are yet to raise any issues however the process of maintenance is incredibly easy. Simply using an app to book it.

4
Facilities
4
Design
3
Location
4
Value
4
Management
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Great place to live

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Oct 2023

Love that it is walking distance to centenary square and the arena. 20 mins walk to the train station, so convenient

Please review your development:

the development is nice and modern, the design is good and the gym is excellent (three pelotons, good weights, though a cable machine would be good). Front desk are friendly and Vince was great in the process of renting. Wifi is a bit patchy . a bit challenging for deliveries as intercom doesn’t work. App quite helpful

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Team have been very responsive when things not right. though the refuse chute hasn’t worked since i arrived

4
Facilities
4
Design
4
Location
4
Value
4
Management
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