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Major city · United Kingdom

Birmingham

Give Birmingham 2 nights: one full day for the centre and canals, one for the Jewellery Quarter or a day trip. Skip it only if you have under 24 hours.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Birmingham is Britain's second-largest city and a rail hub: New Street has direct trains to most major UK cities. Two nights covers the core — Bullring and New Street, the canal-side Westside, the Jewellery Quarter and a museum or two. It is a working city rather than a sight-heavy one, so it works best as a base for the West Midlands or a stop between London and the north. Budget around £70–120 a day excluding your bed.

basic guide: no trip line yet
34 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Jan–Feb (cold, wet, short days)
Airport
BHX
Nights
2
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Birmingham999 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • Police, fire, ambulance (EU number)112
  • NHS non-urgent111
  • Police non-urgent101

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Birmingham, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • BeerPint of draught beer£4.50–6.50 (≈ US$6–9)
  • Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)5 km (3.1 mi) taxi or minicab£10–15 (≈ US$14–20)
  • Metro or bus rideBus or tram single in the city£2–3 (≈ US$3–4) (check)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entryFree–£12 (≈ US$16)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person£25 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room£120 (≈ US$160)
  • High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room£220 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £85 (≈ US$120) · High £150 (≈ US$200)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Industrial Revolution heritage and the canal networkBullring and Grand Central shoppingJewellery QuarterBirmingham City FC and Aston VillaCurry houses and the Balti TrianglePeaky Blinders setting
Airports
BHX Birmingham Airport (About 13 km (8 mi) east of the centre in Solihull; free Air-Rail Link to Birmingham International, then train to New Street in 10–20 min.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    7°C (45°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    10°C (50°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    13°C (55°F)

  5. May

    Best

    17°C (63°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  10. Oct

    not flagged

    14°C (57°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    10°C (50°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    7°C (45°F)

Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Jan–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (22°C (72°F)), coolest Jan (2°C (36°F) low), wettest Dec (13 rain days), driest Feb (10). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Birmingham: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

7°C (45°F)

2°C (36°F)

12 rd

Feb

8°C (46°F)

2°C (36°F)

10 rd

Mar

10°C (50°F)

3°C (37°F)

11 rd

Apr

13°C (55°F)

5°C (41°F)

11 rd

May

17°C (63°F)

7°C (45°F)

11 rd

Jun

19°C (66°F)

10°C (50°F)

11 rd

Jul

22°C (72°F)

12°C (54°F)

11 rd

Aug

21°C (70°F)

12°C (54°F)

11 rd

Sep

18°C (64°F)

10°C (50°F)

11 rd

Oct

14°C (57°F)

7°C (45°F)

12 rd

Nov

10°C (50°F)

4°C (39°F)

12 rd

Dec

7°C (45°F)

2°C (36°F)

13 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is largely pedestrianised and walkable: New Street to Bullring is 2–3 min, New Street to Brindleyplace about 20 min. West Midlands Metro trams and local trains link the centre with the Jewellery Quarter and Wolverhampton; buses cover the rest. Buy a Daysaver for unlimited NXWM bus travel.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Coventry

go

Door to door: About 30–40 min

Train from New Street or Birmingham International

Cathedral ruins and the transport museum; easy half day.

Stratford-upon-Avon

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Train from Moor Street or Snow Hill

Shakespeare houses and riverside; book ahead in summer.

Warwick

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

Train from Moor Street, then walk or bus to the castle

Castle needs most of a day.

Dudley

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

Train to Tipton or Dudley Port, then bus

Zoo and castle ruins; awkward without a car.

Wolverhampton

go

Door to door: About 30–45 min

Train from New Street or tram from the centre

Half day; combine with the tram ride.

Solihull

caution

Door to door: About 20 min

Train from Moor Street

Shopping and parks; little for a first-time visitor.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Core City Centre (New Street / Colmore Row)

Best for a short trip: walk to Bullring, the canals and both other stations. Business hotels cluster here.

Westside (Brindleyplace / Broad Street)

Canal-side, ICC and Library of Birmingham; bars and restaurants on the doorstep, 15–20 min walk from New Street.

Digbeth

Creative quarter east of the Bullring; coach station is here. Cheaper beds, more nightlife noise.

Jewellery Quarter

Quiet, 19th-century streets, 10 min by train or tram from the centre; good for a calmer stay.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
£70–120 (≈ US$95–160) excl. bed
High
£120 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel double room1 × 2 nights × £120£240
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × £85£340
Train Birmingham International → New Street, one way2 × £4 · check£7
NXWM bus Daysaver, one day2 × £4 · check£8
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10£20
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£62
Trip total≈ £169 per person per day, bed included£677≈ US$950

2026 estimate in pounds; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Pub main meal£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
Balti or curry with rice£10–16 (≈ US$14–25)
Pint of draught beer£4.50–6.50 (≈ US$6–9)
Bus or tram single in the city£2–3 (≈ US$3–4) (check)
5 km taxi or minicab£10–15 (≈ US$14–20)
Museum entryFree–£12 (≈ US$16)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Birmingham is a normal big British city: watch your phone and bag in the Bullring, New Street and Broad Street at night, and avoid walking alone through Digbeth after dark. The main practical risks are rain, uneven pavements and traffic on the ring roads.
  • New Street station is large and split into platform sections (4A, 4B, 4C); check the screens and expect last-minute platform changes.
  • Digbeth High Street and the area around the coach station are less pleasant at night; take a bus or taxi with luggage after dark.
  • Cars dropping off at the airport pay a minimum fee; being dropped at Birmingham International station avoids it.
  • Some city-centre venues and markets close on Mondays: check before you plan a day around one.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
999
Police, fire, ambulance (EU number)
112
NHS non-urgent
111
Police non-urgent
101

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

BirminghamBirmingham

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • NHS non-urgent111
  • Police non-urgent101

Embassy

Most countries have embassies in London; the US has a consulate in Birmingham (check the address).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Birmingham International → New Street, train: £2.50–3.60 (≈ US$4–5) one way, 10–20 min (check)
  • Airport → city centre, taxi: About £22 (≈ US$30), 20–30 min (check)
  • New Street → London Euston, train: About £30–90 (≈ US$40–120) advance, 1 h 25 min–2 h (check)

Say or show

  • Excuse me / Sorry — Excuse me / Sorry (—)
  • Thank you / Cheers — Thank you (—)
  • How much is it? — How much is it? (—)
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card? (—)
  • Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet? (—)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Birmingham. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Jan–Feb (cold, wet, short days) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for BHX: Air-Rail Link hours, last train from Birmingham International, taxi fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: New Street and Bullring, Westside and the canals, Jewellery Quarter, Digbeth.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (museums, markets, cricket and football grounds) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Rain and hostile-arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources