The area

Hamstead Campus is located in the Handsworth Wood area of Birmingham just 3 miles from the city centre. A few minutes walk along College Road takes you to plenty of local facilities including a Co op, butchers, Post Office, bakery and leisure centre. Also nearby is Handsworth Park, a 63 acre park with a lake, cricket pitch and a second, larger leisure centre with swimming pool.

Hamstead Campus

Transport

Being so close to the city centre Hamstead Campus is well served by public transport. There are four bus routes which pass by the campus heading to a variety of destinations including; Birmingham City University's City North Campus at Perry Barr, One Stop shopping centre, Birmingham city centre, Harborne and Selly Oak. The local train station is just a short walk from the campus and has direct links to Birmingham New Street train station, Wolverhampton and Walsall. The train provides great links to Birmingham International Airport with a return fare costing just £6.60.

City Centre

Birmingham is the UK's 'second city' and as such has shops, pubs and clubs to suit every taste. If you're into shopping the city's Bull Ring shopping centre boasts more than 160 shops to keep you busy right in the centre of Birmingham and if you don't find anything in there why not try Harvey Nichols in the Mailbox, another one of Birmingham's many shopping destinations. HamCam recommends the Oasis market & the rag market for bargains.

If you're more of a nocturnal type then Birmingham has plenty to offer you too. With more students than any other UK city outside of London, Birmingham is a city well practiced in offering the best nights out every night of the week. If it's live music you're after by far the biggest and most popular venue is The Academy, but if it's a smaller, more intimate performance you prefer then the Digbeth area of the city has a host of smaller bars. HamCam recommends the Rainbow pub or the Sunflower Lounge.

For the clubbers out there Broad Street's Gate Crasher brings some of the UK's biggest DJs to town every weekend. For larger groups with a range of tastes head to Oceana in the Arcadian. With 7 themed rooms from New York Disco to Aspen ski there is something for everyone. If pubs are more your thing, then HamCam recommends The Victoria, which specialises in cocktails, or The Lord Clifden with its urban art & quirky beer garden.

Nowhere is the cosmopolitan nature of Birmingham better demonstrated than with the sheer choice and quality of restaurants. It's foodie heaven. With enticing restaurants that represent some 27 nationalities food lovers will be in their element in Birmingham. For those on a budget HamCam recommends China Town or the famous balti triangle.

Sport

Birmingham is not short of major sporting venues boasting; 2 Premiership football clubs, Warwickshire County Cricket Ground, The Alexander Stadium and NIA for athletics, & Edgbaston Priory Club which hosts the annual AEGON Classic ladies tennis tournament. For those who like noisier sports Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium is home to the Birmingham Brummies speedway team, meetings are held every Wednesday throughout the season.

Arts & Culture

As a prospective City of Culture Birmingham has plenty to offer being home to both the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Birmingham Royal Ballet as well as three theatres; The Hippodrome, The Rep & The Old Rep. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery has the largest collection of Pre-Raphaelites in the world, along with regularly changing contemporary exhibitions. For contemporary art head to The Ikon on Brindley Place, whilst there why not treat yourself to tapas in Café Ikon? While The Barber Institute of Fine Art, based at Birmingham University, has something for all tastes.

Birmingham has a host of large multiplex cinemas to catch all the latest blockbusters, with the IMAX having the largest screen in the Midlands - as high as a five storey building and as wide as four buses. There's also smaller venues to appeal to those who like a more art house feel, The Midlands Art Centre has a good range of small budget offerings & foreign language films. HamCam recommends the UK's oldest working cinema, The Electric... sit back and relax with a drink from the art deco bar and homemade cake. Upgrade to a sofa, text your order to the bar during the film, and you will be served at your seat!

Places to visit

Birmingham was once known as the 'city of a thousand trades', nowhere is this more evident than the famous Jewellery Quarter. With two free museums, 100 jewellery shops and 200 listed buildings the Jewellery Quarter is a great place to spend the day.

For chocolate lovers Cadbury's World is a must. Discover the history of chocolate & see how it's made, with plenty of tasters thrown in along the way! Once you've had your fill of chocolate take a stroll around Bournville village, built by the Quakers George & Richard Cadbury. If you're more of an animal lover head to the National Sea Life Centre, in the city centre, with its one million litre ocean tank. HamCam recommends Go Ape at Cannock Chase for an adventure day out on its high wire forest adventure course of rope bridges.

Annual Events

  • Moseley Folk Festival (September). Previous headliners have included Beth Orton & Morcheeba.
  • International Jazz Festival (July). Now in its 26th year, events are held at various locations throughout the city.
  • Frankfurt Christmas Market (November-December). The largest authentic German market outside Germany & Austria.
  • Birmingham Book Festival (October). The event is made up of workshops, seminars, debates and discussions.