Birmingham - Is there a nice bit to live in?

[Over The Hill]

Eldest daughter is at Birmingham City University studying to be a primary school teacher. She is in halls now (year 1) but wants to rent a one bed house with boyfriend for years 2 and 3.

Her campus is next to Perry Barr station and she will also need to easily get there and also be able to get around to (unknown) schools in the wider Birmingham area when she works in schools. This will be either by bus or train as she has asthma (and is a teenager) and so does not cycle.

She is starting to look at houses now and an area to live in. Perry Barr is a bit rough I am told. She has not been around the area much apart from where she is and into the city centre so does not know good or bad areas.

Can anyone recommend any areas that are an easy reach for her travel needs. I guess we are looking at perhaps somewhere on the train line City- Perry Barr - Walsall way. Or towards the city (is there a nice bit in the middle? or a nicer suburb that is easy to get to from Perry Barr by bus. Bus routes seem rather confusing to me!

It is really tricky to know where to start when you don't know an area.
Thanks

 

[welsh dragon]

Handsworth wood, but as with most areas be careful. In Birmngham, most districts have nice parts, but they also have bad parts. Perry barr isn't too bad and is on the number 42 and 107 bus route. College road Sutton Coldfield is also on the same bus route.

No area will be just right though so be warned.

 

[welsh dragon]

I would say sutton coldfield. Much nicer area I general. Very few bad areas there.

 

[PaulSecteur]

Probably best to stay away from James Turner Street...

 

[welsh dragon]

Probably best to stay away from James Turner Street...

 

[Stu Plows]

Grandparents live in Perry Barr on top of Greenholm Road, nice area up there.

Personally I like some of the houses in Solihull and Kenilworth which is a bit further afield.

 

[welsh dragon]

Grandparents live in Perry Barr on top of Greenholm Road, nice area up there.

Personally I like some of the houses in Solihull and Kenilworth which is a bit further afield.

Yes. Those areas are on the other side of the city. Much to far away.

 

[Black Country Ste]

North west and east Birmingham should probably be avoided.

Perry Barr is served by the Outer Circle bus route so other student areas such as Selly Oak, Bournville and Stirchley are possible.

 

[Ian A]

Perry Barr and Aston are not so nice in places. Great Barr, just up the A34, has some much nicer parts. A bit of a walk but can be cycled/bused pretty quick.

Selly Oak where Bham Uni is based is certainly nice and better than Perry Bar but can be not so good too. My wife was a student there and lived there for a while after finishing there. I worked there for a little while too. Not as bad as Perry Barr and plenty of people, especially students, around all hours. As with all student areas both have their fair share of burglaries and muggings. Usual hang around in groups late at night advice .

 

[threebikesmcginty]

[QUOTE 2978289, member: 45"]We lived in Selly Oak before we moved down here. It was OK, apart from all the students...[/QUOTE]

 

[vernon]

Eldest daughter is at Birmingham City University studying to be a primary school teacher. She is in halls now (year 1) but wants to rent a one bed house with boyfriend for years 2 and 3.

Her campus is next to Perry Barr station and she will also need to easily get there and also be able to get around to (unknown) schools in the wider Birmingham area when she works in schools. This will be either by bus or train as she has asthma (and is a teenager) and so does not cycle.

She is starting to look at houses now and an area to live in. Perry Barr is a bit rough I am told. She has not been around the area much apart from where she is and into the city centre so does not know good or bad areas.

Can anyone recommend any areas that are an easy reach for her travel needs. I guess we are looking at perhaps somewhere on the train line City- Perry Barr - Walsall way. Or towards the city (is there a nice bit in the middle? or a nicer suburb that is easy to get to from Perry Barr by bus. Bus routes seem rather confusing to me!

It is really tricky to know where to start when you don't know an area.
Thanks

Be aware that placements are a bit of a lottery and that there's no guarantee that a placement will be in the wider Birmingham area. My school in Bradford has had student teachers from Sheffield Hallam University who have had to travel over thirty miles by public transport with a two hour commute each way......

 

[alicat]

Anywhere near a station on the cross-city line eg Sutton, Wylde Green, Erdington. Change at Aston for the Walsall line.

 

[screenman]

Be aware that placements are a bit of a lottery and that there's no guarantee that a placement will be in the wider Birmingham area. My school in Bradford has had student teachers from Sheffield Hallam University who have had to travel over thirty miles by public transport with a two hour commute each way......

My youngest is on a placement 22 miles away in rural Lincolnshire with very limited transport, not a problem for him as he has a car/motorbike or bike to use, but for some it would have been a big problem and would have taken the time you talk about.