Scottish chap moving to Birmingham
Discussion
Hello all,
I will soon be moving to Birmingham from Dundee in Scotland due to work.
I have a big favour to ask as I have no idea about the area really.
Could some of you kind fellows point me in the direction of some respected letting agents so that I actually have a place to go once I finish work!
Any advice of areas to avoid etc would be great as I don't really want to be living in a war zone!
Thanks for any help
-Lione1.
I will soon be moving to Birmingham from Dundee in Scotland due to work.
I have a big favour to ask as I have no idea about the area really.
Could some of you kind fellows point me in the direction of some respected letting agents so that I actually have a place to go once I finish work!
Any advice of areas to avoid etc would be great as I don't really want to be living in a war zone!
Thanks for any help
-Lione1.
Edited by Lione1 Richie on Tuesday 2nd November 19:11
I live in Birmingham, but I'm not going to get into a "stay away from ....." discussion for fear of upsetting other PHers 
It will help if you can say what area your work will take you to and how far you are prepared to travel. That way, there may be some tips for certain areas (and therefore letting agents)...
It will help if you can say what area your work will take you to and how far you are prepared to travel. That way, there may be some tips for certain areas (and therefore letting agents)...
I'll be working right in the center (about 1 mile from New Street Station).
I'm selling the car atm so transport would have to be trains / bus's / my own two feet until I buy a cheap slag whcih i dont mind leaving out on the street etc.
I'm really just looking for pointers tbh as I really have no idea.....
I'm selling the car atm so transport would have to be trains / bus's / my own two feet until I buy a cheap slag whcih i dont mind leaving out on the street etc.
I'm really just looking for pointers tbh as I really have no idea.....
There's tons of residential development been done in the City Centre recently, most of which run at below 50% occupancy so you're spoilt for choice.
There's all sorts of variety in terms of the flats and the areas, mainly comes down to whether you want to be in amongst bars & restaurants or businesses.
Most development is in decent areas but I'd stay away from those in Highgate, Ladywood, Newtown or Hockley (excluding Jewellery Quarter) if I were you.
There's all sorts of variety in terms of the flats and the areas, mainly comes down to whether you want to be in amongst bars & restaurants or businesses.
Most development is in decent areas but I'd stay away from those in Highgate, Ladywood, Newtown or Hockley (excluding Jewellery Quarter) if I were you.
If you are walking distance from New St station, there is a train service to Sutton Coldfield (one of the nicer parts of the City, to the North East). The train takes around 20 minutes and run every 10 minutes.
Look on Google maps and check it out but unless you are strapped for cash, I'd ignore anywhere between the City and Chester Rd Station, after that you'll be OK. Sutton will offer a wide range of rental flat/houses (obviously dependent on your needs).
To the South East is Solihull, again easily do-able by train (but not from New St) and about 20 minutes out
Sutton and Solihull are around 30 to 40 minutes in car at peak times. Both are nice areas to live and within easy reach of major road links
If you want City Centre living, like it says above, try looking at the flats that are around Brindley Place and/or the Mail Box (neither of which are particularly car friendly)
HTH
Just noticed you're a games designer which gives me more of a clue as to where you might want to be as a lot of my mates work for fluid and the like.
A lot of them live and work in Digbeth which is houses a lot of the creative industry along with a lot of the less mainstream bars / clubs. Google "Rainbow venues" "Custard Factory" "Abacus residential Birmingham" for an idea of what and who goes on there.
A lot more of them live in the Moseley / Kings Heath area which is 2 miles south of Digbeth, well served by buses. People say it's the city's bohemian area but after 10 years living there I'd say that's an overstatement. Yes it's more liberal and easy going than a all the other suburbs but we're not talking Haights Ashbury 1965 or anything. Google "Hare and hounds kings heath" and "Moseley festival" for an idea. There's a large private park, access is a tenner a year to locals, and Cannon Hill Park with the Midland Arts Centre there too. It's a nice place to be but despite it's reputation for nightlife I was out in the city and Hockley all the time I lived there, city centre living wasn't as abundant then as now.
The remaining few live arpund the St Pauls / Jewellery Quarter part of Hockley. A more uprent & quieter version of Digbeth basically. A lot of design companies work out of the Big Peg and a lot of their staff live around there. Google "the Hockley bar" "Lord Clifden" & "vaults Birmingham".
Of course all of the above assumes you're under 35. If you're more advanced then you may prefer Edgbaston / Harborne which seems to be where all us hip young things move out to have kids and tend gardens. Still only 3 miles from the city centre and about that from Moseley but a fair bit quieter than those places.
In Digbeth & Hockley you'll be looking at a new build flat or studio and it's possible to find either with parking on site. Moseley / Kings Heath & Edgbaston / Harborne it'll mainly be converted flats in older houses, some very grand, or Victorian terrace to share or solo. Parking is mainly driveway or on street. All the areas mentioned are safe, usual city caveats apply, but Edgbaston / Harborne safer than the rest by some margin.
A lot of them live and work in Digbeth which is houses a lot of the creative industry along with a lot of the less mainstream bars / clubs. Google "Rainbow venues" "Custard Factory" "Abacus residential Birmingham" for an idea of what and who goes on there.
A lot more of them live in the Moseley / Kings Heath area which is 2 miles south of Digbeth, well served by buses. People say it's the city's bohemian area but after 10 years living there I'd say that's an overstatement. Yes it's more liberal and easy going than a all the other suburbs but we're not talking Haights Ashbury 1965 or anything. Google "Hare and hounds kings heath" and "Moseley festival" for an idea. There's a large private park, access is a tenner a year to locals, and Cannon Hill Park with the Midland Arts Centre there too. It's a nice place to be but despite it's reputation for nightlife I was out in the city and Hockley all the time I lived there, city centre living wasn't as abundant then as now.
The remaining few live arpund the St Pauls / Jewellery Quarter part of Hockley. A more uprent & quieter version of Digbeth basically. A lot of design companies work out of the Big Peg and a lot of their staff live around there. Google "the Hockley bar" "Lord Clifden" & "vaults Birmingham".
Of course all of the above assumes you're under 35. If you're more advanced then you may prefer Edgbaston / Harborne which seems to be where all us hip young things move out to have kids and tend gardens. Still only 3 miles from the city centre and about that from Moseley but a fair bit quieter than those places.
In Digbeth & Hockley you'll be looking at a new build flat or studio and it's possible to find either with parking on site. Moseley / Kings Heath & Edgbaston / Harborne it'll mainly be converted flats in older houses, some very grand, or Victorian terrace to share or solo. Parking is mainly driveway or on street. All the areas mentioned are safe, usual city caveats apply, but Edgbaston / Harborne safer than the rest by some margin.
Edited by Babu 01 on Saturday 6th November 22:28
If you're happy to train in-and-out of New Street, then there are a number of decent places to live outside of B'ham itself. Where exactly depends on how much you want to pay to rent and how much stuff you need on your doorstep.
Cheapest option will be Coventry...but it's Coventry. Nicer areas are near Cov station and Tile Hill station, but you're not going to have any good restaurants nearby nor many GOOD pubs. Better still are the country villages near Berkswell, but you'll probably want a car.
Failing that, there ARE some nice areas near B'ham centre, but you'll pay for them...
Cheapest option will be Coventry...but it's Coventry. Nicer areas are near Cov station and Tile Hill station, but you're not going to have any good restaurants nearby nor many GOOD pubs. Better still are the country villages near Berkswell, but you'll probably want a car.
Failing that, there ARE some nice areas near B'ham centre, but you'll pay for them...
Eviltad said:
I'm moving to a job in Coleshill imminently and just signed on a house in Tamworth after scouring the obscene expense that is Solihull. Wasnt keen on the rest of Birmingham, and neither is anyone else judging by the demand for Solihull houses.
Did nobody tell you Tamworth is a series of nineteen sixties overspill estates where we send all the rejects?Come lease renegotiation time I suggest you re-evaluate your stance toward the second city.
Babu 01 said:
Eviltad said:
I'm moving to a job in Coleshill imminently and just signed on a house in Tamworth after scouring the obscene expense that is Solihull. Wasnt keen on the rest of Birmingham, and neither is anyone else judging by the demand for Solihull houses.
Did nobody tell you Tamworth is a series of nineteen sixties overspill estates where we send all the rejects?Come lease renegotiation time I suggest you re-evaluate your stance toward the second city.
In fairness if you're on the outskirts of Tamworth and don't venture in then you'll be OK for 6 months.
It's been a while since I was over that way but you might want to have a look at Water Orton should Tamworth prove unsuitable.
It's been a while since I was over that way but you might want to have a look at Water Orton should Tamworth prove unsuitable.
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