Where to live in Birmingham
Although many people think Birmingham is synonymous with concrete, the city has perhaps one of the largest unbroken swathes of quality Victorian property in Britain.
In a crescent spreading many miles across its South West suburbs, large town houses built during Birmingham’s industrial heyday stretch from Five Ways just off Broad Street all the way through Edgbaston to Selly Oak by Birmingham University and up through Harborne to Warley Woods.
In this region of the city, which also includes Moseley and Kings Heath, you will find dozens of tree-lined streets and 4 bed family homes with large gardens. However, prices are still rising steadily and good properties move very quickly.
The top end of the original Victorian heart of the city is Edgbaston where 4 bed homes will start at £500,000 and one can easily pay £1million for the best properties. Paul Castle from County Homesearch Relocaters says that people now see Edgbaston as the Chelsea of the city and that ‘detached gems’ can be found on almost every street in this suburb. He also adds that 5 years ago he would not have recommended people to relocate to the city. Now he says he is more than happy to be following Birmingham’s self-improvement.
Like all major cities Birmingham’s centre is only part of the picture. Despite the city’s reputation for concrete, it is also home to some very characterful suburbs such as bohemian Moseley and the villagey Harborne.
Moseley is best known as the home to many artists, musicians and writers, although this image is fading as more professionals colonise the area. Harborne, on the other hand, is home to many very old pubs with real ale on tap and has more of a market town vibe. Both places are bursting with Victorian architecture and are well placed to prepare you for one of Birmingham’s most famous creations - the balti!
Within the city limits there other main areas for young professionals. One is Brindley Place where chic flats overlooking the long boat-filled canals range from £110,000 to around £500,000 for a duplex in the top end of King Edwards Wharf.
Then there is the Mail Box development which combines the BBC’s new Midlands HQ along with shops and luxury flats. Another major development is the Beetham Tower. This 38-storey skyscraper in the heart of the city centre will house 158 luxury apartments and a Radisson SAS conference hotel. Other similar luxury residential skyscrapers are planned – at least 2 more have already started so far this year.
Outside of central Birmingham the 2 most sought after locations are to the South in the shape of the small suburb of Knowle known for its millionaires’ mansions and Solihull, which is effectively a separate and upmarket town which has become enveloped by Birmingham’s sprawl.
The third non-central location for the wealthy is Sutton Coldfield to the North East of the city. Despite its reputation for having more Mercedes per driveway than almost any other part of Birmingham a three bed house can start from £140,000, although Paul Castle says the top homes in Four Oaks Park go for £1million – plus.
Those seeking the country life/commute to work style of living will not be disappointed. The city’s Central Trains service has an extensive network reaching into the greenbelt and small towns such as Hagley, Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa are all popular.
People also often forget that Birmingham is really just part of a far larger conurbation that links up with a number of other towns and their own suburbs. These range from upmarket Stourbridge in the far West to the working class heartland of the Black Country towns of Blackheath, Halesowen, Dudley, Walsall, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton. Prices in the Black Country are cheaper than in Birmingham – but do not expect the same quality of life or facilities.
To the south and not far from Solihull is the city of Coventry – home to Lady Godiva fame but unfortunately not likely to attract relocating professionals just yet due to it looking and feeling like Birmingham did twenty years ago. Perhaps Coventry will be the next regeneration hotspot?
Birmingham (overall average)
| Detached |
£273,386 |
| Semi |
£138,875 |
| Terrace |
£110,429 |
| Flat |
£123,400 |
Edgbaston (B15)
| Detached |
£510,903 |
| Semi |
£333,100 |
| Terrace |
£147,000 |
| Flat |
£131,988 |
Solihull (all postcodes)
| Detached |
£342,826 |
| Semi |
£196,180 |
| Terrace |
£186,012 |
| Flat |
£153,078 |
Knowle (B93)
| Detached |
£370,330 |
| Semi |
£227,509 |
| Terrace |
£199,809 |
| Flat |
£195,942 |
Stourbridge (All postcodes)
| Detached |
£280,675 |
| Semi |
£142,298 |
| Terraced |
£122,703 |
| Flat |
£120,166 |
Hagley (DY8, DY9)
| Detached |
£367,875 |
| Semi |
£187,466 |
| Terrace |
£152,435 |
| Flat |
Too few sales |
|
