Covid city explorer - things to do in Birmingham

Check upcoming open days and book your place

If you’re after a city that is metropolitan by nature, a hub of cultural, social and commercial activity, while also being big enough to keep you entertained while you study, Birmingham fits the bill.

Nestled in the West Midlands, England’s second-largest city also happens to be one of Europe’s youngest. With around 40% of Birmingham’s population being under 25, it’s the perfect habitat for students.

Birmingham is an incredibly accessible city. Thanks to its airport, train and bus services, you can go just about anywhere you want throughout the UK from Birmingham itself. It’s also one of the UK’s greenest cities, hosting 8,000 acres of parkland and green spaces - perfect for clearing out the mental cobwebs.

Want to study in Birmingham? You will have options - glorious options! Birmingham’s roster of universities include University of Birmingham, Newman University, University College Birmingham, Birmingham City University and Aston University.

Things to do in Birmingham - Hidden gems

With lockdown in effect, it’s important that you are abiding by government rules. However, where you can safely explore the city, we suggest these as our top pandemic picks:

• Digbeth: if you enjoy art and get inspired by creativity, stroll through the Digbeth district and gaze at the impressive street art.

• The Clean Kilo: not only is it important to support your local food stores during lockdown, but in particular those that promote zero waste and maintaining a healthy diet. These guys are incredible!

• Waseley Hills Country Park: getting out and about amongst nature, away from the noise of the city, will do wonders for your wellbeing.

• The Wolf: one of Birmingham’s best craft beer bars, they are still delivering a carefully-curated array of funky canned and bottled beers throughout lockdown.

If you’re struggling for ideas of what new hidden gems to uncover, give @hiddenbrum a follow, to uncover some of Birmingham's best kept secrets.

Eat local in Birmingham

Places to eat in Birmingham

Lockdown is the ideal time to discover the best food offering delivery. These are our picks:

• Habaneros: Mexican street food is tough to beat, especially when it tastes this good. These guys are still operating a pick-up service during lockdown via their website.

• BoneHead: if fried chicken is your thing, BoneHead are the local kings of Birmingham. Their diverse menu will leave nothing to be desired.

• Tiger Bites Pig: if you’re not captivated by the name, then don’t worry, the food will do that for you. Offering bao buns, rice bowls and even meal kits to gift, this is one of Birmingham’s most fresh food joints.

• RA Coffee House: in need of your coffee fix, then this is your spot. Along with a selection of fresh bites to eat, check these guys out when going for your morning or afternoon walk.

We suggest also checking out @bhambrunchbabe who is sharing her journey through the independent food and drink scene that Birmingham has to offer.

Local Birmingham food

You can’t really experience Birmingham for what it is without trying some of its best local dishes. These local delicacies are a good place to start:

• Groaty pudding: also known as the ‘meat porridge’, this Winter dish is a mix of beef shin, beef stock, onions, leeks and soaked groats (husks of various grains).

• Birmingham Balti: a testament to Birmingham’s diverse cultural influence, this Pakistani-style dish is a great way to warm the soul on those cold winter nights.

• Pork scratchings: typically found at most West Midlands pubs as an iconic pub snack, it consists of the skin or rind of a pig that is either roasted or fried within its own fat.

Whilst pubs and ‘balti houses’ are mostly closed throughout lockdown, get crafty at home and try making your own. Check out Gourmet Traveller, Just A Pinch or Krumpli for the cooking inspiration you need.

Covid testing - Birmingham

Currently in Birmingham, if you are showing Covid symptoms, you should either book a free Covid test online with the NHS or call 119. There are 12 symptomatic Covid test centres across Birmingham that can be accessed when booking a test. If there is someone who lives with you that has Covid symptoms, you can get a test for them too. For further advice, visit https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.

Birmingham residents can also get a Covid test if they aren’t showing any symptoms. This test can be accessed at the Utilita Arena Birmingham in the city centre. A later flow mass testing centre has been set up here, in which you are able to walk-in without needing an appointment if you are not showing any Covid symptoms.

Making friends in Birmingham during Covid

Although we are all currently limited to physical interactions with friends inside our household and support bubbles, don’t think that making friends during Covid isn’t possible.

Be savvy and use the digital resources at your disposal. Keep track of what university virtual events are taking place, but also take a look at Meetup. Here, you’ll be able to link up at virtual events with like-minded people, whether you have an interest in live piano music, want to learn how to start a vegetable garden, how to crochet and much more.

Birmingham events

Virtual events

Rather than leaving the comfort of your own home, virtual events are a great way to keep life interesting during lockdown and explore further interests.

To start your virtual event journey, keep an eye out for what local virtual events are being put on. Check your student email, the university’s website and their social media pages for any notices on what’s coming up. It’s worth also keeping an eye out for any announcements from your students’ union.

For virtual events outside of your university, take a look at Visit Birmingham. During the April lockdown in 2020, Birmingham residents were spoilt for choice, with the virtual Cake International Show, a Virtual Doggy Wellness Weekend and the Sea Change Festival online being just a few of the virtual events going down.

Outdoor events

No outdoor events in Birmingham are taking place in lockdown. Although when lockdown restrictions ease, there should be plenty to attend.

Keep an eye on Visit Birmingham for their latest updates on what activities will be taking place. There’s the Flatpack Festival 2021 at the end of April, The Killers Live at Ricoh Arena at the end of May, the Birmingham International Dance Festival in June and the Birmingham Design Festival in June - just to name a few.

Health and wellbeing activities in Birmingham

To live well and stay healthy during lockdown, incorporating a daily dose of exercise is essential. The past year has seen a new wave of online workouts and personal trainers flood the internet, to ensure people are keeping fit both physically and mentally.

For some local West Midlands inspo, go check out @talillahenchoz who is providing live workouts throughout lockdown, along with pre-recorded workout exercises to try at home. Why not also take a look at @1rebeluk and @aliceliveing who are also doing the same.

Birmingham mental health

Coupled with exercise, nurturing your mind in these times is equally important. If you are in need of support, we recommend using the following resources:

• NHS Birmingham and Solihull CCG Mental Health: in conjunction with Living Well UK and Mind Birmingham, this service provides 24/7 mental health support for all residents in Birmingham.

• Student Minds: being the UK’s leading mental health charity for students, Student Minds have a mission to aid students with their mental health, providing endless resources for whether you’re looking to help yourself, a friend, a parent or more specifically getting through Covid.

Birmingham influencers - Who to watch

If you’re after some local West Midlands influence, the list below is the best place to start:

• I Choose Birmingham (@ichoosebirmingham): a free weekly digital magazine born and bred by Tom Cullen, their content is a great way to keep up with what’s going on in the Birmingham social scene.

• Ross Jukes (@rossjukes): showcasing his incredible photography of the Birmingham region, Ross’ talent with the lens will leave you with plenty of ideas of places to explore.

• Bite Your Brum (@biteyourbrum): making her way through Birmingham’s food scene one munch at a time, this award-winning Birmingham food blogger continues to provide her opinion on the best eats still available during lockdown.

• Independent Birmingham (@independentbirmingham): what’s on, where to eat, what to explore and what’s independently happening in Birmingham are all reasons why you should give these guys a follow.

Header image: Photo by Tom W on Unsplash