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As a student in the West Midlands you’ll be living right in the heart of the UK. As well as being well connected, this area has great culture, countryside, nightlife and industrial heritage. If you’re thinking about studying here, check out our top things to do for students in the West Midlands.
1. Black Country Living Museum
Good for: Stepping back in time.
What it is: Open air museum telling the story of the area’s industrial history.
Why you should go: Over 40 shops, houses and industrial workshops have been carefully rebuilt to create an amazing historic village in Dudley. It’s a living museum, so you’ll get to meet friendly characters and find out what it was like to live in the Industrial Revolution. There’s loads to see and do, including a 1920’s cinema, chain and nail making demonstrations and old fashioned sweet shops, fish and chips and baker’s to try. It’s a full sensory experience. Sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the Black Country will be all around you.
2. Bear Grylls Adventure Centre
Good for: Thrill seeking adventurers.
What it is: An indoor and outdoor activity centre at The NEC Birmingham.
Why you should go: Getting bored of your student routine? If you’re looking for some excitement outside of lectures, Bear Grylls Adventure Centre is packed with challenges and experiences to suit all thrill seekers. Try the amazing iFlight, where you get to skydive indoors in a state of the art vertical wind tunnel. Or for a different kind of adventure, take the plunge in a shark dive among Blacktip Reef Sharks, Nurse Sharks and tropical fish. The centre is also home to Europe’s tallest high ropes as well as loads more activities like archery, snorkelling and shooting.
3. Warwick Arts Centre
Good for: Soaking up some culture.
What it is: Warwick’s centre for performances, film screenings and visual arts.
Why you should go: Theatre, art, music, film, comedy or dance, whatever you’re into there’s something for you. This centre is one of the UK’s biggest arts venues and hosts more than 2,000 events a year. It’s based at the heart of Coventry's University of Warwick campus, so if you’re a student there it’s a must-do. The cinema is always showing the latest blockbusters, classic movies and independent films, as well as themed seasons for cinephiles of all tastes.
4. Worcester Cathedral
Good for: An awe-inspiring experience.
What it is: A cathedral in the city with lots of history to discover.
Why you should go: Over 14 centuries old, this majestic cathedral stands over the River Severn near Worcester city centre. It’s free to enter, although donations are welcomed. You can search for the tombs of King John and Prince Arthur, explore the ancient Norman crypt and marvel at the stunning Victorian stained glass. Unless you’re scared of heights, booking a guided tour to climb the tower is a highlight. It’s a narrow, spiral staircase with over 230 steps, but the view from the top is well worth it.
5. Digbeth Dining Club
Good for: Overindulging on deliciousness.
What it is: Events bringing together the best street food traders in the UK.
Why you should go: Coming highly recommended by food lovers in the area, Digbeth Dining Club turns unique venues into vibrant, quality street food destinations. With multiple venues across the West Midlands (and beyond), you’ll never run out of new tastes to try. You’ll find comfort food like Fat Snags hot dogs, Buddha Belly’s award winning spicy Thai dishes and unique vendors like Urban Cheesecake who sell their wares from a converted horsebox.
6. Coombe Abbey Park
Good for: A scenic stroll or summer picnic with your housemates.
What it is: 500 acres of beautiful gardens, woodland and lakes in Warwickshire.
Why you should go: Coombe Abbey Park has plenty of walking trails to explore, with routes that include a pretty wildflower meadow and the old deer park. The Visitor Centre is home to an artisan market and sundae club, or there’s a pub next door if sitting back with a pint is more your style. If this all sounds a little too relaxed for you, Go Ape is just around the corner with high ropes courses and axe throwing.
7. Dudley Zoo and Castle
Good for: Getting up close to some amazing animals.
What it is: A unique zoo in a castle setting.
Why you should go: Dudley Castle grounds were converted into a zoo just under a century ago. Today, it’s home to over 1,300 animals, including some of the rarest species on our planet. These include incredible Asiatic lions, Sumatran tigers, orangutans and red pandas. On your visit, you can feed the rainbow lorikeets, come face to face with lemurs, view amazing bird of prey shows and chat to keepers about your favourite animals. You can also explore almost one thousand years of history within the castle ruins.
8. Hart + Co
Good for: Food, drinks and photo opps.
What it is: A popular, quirky bar with delicious food.
Why you should go: Exams over? It’s time to celebrate! If you love unique cocktails and a good Instagram background, Hart + Co is the ultimate destination. Found in Leamington Spa, this beautiful bar has stunning decor, a droolworthy menu and an excellent drinks selection. Pick from pancake stacks, breakfast sarnies, churros, burgers and more... Or, settle in for two hours and enjoy bottomless brunch with a choice of prosecco, beer or cocktails and yummy food to soak up all that alcohol.
9. Herbert Art Gallery & Museum
Good for: Engaging with art, culture and history.
What it is: Coventry's major museum and art centre.
Why you should go: Known locally as ‘The Herbert’, this is the perfect place to explore local heritage and culture. The centre boasts world class exhibitions, unique experiences and exciting events, and has an ever changing programme so there’ll be something new to see every time you visit. The museum’s collection includes everyday household objects, famous artworks, local history archives and everything in between. Loads of things are planned for 2023, including a month-long electronic music festival, the Coventry Open show, screen printing workshops and an exhibition about community, belonging and identity.
10. Golf Fang Birmingham
Good for: Pure chaos.
What it is: Street art-inspired crazy golf and cocktail bar.
Why you should go: Based in the Custard Factory, this adults only venue has 18 mini golf holes plus food, music and cocktails. Golf Fangs is a ‘sprayground’ where street artists build courses into weird and wonderful designs such as buses, shop fronts and pubs, as well as a life sized teddy picker and rave room. Putt inside a cathedral of graffiti, with twisted holes themed on Jeremy Kyle, the red light district and Super Mario. Get plenty of photos for the gram, then treat yourself to some cocktails and street food after playing.
Key info about the West Midlands
The West Midlands has excellent connections both nationally and internationally, and is in easy reach of London. The area is known for its history of commerce and industry, so has lots of opportunities for work experience and graduate roles.
If you’re hoping to study in the area you’ve got an excellent choice of unis. Birmingham is the second biggest city in the UK and boasts four universities. The University of Birmingham is also part of the prestigious Russell Group.
If Birmingham isn’t for you, there’s a variety of other options. For example, The University of Warwick, on the outskirts of Coventry, is a world leading campus uni with an excellent teaching reputation. Harper Adams University is set on a rural campus and specialises in agri-food, rural and animal wellbeing.
NEXT:
Student city guide to Birmingham: top 10 things to do
Student city guide to Coventry: top 10 things to do
