The University of Birmingham

Advantages: Great teaching, facilities, opportunites and social life
Disadvantages: i am only here for 3 years, wish it could be more.

...I am a student at the University of Birmingham in my first year of the popular course; Sports and Exercise Sciences. Although it is a difficult university to get in to, there are hundreds of different courses to choose from if you are not accepted on your favoured course. Also, they are quite lenient with grades as I did not achieve the expected marks but still got in... shhh! So what made Birmingham my number one choice? As soon as I arrived at the open day and got a walk around the campus I knew this was the place for me. Not only is it one of the leading universities in the UK for my course it is a beautiful place to study with its landmark clock tower, luscious all weather pitches and modern redbrick buildings. I felt right at home here and could picture myself studying here for the future. The Campus is located in Selly Oak...

Greenyman 19.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Birmingham University

Why study at the University of Birmingham?

Advantages: Excellent teaching, sports, social life and environment
Disadvantages: Very few!

...the university campus on a visit there, before I decided it would be my first choice on the UCAS form. It was a beautiful sunny day and it impressed me immediately. With picturesque redbrick buildings and green areas all round campus, I felt at home right away and could really see myself spending time there. And I was lucky enough to get a place. Here are my thoughts on student life - in my own rather long-winded style!! I hope you find them helpful. Location Birmingham The thought of living in Birmingham itself gave rise to mixed feelings for me; on the one hand I had heard some negative comments about the city itself, but on the other hand for me, it was the perfect location - far enough away from home for me to be independent, but near enough for me to see my family and friends at weekends. In reality, if you want to live near a busy...

katyparles 05.04.2006 (14.09.2006) · Read review
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Review of Birmingham University

Best Hotel in Birmingham City

Advantages: Everything about this hotel
Disadvantages: Christmas time Parties

...The Thistle Birmingham City Hotel is situated a few miles away from Birmingham International Airport, easily accessible from the major motorway network and close to New Street Station. I stayed at the hotel for 8weeks on a business trip and really enjoyed my stay there. The rooms are very clean, its well maintained. Staff very friendly and helpful. During Christmas time there are loads of parties and the in house guests have no flexibility in the food timings which was a major draw back. Food was very good and so is the bar always well stocked! You can have a short walk for your shopping to the City centre, Bull Ring and the Convention Centre. I would definitely recommend this hotel to my friends and would return again....

Simplecash 22.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Thistle Birmingham City, Birmingham

City Inn - a hidden gem.

Advantages: Price, features of room, location
Disadvantages: err... food is a bit bland and pricey

...I think I spend far too much time in hotels, and can be quite demanding. That said, it is with pleasure I report that the City Inn in Birmingham is a hidden gem. Location The hotel is located in the trendy Brindley Place development just off Broad Street in Birmingham, and as such is ideally situated for pubbing, clubbing and general merriment and yet being secluded (for a city) enough for a bit of peace and quiet. Brindley Place itself is home to a variety of trendy bars and restaurants including the (in)famous Bank and various luxury apartments. It's a mainly pedestrianised area, and is easily accessible by foot bus or train from New Street station. The majority of other hotels in the area are located directly on Broad Street, which can be quite noisy with the drunken hordes clamouring around after about 10pm. Mind you don't get...

rickyshah 19.05.2006 · Read review
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Review of City Inn, Birmingham

What is Birmingham University really like?

Advantages: Location, facilities, cheap prices
Disadvantages: You won't want to leave

...Like most students, I had many apprehensions when i chose the university to spend the next few years of my life at. Coming from London,I wondered how Birmingham City Centre would compare and what the people 'up north' would be like. Looking back, it was the best decision i ever made, and loved every minute of my three years there. The University, set in leafy Edgbaston, is perfectly positioned, with the neighbouring area of Selly Oak housing all the second/third and fourth years within close proximity of each other and large green areas where all the halls for first years are located. The student Guild is smaller than some but still attracts the crowds for after lecture drinks and Friday and Saturday night booze ups, with the cheapest prices within a 50 mile radius. If the Guild is not your thing, then Birmingham City Centre has seen...

annabel 25.07.2000 · Read review
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Review of Birmingham University

Second city is my number one!

Advantages: Community atmosphere, nightlife, city centre, Edgbaston is lovely and green!
Disadvantages: Walk to campus on cold mornings, having to explain that Brum isn't skanky to everyone

...or cinema at Fiveways, (about 15-20mins away), or even Broad St for clubbing if you don't fancy paying for a cab. To get to the city centre, there's a bus from the top of The Vale, or you can walk down to the University station and get a train. In order to get to lectures on foot, you generally need to leave half an hour before they start. That's my walking speed. Its average! On bike, its an awful lot faster. The walk down the Vale is really quite pleasant though (if it isn't raining!). The Vale is basically a big park with a lake. And squirrels. Which I may have mentioned. They're very cute. If you don't fancy walking down the Vale, you can take the canal route instead. It probably takes a little longer, and there are no squirrels, but there are ducks instead. Some people prefer ducks. Settling In Birmingham is incredible at making sure...

kittykatty31 14.10.2005 · Read review
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Review of Birmingham University

Botanical Birmingham

Advantages: Plenty to see, a relaxing escape from the city.
Disadvantages: Expensive for a one-off visit. Disappointing restaurant.

...Every city need its green spaces. The architecture may be spectacular and the shops fantastic, but finding a place to escape the traffic and bustle is a necessity for most city dwellers. Picture Birmingham and what do you see? The Bullring, New Street Station and Spaghetti Junction would be the first things that come to my mind. Although I've never lived in Birmingham itself, I worked there for several years. During that time I went to the Botanical Gardens regularly, but for the purposes of this review I will focus on my most recent visit which was August 2008. A Brief History Celebrity gardeners are not a new phenomenon. In the nineteenth century J.C Loudon was an influential writer on gardening and became part of London's high society. He designed the Birmingham Botanical Gardens in 1830 to provide a place where keen...

JoannaPiano 31.10.2008 (02.11.2008) · Read review
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Review of Birmingham Botanical Gardens

The University of today.

Advantages: Friendly, spacious, well located and alive!
Disadvantages: Remembering you're there to study!

...Having spent 3 years at Birmingham University as an Undergraduate studying a BSc in Sports and Exercise Studies, I feel the true excellence of this University needs to be shared. Here are the main factors that give this University it's true appeal: 1.Location 2.Campus 3.Halls of Residence 4.Sports Facilities 5.Study Facilities 6.Socialising 7.Security 8.Extras Location: Situated just outside the City Centre, this Uni is ideally located. The busy city life is just a short train or bus ride away, and with stations on the campus ground, or in the popular student accommodation areas, getting there (or home again for that matter) is never a problem. It is, however, far enough out of the city for the area to be relatively 'safe' to live and study in, without there being the continuous mayhem of an inner city location...

dan916 06.12.2002 · Read review
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Review of Birmingham University

STAR CITY PT 1 - Reclining Seats - Oohh Err Missus

Advantages: Leg Room, Surround Sound, Air Conditioning, Quick Box Office Service
Disadvantages: £5.50 for an adult ticket!

...I wasn't too sure where to stick this op, as there are two categories on Ciao about StarCity as a shopping centre and Star City as a Cinema, and I wanted to write about both! So, being the mercenary that I am, this is the first in a two part series - two lots of 10p's!! - and deals with one of the most impressive multiplexes I've ever been to. Star City was opened in July 2000 and was touted as the largest cinema in Europe - the Warner Bros website (www.warnervillage.co.uk) now says it's the largest in the UK so some dratted Europeans must have beaten us - but it is still huge. The Cinema boasts 30 - yes, you did read that right - screens and is pretty impressive on first sight. Anyway, I'll take you through everything you need to know, step-by-step. We were visiting Star City at Birmingham from Coventry and so it was simple to...

eca99ajm 05.07.2001 (11.10.2001) · Read review
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Review of Birmingham Star City Complex

City University

Advantages: Compact area of study, easily mix with others
Disadvantages: Spread out campuses, not much interaction with these

...The University of Central England, the former Birmingham Polytechnic has now been rebranded yet again as Birmingham City University to give it that metropolitan edge. Its main campus at Perry Barr is a 15 min walk across playing fields to where I live. City University, by sheer student numbers is one of the largest Universities in the country, matching that of many of the 'red-brick' universities. Moreover, its size is not apparent when you arrive at one of its campuses. This is because it is the only university with campuses spread out over a city wide area (I think at least 6 campuses) totalling to about 25,000 students. Financially, it has been one of richer universities and certainly one of highest cashflow universities from the former polytechnics. And yes, it is true their was talk of taking some more of Aston University...

makro74 24.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Central England University