Edgbaston in Birmingham

Edgbaston is an attractive and affluent suburb of Birmingham, located on the south-west edge of the city centre. The tree-lined streets are home to beautifully built Georgian houses, stylish independent bars and restaurants, and not a high-rise in sight. In fact, the stark change in scenery is what led to the area becoming known as “where the trees begin”.

The village has a reputation as being one of the country’s most expensive neighbourhoods to live in outside of London, but it’s just as popular with visitors as it is with residents. If you’re a sports fan, an arts and culture vulture, a lover of the great outdoors or a self-confessed foodie, then you’ll love exploring luxurious Edgbaston and everything this vibrant and exclusive area has to offer.

Edgbaston in Birmingham - one of the highlights of 10 Most Popular Neighbourhoods in Birmingham (Read all about Birmingham here)

What are the highlights of Edgbaston?

Edgbaston is perhaps best known for Edgbaston Cricket Ground; home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club and a venue for international test cricket and T20 matches. For tennis fans, you’ll find the Edgbaston Archery and Lawn Tennis Society (the world’s oldest lawn tennis club) and the world-class Edgbaston Priory Club.

If you prefer to enjoy green space in a more leisurely manner, take a wander around the tranquil Birmingham Botanical Gardens or one of Birmingham’s top attractions: the stunning Winterbourne House and Garden. Alternatively, for a scaled-down version, the beautiful Martineau Gardens is a hidden gem.

If you’re visiting Edgbaston with kids, Cannon Hill Park guarantees a great day out, with its fun park, mini-golf, boating lake, and land train. It’s also home to the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park. But if you're more inclined towards art and culture, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts includes original paintings by Monet and Van Gogh.

What are the best restaurants and bars in Edgbaston?

Edgbaston is well known for its award-winning dining options, with gastropubs, Michelin-starred restaurants, and a fantastic selection of bars and pubs to finish off your night in style.

The Physician is an attractive, white-washed building on Harborne Road, serving traditional pub food and cask ales in a grand but welcoming setting. The aforementioned Michelin star title is held by the spectacular Simpsons restaurant, serving creative British cuisine with added wow factor in a stunning Georgian dining room.

If, however, you’re after something a little more casual, the quirky Boston Tea Party Edgbaston is a colourful café that prides itself on its sustainable ingredients and its pineapple room and orangery. Alternatively, if you want to cut out the middleman and jump straight to the tipple, the boutique Edgbaston Hotel boasts 3 fabulous cocktail bars, with lavish art deco interiors and award-winning drinks – just be sure to book in advance.

Good to know about Edgbaston

Edgbaston, despite its leafy, suburban appearance, is actually just a stone’s throw from Birmingham’s bustling city centre. It just so happens that the Gough-Calthorpe and Gillott families who controlled the area in the 19^th century put a ban on any factories or warehouses being built there. This made it the charming, beautiful and high-end residential village that we know today.

For this reason, it’s a popular area to use as a base for exploring Birmingham and the wider area, with easy transport links to and from the city centre. A train from Edgbaston’s Five Ways station to Birmingham New Street takes just 3 minutes. Driving takes less than 10 minutes. And there are countless regular bus routes passing through the ward, taking a similar amount of time.

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