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What’s on campus

What’s on campus

Visiting the University of Birmingham?

You’ll find plenty to do on campus, whatever your interests.

Step back in time to an Edwardian home and garden

Here’s something you might not expect to find on a University campus: a museum set in seven acres of botanic gardens.

Winterbourne House and Garden was once the family home of the Nettlefolds, a local industrialist and a prominent garden designer. Now lovingly restored with William Morris wallpaper and authentic furniture, this beautiful Arts and Crafts house immerses you in Edwardian life.

View of Winterbourne house through the nutwalk

The botanic garden is a peaceful haven worth visiting at any time of year. Tour the glasshouses, explore the walled kitchen garden, and admire the Japanese bridge and tea house.

View of a bridge in Winterbourne's woodland walk garden

The Terrace Tea Room serves tea and coffee, cakes, light lunches and afternoon tea. You’ll also find a gift shop, perfect for souvenirs of your stay.

Find admission prices and more information about Winterbourne House and Garden.

View the works of the greats in an Art Deco icon

The University also boasts a miniature National Gallery.

Child looking at historic artwork

The Barber Institute of Fine Arts is a must-see for visitors. This small but remarkable gallery is home to key works by almost every notable name in Western art from Old Masters to the modern age: Botticelli, Tintoretto, Rubens, Gainsborough, Turner, Van Gogh, Rossetti, Renoir, Degas and many more. Even the building is a work of art: one of the best examples of Art Deco architecture in the country.

Outside of the Barber

The Barber’s extraordinary collection is accompanied by regular exhibitions, lectures and concerts.

Entry to the main collection is free.

Find out more at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts website.

Discover 3.5 billion years of history

Over 250,000 specimens make up the collection at the Lapworth Museum of Geology. Here you’ll find gems, minerals, rocks and fossils – including the famous Roary the Allosaurus – as well as map, archives and interactive displays.

Roary at the Lapworth Museum

The Lapworth enjoys a central spot on campus in the original red-brick Aston Webb Building of 1900. The museum has been restored and made accessible during a 2.7 million redevelopment, but retains its original Edwardian setting and interior.

Lapworth museum exterior

Entry is free.

Find out more about the Lapworth Museum of Geology.

Find fine art in the outdoors

You don’t need to step inside a gallery to see great art at the University of Birmingham. Works of art, architecture and sculpture take pride of place all over campus.

Faraday statue at University of Birmingham

The Campus Sculpture Trail gives visitors a tour through many different artistic styles and forms, from Pegram’s Pantheon of the Immortals above the entrance to Aston Webb to Paolozzi’s imposing Faraday statue, welcoming arrivals at University station.

Download the Campus Sculpture Trail (PDF – 1.2 MB)

Unwind with great food and drink

This bustling, lively campus is like a village, and you’ll find a village’s worth of places to eat and relax.

Cuore serves up Mediterranean and North African flavours on small plates, from traditional tapas to falafels and hummus. Find it on the Green Heart in the centre of campus.

Tapas at Cuore, University of Birmingham

The Bratby Bar in Staff House is a great central option for classic pub food, pizza, and a relaxing drink.

Coffee shops are dotted all over campus. Costa Coffee can be found at the Bramall, University Centre and Sport & Fitness, and Muirhead Tower has its own Starbucks.

Open all year, the 1900 Steakhouse Bar & Grill is at the University’s hotel, Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre. It serves everything from light lunches at the bar to three courses in the evening. Booking is advised.

Starter at 1900 Restaurant, Edgbaston Park Hotel

View the 1900 menu and book a table online

View all food and drink options on campus

Getting here

As part of the University’s sustainability policy, we encourage the use of public transport. There’s a high-frequency direct rail service from Birmingham New Street to University station, which takes just 7 minutes.

How to get to the University of Birmingham

Visitors with cars should park in the University’s North East Car Park on Pritchatts Road, B15 2SA. This costs £2.50 per hour or £7.00 for up to 10 hours, using the RingGo cashless system. Parking here and on campus is free of charge after 6pm Mon-Fri, and on weekends.

Blue Badge parking for disabled drivers is available across campus, through the East Gate entrance on Edgbaston Park Road.

To find your way around the University campus, you can download the UoB Campus Map app to your phone.

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