For many, London is considered the cultural hub of the UK, embodying the nation’s history, strength and multicultural aspect. London serves as the nation’s capital and one of the world’s richest cities. Despite its greatness, it may not be the greatest city in the UK, with many arguing that Birmingham is a better city to live , study or party in. In this blog, I will share my personal experiences from both cities and give my verdict on which city is the best in the UK.
With regards to London, the city speaks for itself, Big Ben, the River Thames, Westminster Bridge, Buckingham Palace… the list goes on and on. London has one of the world’s most advanced public transport systems, and as a student at Surrey, it is only 30min away by train. The city also boasts a number of professional football teams playing at the top flight of English and European football leagues; Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea, just to name a few. If you love shopping, you’ll love London. Whether you prefer budget-friendly thrifting in Whitechapel or preparing for Fashion week on Oxford Street, the city has you covered. I typically like to explore Oxford street due to the variety of shops it has to offer. Naturally, London is also home to a number of museums, the Science Museum being my favourite. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the different sections of the museum to truly appreciate the development of human ingenuity over the years. In all honesty, London has it all, there is nothing that you’re looking for that you can’t find in London… except cheap prices and good weather( sometimes)
Which leads me to London’s rival city.. Birmingham. In many ways, Birmingham and London are similar. They are both multicultural cities with people of all ages and walks of life. The cities do, however, differ in size and, perhaps more importantly for students, prices. Birmingham offers cheaper prices on almost everything, from taxis and Ubers to rentals and Airbnbs. The city is also home to two major universities, making it a good spot to make new friends and network. The biggest hurdle to getting to Birmingham will undoubtedly be the distance. Birmingham is in the West Midlands of the UK, which can take up to 3 hours to get to by train from Guildford. However, when you arrive in Birmingham, be ready to explore! Birmingham New Street is my preferred station to use; it is very close to the Bullring Mall and the reflective, silver panels outside the station make a great background for your aesthetic Instagram posts. Depending on the time of day, you may want to pop into All Bar One at the station and get brunch. French toast and bacon is my go-to order! The city has some beautiful historic architecture, which can be seen in Victoria Square. Once you’ve explored the city and the sun starts to set, it may well be time to consider which bar, club or pub you would like to visit. The good news is that, for African students like myself, Birmingham offers a wide range of events playing sounds from home. I would suggest checking the ‘ Forum Birmingham’ website or social media pages to find out if there are any events around the time you may be planning on visiting. The two times I have been to Birmingham was for the sole purpose of attending such events, with the most recent one being a Zimbabwean Independence Day event in April 2025. The event was vibrant, with many students from Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton in attendance!
In conclusion… there is no conclusion. The London v Birmingham debate has bene on-going amongst students in the UK for years, with each city being liked or disliked for different reasons. Ultimately, it comes down to what you’re looking for and how you much time and money you have to spend. My advice? Explore both and enjoy what they have to offer!
