Exploring Birmingham: The heart of the Midlands

Boasting the unofficial title of the UK’s second city, Birmingham is a vibrant Midlands metropolis. With its dynamic arts and culture scene, diverse leisure options and vast green spaces, there’s something for everyone. If you’re considering buying a home with Shared Ownership in Birmingham, keep reading to discover what living here has in store.

About Birmingham

Birmingham has a rich, storied history built on manufacturing and engineering. The city played a pivotal role in the Industrial Revolution, earning the nicknames ‘the workshop of the world’ and ‘the city of a thousand trades’. Today, it’s a thriving economic hub – the third largest in the UK – driven by sectors including finance, technology and education. It’s also renowned for its diverse cultural offering, from museums and galleries to performing arts, ensuring plenty of things to do in your spare time. Plus, the city’s excellent transport links keep you well-connected, whether that’s locally via the extensive road network, or nationally via trains from Birmingham New Street, one of the busiest railway stations in the UK.

Things to do in Birmingham

Cultural attractions

There’s something for everyone to enjoy in Birmingham. History buffs can delve into the city’s heritage at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, get a glimpse into Victorian industries at the Pen Museum and Coffin Works, and explore two centuries of law and order at the West Midlands Policing Museum. Art aficionados can immerse themselves in creative spaces at the Ikon Gallery and Midlands Art Centre. For family-friendly activities, there’s Cadbury World, which offers a peek inside its world of sweet creations. ThinkTank Science Museum inspires curious young minds with its historic collections and interactive exhibits that combine learning with fun.

Shopping

With over 1000 shops in the city centre, Birmingham is a bona-fide shopping destination. In the middle of it all lies the Bullring and Grand Central shopping centre, which houses high-street brands, department stores and designer boutiques, totalling over 160 shops under one roof.

The historic centre of Britain’s metalworking industry, the Jewellery Quarter is a charming shopping district with over 100 specialist retailers, including expert jewellers, watch boutiques and diamond dealers.

Food scene

Birmingham’s food scene reflects the diversity of its multicultural population. From authentic curry houses in the famous Balti Triangle to world-class dining concepts at Michelin-starred restaurants, there are culinary experiences catering to every taste and budget. Brindley Place is a bustling area by the canal where you can taste your way around the world at restaurants serving everything from Neapolitan pizza to Caribbean curry. Elsewhere, Digbeth is home to a selection of independent eateries, including casual café-bars and elegant bistros. 

Green spaces

Although primarily known for its urban landscape, Birmingham has plenty of green spaces where you can connect with nature. Scenic spots like Cannon Hill Park and Birmingham Botanical Gardens offer a slice of natural splendour in the heart of the city. Six miles north of the centre, Sutton Park is a National Nature Reserve covering 2400 acres of woodlands, wetlands and open areas, perfect for walking and wildlife spotting.

Living in Birmingham

With its strong economy, excellent connectivity and diverse attractions, Birmingham is a desirable place to live. Plus, the city has relatively lower property prices than other major UK cities. Data from the Office of National Statistics showed that as of July 2024, the average house price in Birmingham was £233,000, more than half of that in London at £521,000.

For those wanting to step on the property ladder in Birmingham, alternative home-buying schemes like Shared Ownership offer a way. This government-backed initiative gives you the opportunity to purchase a share in a new-build or resale property and pay subsidised rent on the remaining share. You can buy more shares in the future and, in most cases, staircase your way to outright ownership.

Shared Ownership properties in Birmingham

If you’re searching for your dream Shared Ownership home in Birmingham, consider these two new-build developments:

• Belgrave Village by Home Reach comprises 438 two bedroom homes just moments from the city centre. These Shared Ownership properties in Birmingham are ideally located for those wanting convenient access to the city’s attractions.
• Mansion House at Port Loop by Places for People and Urban Splash is the ideal development if you’re hunting for a home in the heart of Birmingham. Offering canal-side living just 15 minutes from the city centre, this addition to the award-winning Port Loop community consists of two bedroom apartments, with a selection available through Shared Ownership.

At Share to Buy, we make your choice easier with a selection of new-build homes across England, available through alternative homeownership schemes such as Shared Ownership. Get your home-buying journey underway using our property portal.