Birmingham vs Nottingham: The Midlands Battle

Two cities. Both excellent for students. Different vibes, different prices.

Let me break it down.

The Numbers

Nottingham is consistently cheaper. Not dramatically so, but £5,000 over three years is still meaningful.

City Size & Feel

Birmingham:

• Population: 1.1 million (UK's second city)
• Feel: Big, diverse, metropolitan
• Transport: Excellent (trams, trains, buses)
• Architecture: Mix of modern and historic

Nottingham:

• Population: 330,000 (but feels bigger)
• Feel: Compact, walkable, student-dominated
• Transport: Good trams, very walkable
• Architecture: Historic with modern additions

The vibe difference:

Birmingham feels like a proper big city. More spread out, more corporate, more international.

Nottingham feels like a student town that happens to be a city. More intimate, more student-focused, easier to know.

University Quality

Birmingham Universities:

• University of Birmingham: Russell Group, top 100 globally, huge campus
• Aston University: Strong for business, optometry
• Birmingham City University: Good for creative arts, nursing

Nottingham Universities:

• University of Nottingham: Russell Group, top 100 globally, beautiful campus
• Nottingham Trent University: Excellent for creative, law, journalism

Both cities have excellent Russell Group universities. For academic purposes, it's a tie.

Career Opportunities

Birmingham Has:

• HSBC UK headquarters (moved from London)
• Major law firms (DLA Piper, Gateley)
• BBC, ITV regional offices
• PwC, Deloitte, EY offices
• Growing tech scene (Bruntwood, Innovation Birmingham)
• NHS - multiple major hospitals

Nottingham Has:

• Boots headquarters
• Experian headquarters
• Capital One European HQ
• Strong pharma/bioscience
• Growing creative sector

My assessment:

Birmingham has more diversity of industries. Nottingham has some specific major employers but fewer options overall. For career breadth, Birmingham edges it.

Student Life Comparison

The Nightlife Reality

Nottingham has a legendary reputation. Rock City alone is worth mentioning - many consider it the best student venue in the UK. The clubs are student-focused, student-priced, and genuinely good.

Birmingham has more options but less student-focus. Digbeth is cool but more hipster than student. Broad Street is... well, let's say it's a particular vibe.

For pure student nightlife, Nottingham wins convincingly.

The Decision Framework

Choose Birmingham If:

1. You want big city diversity
2. Career options are a priority
3. You're doing business, law, or healthcare
4. You prefer a metropolitan feel
5. You want more cultural options (Bullring, Symphony Hall, etc.)

Choose Nottingham If:

1. Budget is important
2. You want a walkable student city
3. Nightlife is a priority
4. You prefer a more intimate feel
5. You want everything within easy reach

What Students Say

Pro-Birmingham:

"More going on, more diverse, feels like a real city not a student bubble."

"Career opportunities are just better. More companies, more options."

Pro-Nottingham:

"Best student city in England. Rock City. Enough said."

"Everything is walkable, everything is affordable, everyone is a student."

"Birmingham feels corporate. Nottingham feels like it's actually for students."

My Verdict

Nottingham is the better student city. More affordable, more walkable, better nightlife, more student-focused.

Birmingham is the better city to be a student in. More career options, more diversity, more to explore.

It depends what you want from your years at uni. Pure student experience? Nottingham. Broader city experience? Birmingham.

Browse Birmingham properties → Browse Nottingham properties →

January 2026 data based on 66 Birmingham and 109 Nottingham properties. Prices are estimates - verify before booking.