Your bags are packed, and your passport is ready. Next up, is planning your arrival.
Birmingham Airport
We recommend that you travel to Birmingham Airport (BHX) where possible, which is the closest airport to the University.
Birmingham Airport has great transport connections and our Welcome Assistants at the airport will help direct you to the taxi rank or the train station, depending on how you prefer to travel.
A taxi from Birmingham Airport to campus will usually cost between £35-£50. There's a dedicated taxi rank outside the arrival terminal, including wheelchair-accessible taxis.
Birmingham International train station is directly connected to Birmingham Airport by the Air-Rail Link monorail system. The Air-Rail Link is free to use and takes two minutes, operating between 03:30-00:30 each day. Outside of these hours, you can walk or take a taxi. Trains from Birmingham International run frequently through the day. A train fare from Birmingham International to University station (changing at Birmingham New Street) will usually cost around £5-£7.
Your choice might depend on where you're travelling to, how much luggage you have, and the time of day. Whichever option you choose, you'll need to pay for your own travel.
London Heathrow
We are planning ahead for our airport arrival support, and will share more information over the summer.
Other ways to travel from London Heathrow
London Heathrow has a number of travel options. Coaches (provided by National Express, Megabus and FlixBus) provides the most direct route to Birmingham, with coaches travelling to Birmingham city centre. Coach tickets will usually cost between £25 and £40, depending on the time of day and which service you choose. From the city centre, you can take a taxi to your accommodation.
You can also travel by train, however there are no direct trains from Heathrow to Birmingham, so you will need to transfer through central London. A one way train fare may cost between £35 and £80 depending on the time of travel, the route taken, and whether you book in advance. The Trainline can be useful for finding and purchasing tickets.
You may also wish to consider a private taxi transfer, especially if you are travelling as a group, with guests, or have bulky luggage.
Other airports, trains and ferries
If you're arriving to other airports, or travelling via train or ferry (by sea), you'll need to make your own way to campus. Remember to allow yourself enough time to collect your luggage, and bear this in mind when booking any further travel.
Please see our page on arriving in the UK for more general information about travelling to Birmingham.