working and living in Birmingham

[BigTom]

how long ago? balsall heath really isn't dodgy anymore.. (I live there for 5 years, and do socurrently) apart from the clean-up by the people living here (with some help from the council)which happened 5-10 years ago, the rise in house/rent prices in moseley has pushed alot of people out to balsall heath, sparkbrook and sparkhill.. so the whore/crackhouses have moved on as renting to students/professionals is more attractive, as well as being chased out by residents and customers being scared off by the council (who put in blocks at the ends of roads to discourage kerb crawlers, which works perfectly).. still the legacy of the area keeps rents down
in the end if idris can't afford to live in moseley/harborne/edgbaston then it's a choice between areas which are all not so nice..
I don't see balsall heath, sparkhill, sparkbrook as being any better/worse than Bearwood or stirchley..

 

[jasoon]

I live in Bham ('brum' sounds cheap lol), agree parts of Balsal Heath have been revamped, but its still then 'name' and past that put people off. Avoid the usual areas mentioned-small heath, sparkbrook, sparkhill, handsworth, nechells, perry barr. Areas like kings heath, shirley and hall green are more family-orientated areas, though there are some flats available. Moseley and edgbaston and solihull (slightly further out) are all nice.

 

[Dhimmi]

Now on the 'living in Birmingham' angle. What's it like for social life? I didn't realise before I was offered the job that it's actually the second biggest UK city after London. So I would be in danger of slipping into the whole 'alone in the crowd' rut? Or is any sort of a social life possible in the naked city?

I go to Brum monthly on business, I could go to London instead but Brum is so much friendlier I go there despite the extra travelling (I'm in Kent). The folk I do business with started off as just contacts but have all become chums.
For me it's the big city with a small town attitude, incredibly friendly, tons to do, and locals with a preference for smiling over frowning.
I bet you a fiver you're love it.

 

[Idris2002]

Thanks for that dhimmi, and thanks to all those who've responded so far.

 

[Pigeon]

Has anyone mentioned Stirchley yet? Might be worth a look: it's close to the university (assuming it's brum not aston you're going to) but it's not a stude ghetto. It's close to moseley and kings heath but cheaper than either of them. 2 good parks nearby, cinema/arts centre, decent transport links. What's not to like?

 

[Dhimmi]

No worries Idris... you wanna take my bet? ;-)

 

[Idris2002]

I ain't no gambling man, sorry.

A friend of mine (who I realised ten years too late is my ideal woman) took me into a bookie's in Belfast once.

She got all excited - it had no effect on me whatsoever.