The 11 bostin’ reasons why Birmingham is the best city in the world to live in
Here’s why Birmingham is the best city in the world to live in right now
It’s official - Birmingham is one of the best cities in the world to live in.
Obviously, it’s a fact that us Brummies are only too well aware of - and now it’s been endorsed in the 2024 World’s Best Cities Report.
Beautiful Birmingham was listed alongside just five other British cities and ranked at number 85 on the list - which covered the entire globe!
The report is compiled by Resonance, a leading advisor in tourism, real estate and economic development, and its World’s Best Cities rankings quantify and benchmark the relative quality of place, reputation and competitive identity for the planet’s urban centres. You can find out more about it in our story here: Birmingham named in World’s Best Cities Report 2024.
Here are our the best reasons why Birmingham is the best city to live in:
1. The youngest city in Europe
Birmingham is a great place to live and work and our city has the youngest population in the continent, with under-25s accounting for nearly 40% of our population. There are over 400 schools, 15 universities and three University colleges within one hour’s drive of the city. With a youthful spirit and relentless drive It’s no wonder that Birmingham also has a thriving start-up business scene too with hundreds of creative businesses breaking through. The city remains a champion of innovation since it’s days as leader of the industrial revolution.
2. Delicious dining
Birmingham has one of the best dining scenes in the country. It encompasses French fine dining, global fusion, craft cocktails, local brews and more. The city is home to six Michelin star restaurants - the highest number in the UK outside London. There’s Adams, Opheem and Purnells in the city centre, Carters in Moseley, Peel’s in Solihull and Simpsons in Edgbaston. There are many other brilliant independent venues offering fantastic, innovative food too - The Wilderness in the Jewellery Quarter and Geen & Black in Barnt Green to mention just two. Popular London wine brand Vagabond has joined the scene - Birmingham is the first city it has chosen for its expansion, we fully understand why. D&D London has also opened the magnificent sky bar and restaurant Orelle at 103 Colmore Row which is now Birmingham’s highest restaurant. Manchester’s Albert Schloss is another popular venue. The city is renowned for its baltis and we can’t mention our food scene without we recommending a trip to our world famous Balti Triangle. The likes of Johnny Depp have dined at Varanasi and Tom Cruise was spotted in Asha’s among many other famous faces.
3. Thriving culture scene
There is so much culture to enjoy in Birmingham - the city even has its own ballet - Birmingham Royal Ballet - and orchestra - City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. There is an abundance of theatres featuring star-studded productions, art galleries are aplenty and we host some of the most colourful and energetic festivals you could ever imagine. Its iconic Library of Birmingham is the biggest public library in Europe, which is also home to one of the largest Shakespeare collections in the world and the famous Shakespeare Memorial Room, dating from the Victorian era.
4. Exciting transformation attracting big business
Birmingham is one of the fastest transforming cities in the world. Even Brummies are amazed at how quickly Birmingham is changing. The re-opening of New Street Station in 2015 heralded a whole new era for the city - and it hasn’t looked back. The skyline is changing dramatically with a host of new developments underway - from HS2 Curzon Street Station to Paradise to The Octagon and Smithfield. Digbeth, where the BBC are moring to, is one of the areas benefiting from the investment with the tram being extended to run down the High Street and the historic River Rea being opened up. The regeneration is attracting big business with Goldman Sachs and HSBC both opening up huge hubs in the city centre.