Travelling to uni
Arriving in the UK by air
If possible, students travelling from outside the UK may find it easier to book a ticket to Birmingham International Airport rather than any London airport. This is because Birmingham is 120 miles (200 kilometres) north-west of London and there are no flight connections, although you can travel from London to Birmingham either by train or coach. The details are below.
From Birmingham International Airport (8.4 miles, 13.5 kilometres)
| Transport | Approx. cost | Approx. travel time | Route | Contact/Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| By train | £4.00 | 15 minutes | Use the Air-Rail Link from the airport to Birmingham International railway station and take a train to Birmingham New Street station from there. Taxis are available at New Street to take you to your accommodation. | |
| By coach | £5.00 | 20 minutes | Take the National Express airport service which runs every 30 minutes to Birmingham Coach Station in the city centre. From there, you can take a taxi to your accommodation. | National Express |
| By taxi | £30.00 | 30 minutes | Taxis can be found outside the Arrivals Hall at the airport. | +44 (0)121 427 8888 |
From London Gatwick Airport (120 miles, 193 kilometres)
| Transport | Approx. cost | Approx. travel time | Route | Contact/Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| By train | £88.00 | Three hours | Take a train to London Victoria station then take the underground tube or a taxi to London Euston station. From there you can catch a train to Birmingham New Street station. | |
| By coach | £50.00 | Four hours | Take the National Express Airport service to Birmingham Coach Station in Birmingham city centre. | National Express |
From London Heathrow Airport (95.5 miles, 154 kilometres)
| Transport | Approx. cost | Approx. travel time | Route | Contact/Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| By train | £80.00 | 2.5 hours | Take the Heathrow Express from the airport to Paddington station then take the underground or taxi to London Euston station. From there you can catch a train to Birmingham New Street station. | |
| By coach | £40.00 | 2.5 hours | Take the National Express Airport service to Birmingham Coach Station in Birmingham city centre. | National Express |
Arriving in the UK by rail
Travel via the Channel Tunnel to arrive at London St Pancras International railway station. This is a 10 minute walk (or a short taxi ride if you have heavy luggage) from London Euston station, where you can catch a train to Birmingham New Street.
Arriving in the UK by sea
There are good road and rail connections between most seaports and Birmingham. There should be a travel enquiry desk at your port of arrival and they will advise on travel by road or rail to Birmingham.