Travel
By Road
Megabus and National Express services run to Birmingham frequently from most UK cities, all arriving into Digbeth Coach Station in the city centre, and near to many Fierce venues.
Venue post codes can be found on event pages with paid-for parking available across the city centre. Please note there is a Clean Air Zone in effect in Birmingham so driving in the city centre may incur additional charges.
By Train
Birmingham has three major train stations (Birmingham New Street, Birmingham Moor Street and Birmingham Snow Hill) with direct trains running from most major cities across the UK. Trains running between London Euston and Birmingham New Street take from 1 hour 16 minutes to 2 hours and 30 minutes and run several times an hour. Cheaper but slower options are available. We particularly recommend the cheaper Chiltern train line from London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street, which only takes 20 minutes longer but has nicer carriages and better free wi-fi. We recommend taking the Eurostar from mainland Europe and then walking the short distance from the London Eurostar terminal to London Euston to take a train to complete the journey to Birmingham.
By Air
We ask you to consider the environment and look at other modes of transport if these are accessible to you.
Birmingham is served by its own airport (BHX) with direct flights from numerous European cities including Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, Warsaw, Zurich and many more. The easiest and cheapest way from the airport into the city centre is by train, just ten minutes with several services per hour, tickets can be bought in advance or at the station. Alternatively it is a minimum 30 minute drive which can cost a lot by taxi.
Birmingham is well-served by coaches and trains from airports in London and other UK cities.
Getting around the city
Many venues are walking distance from each other, and we’ve planned the schedule to allow enough time to get between all venues in time for the next show, but plan your route beforehand!
The city is served well by taxis including Uber and Bolt. Black cabs are managed by TOA. Uber assist and Uber access are both available in the city.
There are lots of bus routes around Birmingham with contactless card accepted for payment, so you could consider staying out of the city centre.
If you download the Beryl Bikes app, you can hire pay-as-you-go bikes and e-bikes to get around the city.
Midlands Arts Centre and Legacy Centre of Excellence are slightly outside of the city centre but both are well-served by local buses or 10-15 minutes in a taxi.
Beware: Birmingham rush hour is notoriously bad!
Where to stay?
If you need somewhere to stay during the festival there are numerous options to suit all budgets. Airbnb isn’t great in the city, so move quickly if that’s your preference.
We will be using the Novotel on Broad Street for artist accommodation this year but Birmingham has hundreds of hotels to choose from including many reliable, cost-effective chains including Premier Inn, Adagio Aparthotel and Holiday Inn.
If hostels are more your vibe, we can recommend two: PH Hostel (slightly fancier) in the Jewellery Quarter and Birmingham Backpackers in Digbeth.
If you’re looking for something a bit nicer, try the boutique Frederick Street Townhouse or the BLOC Hotel – both in the Jewelry Quarter offering something a bit more stylish that won’t break the bank. And if you really want to push the boat out, the newly restored Grand Hotel is stunning, and benefits from a fantastic city centre location just off Cathedral Square.
Speaking of boats, if you’re a fan, then try the Boatel, run by friend of Fierce Saima Razzaq: Hotelboatel.co.uk.