We hope you enjoy your stay and that your experience of EE2010 is a fulfilling and stimulating one. Aston University is based in the centre of Birmingham, voted best UK city in a survey conducted by Group Leisure, so you will be well-placed to enjoy the many attractions of this vibrant and exciting place:
- Experience what the city has to offer by taking a guided tour either by bus or, if you’re feeling energetic, on foot (http://www.birmingham-tours.co.uk or call 0121 427 2555).
- Birmingham is home to numerous museums and galleries such as the ThinkTank Science and Technology Museum, located just across the road from campus (http://www.thinktank.ac or call 0121 202 2222), the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (http://www.bmag.org.uk/birmingham-museum or call 00121 303 2834) and the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter (http://www.bmag.org.uk/museum-of-the-jewellery-quarter or call 0121 554 3598).
- For something a little different, head to Cadbury World (http://www.cadburyworld.co.uk or call 0121 451 4444) to find out about the history of chocolate, see how it's made and try a few free samples or visit the National Sea Life Centre (http://www.sealifeeurope.com/local/index.php?loc=birmingham or call 0871 423 2110) which has over 60 displays of freshwater and marine life. Its one-million-litre ocean tank houses giant green sea turtles, blacktip reef sharks and tropical reef fish, with a fully transparent underwater tunnel.
- Birmingham is a shopper’s paradise, and it's all within walking distance of Aston. Head to The Bullring for high street shops and Selfridges or The Mailbox for your designer boutiques.
- If you’re after a bit of fresh air, there are many parks and gardens in Birmingham for you to relax in and enjoy and many host special events through the year. Visit Cannon Hill Park (http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/cannonhillpark), an attractive Victorian park, or head to the fantastic Botanical Gardens (http://www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk or call 0121 454 1860).
- For diversion in the evening you could see a film at one of the city’s three multi-screen cinemas or head across the road from campus to the state-of-the-art IMAX (http://www.imax.ac) or, if live entertainment appeals more, there are six theatres within walking distance and music to suit everyone’s taste can be found any night of the week (for what’s on visit http://www.livebrum.co.uk/genres).
If Birmingham’s leisure pursuits have made you hungry then how about a bite to eat and a drop to drink? There are literally hundreds of places in Birmingham city centre for you to enjoy a drink or a meal, ranging from traditional pubs to canalside bars, the famous Birmingham Balti to something a little different in the Chinese Quarter. For a comprehensive directory of the city’s eating places visit http://www.visitbirmingham.com/eating_out.
We hope we’ve given you some ideas about what to do during your stay at Aston. If you want more information on what’s on further afield in Birmingham and Warwickshire please visit http://www.visitbirmingham.com and http://www.enjoywarwickshire.com.
