Blog: 5 things you should know about living in Selly Oak
Written by Student Content Shaper and final year student Anvi Gupta
In the first year, I moved into University-owned student accommodation at the Vale Village in Edgbaston. For the last year, I’ve lived in a rented house in Selly Oak and assumed that since I was further away from the city centre, there wasn’t much to do. However, I found myself feeling far more engaged living in Selly Oak than I expected. Here are five things I wish I knew prior to moving to Selly Oak...
1. There is such a range of food options in Selly Oak
Everything is only a 15-minute walk away from each other as it’s fairly a small area. Yet, there’s so many options to do your weekly food shop - from Aldi and Sainsbury’s to Tesco Express and local shops such as University Superstore.
The 24-hour Tesco has been a particular lifesaver for me during exam season when I’ve decided to go out at midnight and get myself a sweet treat. Knowing what’s available gives you a better idea of the options available as you can look at the different price ranges and budget accordingly.
2. Cannon Hill Park: a gem for nature-lovers
If you’re like me, you’ll love a bit of nature and take the chance to have a picnic or a stroll through a park with your friends whenever you can. Cannon Hill Park is only a 25-minute walk from Selly Oak and is great for a fun day out (especially once it starts getting warmer).
You can visit the Midlands Art Centre for exhibitions or workshops, have a yap session with your friends whilst walking through the gardens or take part in one of the activities such as mini golf or swan lake boating.
3. The many study spots in Selly Oak
When you’re struggling to find spaces on campus during assignment or exam season, there's the Orchard Learning Resource Centre for a traditional style library study space but if you prefer to hole up in a cafe, Selly Oak Retail Park has a couple of street-chain coffee shops you can work in. There’s also local cafes you can study in on the High Street - making it the perfect quiet environment without being stuck in the house.
4. How close everyone is to each other
With most undergraduates moving into Selly Oak or Harborne in their second year of University, it becomes a very lively area. So, when you’re walking past the High Street in the evenings, it is still hustling and bustling, which is great for when it starts to get darker in the evenings.
It’s nice to have an impromptu catch up with friends either at their house for dinner, a local dessert place or just down to one of the local pubs. The Indie Lounge has something on from time to time which I love to go to for a bit of fun.
But it's also super important to remember Selly Oak isn't just full of students so to be mindful and respectful to all residents in Selly Oak and practice being a gtood neighbour.
5. The (very underrated) Selly Express
I didn’t know much about the Selly Express until I bumped into a random student one evening last October. I knew that it existed, but I didn’t realise that it came on a regular basis - not just once in the evening - during term time which was the perfect solution for late-night study sessions at the Main Library.
One of my biggest concerns was safety and walking back in the dark as this was something I wasn’t used to before moving to University. However, the Selly Express made a difference. It’s not just about the convenience of being dropped off close to your home, it’s about making sure that every student is as safe as possible.
Living in Selly Oak has been full of surprises – from discovering cosy cafes to enjoying time in scenic parks. My advice to any student moving to the area is don’t underestimate Selly Oak. It might not seem like much at first glance but once you start exploring, it can become a place you can call home.