Spending hours on end in the same spot in the library can be more sleep inducing than work producing. A change of scenery is healthy for both the mind and soul, so we’ve put together a list of our favorite places to study in Birmingham.
If you’re enrolled at one of the city’s universities, boost your productivity by swapping the library for one of these top study spots.
Medicine Bakery and Gallery
It’s easy to walk past this hole in the wall bakery, with its chic signage hidden among the chain store giants that otherwise dominate the high street. However, once you’ve discovered Medicine, you’ll never forget it.
A tempting display of hand-shaped, artisanal bread will guide you to a beautifully restored marble staircase. Follow your nose up the stairs to the impressive cake display waiting at the top.
Whether you’re in the mood for a quick snack, filling brunch or simply a caffeine kick, you’ll find it here. Maybe you’ll be tempted by a filled cronut topped with perfect swirls of blackberry mascarpone, or a sourdough toasty bursting with comforting combinations of British cheese. Alternatively, choose a nutritious Buddha bowl from the menu, packed full of brain-fueling nutrients.
Remarkably, the culinary delights aren’t even Medicine’s best feature. Hidden behind the tempting cake counter and the abundance of leafy hanging plants, is the main event – a huge open-plan communal seating area, complete with skylights, free Wi-Fi and an ever-changing reel of thought-provoking art exhibitions.
On top of all this, you can get 15 percent off all baked goods if you have an Independent Birmingham Card!
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Staring at the same shelves full of dusty books can be totally uninspiring when you’re nearing your 12th hour in the university library. So, why not swap that hard chair and dusty view for a plush leather armchair and some grand Edwardian architecture?
Head to the second floor of the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and you’ll find a spacious tearoom. You don’t have to be visiting the exhibitions to sit here, so bring your laptop and settle in for the day.
This huge, open-plan room, now known as the Edwardian Tearoom, has plenty of comfy seats and plug sockets that provide all of the library conveniences without the boring backdrop. Plus, if you do find yourself needing some inspiration, you can take a quick wander around some of the inspiring exhibitions.
Make sure to take advantage of the daily offers here. On a Thursday, arrive before 12pm to be treated to a large coffee and slice of cake for less than a fiver, while on Saturday you can start the day right with 10 percent off any brunch dish before midday.
JuJu’s Café
Why is exam season always perfectly timed with some of the hottest days of the year? Staring out of the library window at the lucky people sunning themselves in the park outside can be downright depressing.
Fortunately, there’s a place where you can study as well as get your daily dose of Vitamin D. Take a walk along the canal into Brindley Place and look out for the orange signage of JuJu’s Café, your new favorite summer studying spot.
As well as plenty of comfortable indoor seating, there are spacious tables outside with a beautiful panoramic view over the canal. Here you can grab a large coffee and delicious stack of pancakes for less than a tenner.
Better still, this part of the canal has fewer passers-by, so you should be left to study in peace.
However, the great food and service at JuJu’s has not been unnoticed by the hungry people of Birmingham, so it’s best to visit on a weekday to guarantee a table and a quieter environment.
Damascena
You’ve left a deadline ‘till the last minute and now the library is shutting, your flatmates are throwing an impromptu party and you’ve got nowhere to go.
Luckily, there are a few cafes in Birmingham’s city center that have late opening hours and a great environment to work in.
Damascena is the best option if you fancy working well past dinner time, with opening hours often extending past 9pm. Found just off Colmore Row, it’s a short walk away from the center of town, making it a quick and convenient place to get to.
Offering delicious Middle Eastern dishes for reasonable prices, reliable Wi-Fi and good strong Turkish coffee, Damascena may just be the lifeline you need during exam time.
