A Travel Price Comparison for United Kingdom Cambridge vs. Birmingham for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Cambridge or Birmingham?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Cambridge and Birmingham. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Cambridge

Cambridge is a historic, beautiful, and collegiate university town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Birmingham

Birmingham is a historic, vibrant, and fun-filled city. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and theater.

Cambridge and Birmingham: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cambridge or Birmingham?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Birmingham than Cambridge, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Birmingham is more popular for its theatre productions, nightlife, music, and quaint atmosphere, while Cambridge is known for its food, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Cambridge is more touristy than Birmingham and is known for its iconic university and the many colleges associated with it. Birmingham is popular for its strong musical routes and its very livable atmosphere. It is also home to Victoria Square.

How is Cambridge different from Birmingham?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Birmingham and Cambridge. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Cambridge or Birmingham?

Spend time exploring the high quality sights and museums in either Cambridge or Birmingham.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Cambridge. The history is rich and impressive in this university town. There are countless museums and architectural sights that you should check out. High on the list are the Cambridge University buildings, The Fitzwilliam Museum, the Bridge of Sighs, The Round Church, and many more.

Birmingham offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Famous sights include the Museum & Art Gallery, Thinktank, and St. Philip's Cathedral.

Is Cambridge or Birmingham Better for Theater?

Birmingham is an excellent place to visit for theatre. However, Cambridge is not a theatre destination.

Birmingham offers many theater and performance venues for visitors. The impressive theater scene includes Broadway shows and musicals. Birmingham Hippodrome is a major theater in town.

Cambridge is not a theatre destination.

Is the Food Better in Cambridge or Birmingham? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Cambridge is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Cambridge. You'll find college pubs, local eateries, and fine dining, all in one charming town. Enjoy afternoon tea or fish chips at one of the many local restaurants around town.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Birmingham. Food reviews are mixed around town. The city has its share of award-winning restaurants, but there are also popular dishes that are more of an acquired taste. Local flavors include pork scratching, Birmingham soup, and brummie bacon cakes.

Is Cambridge or Birmingham Better for Nightlife?

Birmingham is an excellent place to visit for nightlife. Also, Cambridge is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Birmingham has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. With tons of students and young people looking to party, there is plenty to do in the evening. You'll find no shortage of pubs, clubs, and music venues around town.

Cambridge has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The nightlife scene is centered around the student culture and you'll find many university pubs, some lively clubs, theaters, and wine bars around town. Whether you're looking for a chill night with friends or a more wild experience, there are options in Cambridge.

Is Cambridge or Birmingham Better for Music?

Birmingham is a must-visit destination for live music. However, Cambridge is not a live music destination.

Birmingham is known as a music capital around the world. The city has long been a haven for musical creativity, and its influence over the global music scene is apparent. Popular music venues around town include Ghetto Golf, Digbeth Dining Club, and the Sunflower Lounge.

Cambridge is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Cambridge or Birmingham?

Shoppers can find a variety of high quality stores in both Cambridge and Birmingham.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Cambridge. The town offers independent boutique shops, local brands, and a 7 day a week market. The three main shopping areas in town are The Grafton, Lion Yard and Grand Arcade.

Birmingham is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city offers everything from large department stores to smaller local shops. There are several good shopping streets around town as well as large markets and even a jewelry quarter.

Is Cambridge or Birmingham Better for Families?

Birmingham is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Cambridge is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Birmingham is a very family-friendly destination. The city has put effort into making sure there are plenty of family-friendly activities around. You can visit a chocolate factory, explore an aquarium, enjoy an animal safari, or explore one of the hands-on museums.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Cambridge. Kids will enjoy following the Treasure Trail, or climbing to the top of the Great St Mary’s Tower. Punting is another iconic experience. On a rainy day, head to the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, the Museum of Zoology, or the Cambridge Science Centre.

Is Cambridge or Birmingham Better for Couples?

Cambridge and Birmingham both high quality destinations for a couple.

Cambridge makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The quaint town is fun to explore as a couple. Try your hand at punting or take a tour of one of the colleges. You can also enjoy a picnic in the botanical gardens or have tea at the Orchard Tea Garden.

Couples visit Birmingham frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Romantic activities around town include taking a beautiful stroll through town, wandering around a park or garden, or seeing the ballet.

Is Cambridge or Birmingham Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Cambridge is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Birmingham is not a good destination for backpackers.

Cambridge is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. With a handful of hostels and a vibrant student population, the town makes for a fun stop on your backpacking trip.

Birmingham is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not the most popular destination for backpackers, but there's at least one affordable hostel in town.

Is Cambridge or Birmingham Better for Students?

Both Cambridge and Birmingham are first-rate destinations for students.

Cambridge is a very popular place to visit for students. The town is home to more than 25,000 students who come from 140 different countries. This is one of the most iconic university towns in the world, and there's really no better place for students to visit or reside.

Many students frequent Birmingham. With world class academic institutions and a very diverse and international population, this is a popular place for international students to study.

Is Cambridge or Birmingham Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find good public transit in both Cambridge and Birmingham.

Cambridge has some public transit options. There is a regional bus service that operates through town.

You'll find some public transit in Birmingham, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is a reasonably comprehensive bus system.

Is Cambridge or Birmingham a more walkable city?

Cambridge is an amazing university town to visit for its walkability. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its high level of walkability.

Cambridge is a very easy university town to get around on foot. Walking is the best way to explore the town.

Birmingham is a very walkable university town. Many parts of the city are very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Cambridge Worth Visiting? and Is Birmingham Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Birmingham or Cambridge?

How long in Cambridge or Birmingham?

In either Cambridge or Birmingham, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Birmingham than Cambridge because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Cambridge, and 1-5 days is enough time in Birmingham.

Families should spend more time in Birmingham than Cambridge. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Birmingham, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Birmingham than Cambridge. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Birmingham that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Cambridge than Birmingham if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Cambridge.

One day in Cambridge or Birmingham?

With museums and nightlife around the collegiate university town of Cambridge, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Cambridge, one day is sufficent for most.

You'll find museums and theater around the city of Birmingham. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Birmingham has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Cambridge or Birmingham?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Cambridge, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this university town.

You'll find theater and nightlife around the fun-filled destination of Birmingham. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Cambridge or Birmingham?

Cambridge, a popular university town, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find nightlife and live music around the vibrant city of Birmingham. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Most people head to the area for the live music. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

A week in Cambridge or Birmingham?

Cambridge is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Birmingham is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best 10-Day Tours from London.

When comparing the travel costs between Cambridge and Birmingham, we can see that Cambridge is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cambridge Expensive? and Is Birmingham Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cambridge or Birmingham?

Birmingham has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Cambridge. When comparing the sizes of Cambridge and Birmingham, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.