A Travel Price Comparison for United Kingdom Edinburgh vs. Birmingham for Attractions, Music, Backpackers, and Nightlife

Should you visit Edinburgh or Birmingham?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Edinburgh and Birmingham can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a vibrant, gothic, and ancient city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It also has that perfectly quaint feel that is like no other place. Other reasons to visit include museums, theater, and nightlife.

Birmingham

Birmingham is a historic, vibrant, and fun-filled city. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. Visitors also love the live music, food, and shopping.

Edinburgh and Birmingham: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Edinburgh or Birmingham?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Edinburgh than Birmingham. While Birmingham is larger than Edinburgh, Edinburgh has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Edinburgh is very popular for its museums, historical sights, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Birmingham attracts visitors for its food. Edinburgh is more touristy than Birmingham and is known for its medieval Old Town, the Royal Mile, and its influence on the Harry Potter series. It is also well known for The Edinburgh Castle. Birmingham is famous for its strong musical routes and its very livable atmosphere.

How is Edinburgh different from Birmingham?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Edinburgh is an amazing city to visit for its historical sights. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Travelers visit Edinburgh from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. The most famous sights include the Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the National Museum of Scotland. There are also kid-friendly museums like Camera Obscura.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Birmingham can be an interesting and educational experience. Famous sights include the Museum & Art Gallery, Thinktank, and St. Philip's Cathedral.

Is Edinburgh or Birmingham Better for Theater?

Visitors will find superb theaters and performances in Edinburgh and Birmingham.

Edinburgh attracts a wide-range of world-class performances. It's fun to see a live performance or attend one of the festivals in town.

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.

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

Birmingham is a city with good options for its restaurants. However, Edinburgh is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

Birmingham has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. 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.

Edinburgh may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. The city has some unique but famous dishes to try including haggis and black pudding. For slightly less intimidating options, check out the cullen skink, porridge, or smoked salmon. There are many fish and chips shops to choose from as well as a diversity of ethnic restaurants including Indian, Thai, and Ethiopian.

Is Edinburgh or Birmingham Better for Nightlife?

The superb nightlife scene is relatively similar in Edinburgh and Birmingham.

Edinburgh has a large number of nightlife venues. With so many students, the nightlife stays very active. There are a wide range of bars and clubs to choose from as well as some of the country's oldest pubs. Tourists tend to frequent the Old Town area, but you'll find more locals if you head to the student and university areas.

Birmingham is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. 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.

Is Edinburgh or Birmingham Better for Music?

It can be fun to see live music in either Edinburgh and Birmingham.

With so many music venues, you're guaranteed a show any night of the week in Edinburgh. In addition to a wide range of live music venues, there are also a number of music festivals held in town.

In Birmingham you'll find nightly musicians performing at a variety of venues. 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.

Is Edinburgh or Birmingham Better for its Old Town?

Edinburgh is an amazing city to visit for its historic old town. However, Birmingham does not have a historic old town.

Edinburgh offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The city's Old Town attracts international visitors who come to see the Edinburgh Castle, the quaint streets, and the many shops and cafes. The Royal Mile is a popular area with pubs and souvenir shops. It connects the castle to the Scottish Parliament.

Birmingham does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Edinburgh or Birmingham?

Shoppers can find a variety of superb stores in both Edinburgh and Birmingham.

Edinburgh is well-known for its shopping. Head to Princes Street in the New Town to visit department stores and other name brand shops. Nearby George Street has more boutique style shops and less crowds. In the Old Town, Victoria Street is filled with Harry Potter shops and tourist stores where you can pick up a kilt or Edinburgh sweatshirt.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Birmingham. 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 Edinburgh or Birmingham Better for Families?

Both Edinburgh and Birmingham are superb to visit with kids.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Edinburgh is very family-friendly. Kids will enjoy wandering down Victoria Street and popping in the Harry Potter shops. There are also a number of fascinating Harry Potter tours that take you through notable landmarks where J.K. Rowling was inspired to write these popular stories. You'll even visit Tom Riddle's gravesite. Other highlights that families will enjoy include Edinburgh Castle and the Edinburgh Dungeon, which is best for older kids or kids that enjoy a good scare. Younger kids will enjoy a trip the illusions museum, Camera Obscura, which also offers one of the best views of the city.

Birmingham is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Is Edinburgh or Birmingham Better for Couples?

Both Edinburgh and Birmingham are superb destinations for a couple's getaway.

Edinburgh makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With its castle and the Royal Mile, there are many romantic places to explore as a couple. There are also good restaurants and some nice hotels. Whether you're interested in history, food, or fun, this city makes for a great couples trip.

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 Edinburgh or Birmingham Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Edinburgh is an amazing city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Birmingham is not a good destination for backpackers.

Many backpackers frequent Edinburgh. The city has some good hostels and an active nightlife, so it's not hard to find other travelers to hang out with. It's a well visited city with many areas that attracted younger travelers or students.

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 Edinburgh or Birmingham Better for Students?

Birmingham is terrific for its student-friendly activities. Also, Edinburgh is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

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

Many students visit Edinburgh. This multicultural city is popular with international students because of its excellent research and academic centers as well as its unique history.

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

Visitors will find nice public transit in both Edinburgh and Birmingham.

Edinburgh has some public transit options. Buses are the best way to get into town from the outer edges if you don't have a car.

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 Edinburgh or Birmingham a more walkable city?

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

Edinburgh is a very easy city to get around on foot. The Old Town in particular is fun to walk around

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

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

Should I spend more time in Birmingham or Edinburgh?

How long in Edinburgh or Birmingham?

In either Edinburgh or Birmingham, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. In our opinion, Edinburgh has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Edinburgh than Birmingham. In general, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Edinburgh, and 1-5 days is enough time in Birmingham.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh.

One day in Edinburgh or Birmingham?

With live music and shopping around the charming city of Edinburgh, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

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 Edinburgh or Birmingham?

With shopping and museums around the destination of Edinburgh, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

You'll find theater and nightlife around the historic 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 Edinburgh or Birmingham?

Edinburgh, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Visiting the old town is also a must. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this city. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find nightlife and live music around the bustling 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 Edinburgh or Birmingham?

Edinburgh 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best 10-Day Tours from London, The Best 10-Day Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best 2-Week Tours from London.

When comparing the travel costs between Edinburgh and Birmingham, we can see that Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh Expensive? and Is Birmingham Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Edinburgh or Birmingham?

Birmingham has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Edinburgh. When comparing the sizes of Edinburgh 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.

When is the best time to visit Edinburgh or Birmingham?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Edinburgh or Birmingham in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Edinburgh and Birmingham. Many visitors come to Edinburgh in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Birmingham for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Edinburgh is generally cooler than Birmingham. Daily temperatures in Edinburgh average around 14°C (58°F), and Birmingham fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

Edinburgh usually receives less sunshine than Birmingham during summer. Edinburgh gets 163 hours of sunny skies, while Birmingham receives 196 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Edinburgh usually receives more rain than Birmingham. Edinburgh gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Edinburgh or Birmingham in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Edinburgh as well as Birmingham. Most visitors come to Edinburgh for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Birmingham because of the shopping scene and the music scene.

Edinburgh is cooler than Birmingham in the autumn. The daily temperature in Edinburgh averages around 10°C (49°F) in October, and Birmingham fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the autumn, Edinburgh often gets less sunshine than Birmingham. Edinburgh gets 90 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Birmingham receives 103 hours of full sun.

Edinburgh usually gets more rain in October than Birmingham. Edinburgh gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Edinburgh or Birmingham in the Winter?

Both Birmingham and Edinburgh are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Edinburgh because of the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to Birmingham this time of year.

It's quite cold in Birmingham in the winter. The weather in Edinburgh can be very cold. In the winter, Edinburgh is around the same temperature as Birmingham. Typically, the winter temperatures in Edinburgh in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Birmingham averages at about 3°C (38°F).

Edinburgh usually receives less sunshine than Birmingham during winter. Edinburgh gets 48 hours of sunny skies, while Birmingham receives 58 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Edinburgh usually receives around the same amount of rain as Birmingham. Edinburgh gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Edinburgh or Birmingham in the Spring?

Both Birmingham and Edinburgh during the spring are popular places to visit. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Edinburgh this time of year.

In April, Edinburgh is generally cooler than Birmingham. Daily temperatures in Edinburgh average around 7°C (45°F), and Birmingham fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).

In the spring, Edinburgh often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Birmingham. Edinburgh gets 132 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Birmingham receives 136 hours of full sun.

Edinburgh usually gets less rain in April than Birmingham. Edinburgh gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Birmingham and Edinburgh