One of the many pieces of street art to see, which is one of the top things to do in Digbeth.

Things To Do In Digbeth: Birmingham’s Trendiest Neighbourhood

What is so special about Digbeth? Read on to find out!

I’ve lived close to Birmingham for most of my life and have witnessed a remarkable transformation in Digbeth, which is now considered the city’s trendiest neighbourhood and has so many interesting things to do there.

In recent years, Digbeth has often been voted as one of the trendiest neighbourhoods not only in the second city but the whole of the UK as well and it is honestly one of my favourite places to visit in the city.

As a Midland local I’ve seen Digbeth transform from a gritty, run down industrial estate to being one of the major hipster capitals in England.

So that’s why I’ve written this blog post; to uncover what makes Digbeth so uniquely interesting and special and why you should visit next time you’re in Birmingham.

Plan Your Trip With My Recommended Resources:

🏨 Accommodation: I always use Booking.com
🚙 Rental Car: Discover Cars has the best car rental prices
❤️ Travel Insurance: I recommend using Visitors Coverage
✈️ Flights: Kiwi.com has the best prices on flights
📱eSIM: Airalo has a fantastic range of eSIMs

Top Things To Do In Digbeth

So what exactly makes Digbeth the most exciting and trendiest neighbourhood in Birmingham as well as all of England? Let’s uncover all the top things to do here and learn why it has become such a hub for tourists, creatives and locals:

1. Visit independent Shops and Cafes

There are many trendy shops, cafes, restaurants and bars located within such a small space here, which is one of the reasons why it has become so popular.

From finding second hand vintage clothing in Cow, to quirky, cosy, trendy cafes such as Chance & Counters (a popular board game café), there are a lot of cool places to visit in this area.

There are countless independent places here and not a mainstream shop like McDonalds or Starbucks in sight.

This is what makes this region of the city so different to the centre of Birmingham just up the road, which features all the usual mainstream high street shops that you find in every city in the UK.

2. Explore the unique Custard Factory

Once the site of Bird’s Custard in the Victorian era, the Custard Factory nowadays is very much the heart and soul of Digbeth and acts as the creative centre of the area.

Here you’ll find office and studio spaces where local creatives work from, as well as art exhibitions featuring work of Digbeth artists.

As well as trendy cafes and bars at the Custard Factory, there’s also a small independent cinema here as well – The Mocking Bird cinema which has an eclectic mix of film showings and events.

Signage pointing to the Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham.
Signage pointing to the Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham.

3. Check out the lively social scene

Birmingham city centre of course has a thriving social scene, but in recent years Digbeth has become a popular alternative for a good night out for many locals.

There is a plethora of really cool pubs and clubs in the area, from large outdoor bars like Luna Springs and Zumhof Biergarten, to quirky indoor bars like Deadwax and the Roxy Ballroom which features a bowling alley, an arcade and more.

The entrance to Luna Springs in Digbeth, Birmingham.
The entrance to Luna Springs in Digbeth, Birmingham.

If you want to experience the nightlife here, then Mama Roux’s is very popular too, as is Spotlight. And Birdie’s Bar is a really cool cocktail bar that has a fun tropical setting and often has live music.

There are also several warehouses that have been converted into pop up craft beer places, so you really are spoilt for choice when it comes to a good night out.

There are also a few immersive crazy golf places that are great fun as well, with Golf Fang being a popular place with cool décor.

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    4. See some awesome street art

    Digbeth without a doubt has the best street art in the city of Birmingham. There are countless backstreets and alleyways that are covered in really awesome, colourful artwork.

    In my experience, I would argue that Digbeth has the best street art anywhere in the UK, and beats other popular street art hotspots such as Shoreditch in London or Bristol.

    The only other city I would say has more exceptional street art is Brighton, on the south coast of England.

    An example of some of the awesome street art in Digbeth, Birmingham.
    An example of some of the awesome street art in Digbeth, Birmingham.

    👉 Pro Tip: Make sure not to miss one of the most prominent and permanent pieces of street art in the area is the JFK mosaic memorial. This is a stunning piece of artwork and acts as a signal that you’re entering the Digbeth area.

    5. Eat out at some brilliant dining clubs

    Digbeth has it’s very own Dining Club, which is another reason why you should visit the neighbourhood next time you’re in Birmingham.

    Digbeth Dining Club is a award winning events company that has totally transformed the food scene in Birmingham since it’s inception back in 2012.

    It brings together some of the best street food traders in the UK and hosts food events on a regular basis. They are based out of Digbeth and uses venues such as the Hockley Social Club and Herbert’s Yard.

    If you’re a foodie and plan on visiting Digbeth then make sure to check out the next event that DDC is planning and prepare to have your taste buds blown away!

    6. Encounter Birmingham’s creative hub

    Digbeth is very much Birmingham’s creative centre, with a lot of local artists over all kinds of mediums being based in the neighbourhood.

    The Custard Factory is home to a lot of artists, with several studios being used for creatives of all kinds, including graphic designers, animators, video game companies and many more.

    Digbeth Art Space is the artistic centre in the Custard Factory, featuring galleries, shops, workshops and it hosts events regularly.

    In short, Digbeth is a great social scene for Birmingham artists and has a thriving community for local creatives of all sorts.

    Offices and studio spaces at the Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham.
    Offices and studio spaces at the Custard Factory in Digbeth, Birmingham.

    How to get to Digbeth?

    Getting to Digbeth is pretty straight forward if you’re coming from Birmingham city centre. Your best option is to walk there, with Digbeth being just over a mile away and it takes roughly 15 minutes to walk there from the city.

    Simply head south from the Bullring shopping centre and after passing Digbeth coach station on your right, Digbeth will be on your left hand side.

    If you don’t fancy walking then you can catch several buses to Digbeth from Birmingham city centre, and of course you can drive to Digbeth, with there being several car parking spaces in the area.

    Is Digbeth Expensive?

    Depending on which bar, café or restaurant you visit, Digbeth may seem slightly on the expensive side, but is no more expensive than any other high quality place you may visit in Birmingham city centre.

    Compared to London, which is famous for being overrated and overpriced, Digbeth is most definitely reasonably priced. Some people now think Birmingham is overrated as well, though I disagree.

    Is Digbeth Safe?

    Although Digbeth has had a bad reputation for being a dangerous part of Birmingham in the past, in recent years it has significantly cleaned up it’s act since it’s cultural transformation.

    It’s no more dangerous than the rest of Birmingham, and as ever take care of your possessions and be vigilant as you would be anywhere else on your travels and I have never experienced any problems during my countless visits to Digbeth.

    You’ll most likely come across several security guards when entering most of Digbeth’s main bars and clubs, showing that the area has beefed up it’s protection policy, which should give you considerable peace of mind.


    Conclusion: Top Things To Do In Digbeth

    So those are all the top things to do when visiting Digbeth in Birmingham, England.

    The city as a whole has enjoyed a fantastic rejuvenation over recent years, and Digbeth especially is considered a cultural highlight in Birmingham. Often underrated, Birmingham is now seen as a top tourist destination in the UK.

    It really is a top hipster place to hang out, with quirky cafes and vibrant bars and nightclubs. It’s not exactly suited for families to be honest but more a social place for adults looking for a good time.

    With Digbeth easily being the trendiest neighbourhood in all of Birmingham, you know exactly what things to do next time you’re visiting England’s second capital.

    You might also like these blog posts about Birmingham:

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    ➡️ 15 Things To Do In Birmingham Alone: The BEST Solo Travel Guide
    ➡️ Birmingham vs London: Which City Is Better To Visit In 2025?
    ➡️ Is It Better To Visit Wolverhampton or Birmingham? Review By A Local

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    ➡️ Planning your trip? Here are my favourite resources:

    🏨 Accommodation: I recommend using Booking.com
    🚙 Rental Car: Use Discover Cars for the best car rental prices
    ❤️ Travel Insurance: I recommend using Visitors Coverage
    ✈️ Flights: Use Kiwi.com for the best prices on flights

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