Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why">WHY?</h2>



<p>Next to green Bourneville with its Quaker roots and prim and proper Edgbaston sits Harborne. It&#8217;s a bit more of the cool sister, and while it might not be as pretty as its gentrified neighbours, its up and coming and there&#8217;s no shortage of things to do here &#8211; particularly if you&#8217;re a foodie. Some of Brum&#8217;s best restaurants sit in this neighbourhood, so, without further ado&#8230;..</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/10/Untitled-design-976.jpg" alt="Outdoor dining area The Plough Harborne West Midlands with pergola and pot plants" class="wp-image-50897" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/10/Untitled-design-976.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/10/Untitled-design-976-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/10/Untitled-design-976-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/10/Untitled-design-976-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/10/Untitled-design-976-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/10/Untitled-design-976-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/10/Untitled-design-976-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/10/Untitled-design-976-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Plough</figcaption></figure>



<p>One of the things I love most about Harborne is how chilled it is. You wanna get dressed up for dinner? Do it. Wanna wear jeans and a baggy jumper, that&#8217;s ok. There&#8217;s no formalities here. Nope, not even at Michelin rated <a href="https://www.harbornekitchen.com">Harborne Kitchen</a>. It&#8217;s cool and contemporary with dishes changing regularly. Two minutes down the road is knockout pub <a href="https://theploughharborne.co.uk">The Plough</a>. It&#8217;s got a rustic, laid back mediterranean vibe and a lovely botanical outdoor seating area. The pizzas here are seriously good – huge, fluffy, doughy and just heaving with delicious toppings. </p>



<p>Fellow boozer <a href="https://www.thejunctionharborne.co.uk/#/">The Junction</a> – at the junction of High Street and Vivian Road – is a beautiful Victorian pub to while away a few hours in, they do proper hearty Sunday roasts too. Feeling experimental? Check out <a href="https://estadodaindia.co.uk">Estado Da India</a>, a tasty mix of Portuguese and Indian dishes in a restaurant full of quirky decor and vibrant colours. Add Indian restaurant <a href="https://www.rajamonkey.co.uk">Raja Monkey</a>, Italian joint <a href="https://www.tropea.uk">Tropea</a>, and multi-award winning Thai restaurant <a href="https://www.sabaisabai.com">Sabai Sabai</a>, to your must-try list too. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<p>There&#8217;s not tons of indie shops here but the ones they have are goodies. For women&#8217;s clothing check out <a href="https://www.instagram.com/Sophiebea15/">Sophie Bea</a>. If you&#8217;re looking for interiors there&#8217;s <a href="https://www.kinhome.co">KIN Home</a> for Scandi style and <a href="https://www.oka.com/uk">Oka</a> &#8211; both are in nearby Edgbaston. Pop about 5 minutes down the road into central Brum and you&#8217;re in shopping heaven with <a href="https://www.bullring.co.uk">The Bullring</a> which is filled with high street finds &#8211; and what&#8217;s a spending spree without stopping at Selfridges? </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1440" height="1080" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/10/195793383_178435660956174_2862147036637159221_n.jpg" alt="BAREFOOT YOGA BIRMINGHAM" class="wp-image-58225" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/10/195793383_178435660956174_2862147036637159221_n.jpg 1440w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/10/195793383_178435660956174_2862147036637159221_n-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/10/195793383_178435660956174_2862147036637159221_n-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2023/10/195793383_178435660956174_2862147036637159221_n-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Barefoot Yoga</figcaption></figure>



<p>There&#8217;s <a href="https://barefootbirmingham.com/harborne/">Barefoot Yoga</a> and <a href="https://yogahart.co.uk">Yoga Hart</a> and for pilates check out <a href="https://www.graftpilates.co.uk">Graft</a>. There&#8217;s a GP right on your doorstep at<a href="https://harbornemedical.co.uk"> Harborne Medical Centre</a> along with a <a href="https://www.harbornephysio.co.uk">physio</a>. Book in for a massage at the <a href="http://www.harbornespaandclinic.co.uk">Spa and Clinic</a> and for psychotherapy, day spa and holistic therapies there&#8217;s <a href="https://www.renaissancetherapy.co.uk">Renaissance</a>. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<p>There&#8217;s a monthly <a href="https://harborne-village.com/harborne-market/">market</a> brimming with local makers and creatives and an annual street <a href="https://heartresearch.org.uk/harborne-carnival/">carnival</a> raising money for charity. There&#8217;s a <a href="https://www.circlecinema.co.uk/Content/Home.htm">film club</a> with monthly screenings and regular litter picking groups if you fancy paying a bit back!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<p>In Harborne there&#8217;s <a href="https://www.winterbourne.org.uk">Woodgate Valley Country Park</a> – 250 acres of lush green grassland complete with riding stables and a community run farm. If you fancy really stretching your legs head to the nearby <a href="https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20089/parks/406/lickey_hills_country_park">Lickey Hills Country Park</a> which is around 20 minutes away and is perfect for dog walking, picnics and there&#8217;s a cafe onsite too. In neighbouring Edgbaston there&#8217;s <a href="https://www.winterbourne.org.uk">Winterbourne House and Gardens</a> – a beautiful Edwardian house and gardens to amble around. Also In Edgbaston (let&#8217;s not mention the cricket ground) are <a href="https://www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk">Birmingham Botanical Gardens</a> and <a href="https://www.cadburyworld.co.uk/en">Cadbury World</a> in Bourneville.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/10/Untitled-design-977.jpg" alt="Lapworth Museum of Geology" class="wp-image-50898" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/10/Untitled-design-977.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/10/Untitled-design-977-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/10/Untitled-design-977-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/10/Untitled-design-977-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/10/Untitled-design-977-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/10/Untitled-design-977-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/10/Untitled-design-977-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2022/10/Untitled-design-977-1100x1100.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lapworth Museum of Geology</figcaption></figure>



<p>Check out <a href="https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/lapworth-museum/index.aspx">The Lapworth Museum of Geology</a> too – it&#8217;s a hidden gem and you can easily while away a few hours exploring – it even keeps the kids interested. And well worth a look (but maybe leave the kids at home) is the <a href="https://barber.org.uk">Barber Institute of Fine Arts </a>which is home to some really interesting exhibitions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-prices">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICES</h2>



<p>Properties had an average price of £324,046 over the last year. Most sales were semi-detached homes sold for an average of £345,989, with terraced houses fetching £305,191.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-54.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57526" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-54.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-54-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/07/Untitled-design-54-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>This 2-bed is part of a duplex property in a stunning mansion house. <a href="https://mchugohomes.co.uk/property/2-bed-for-sale-in-meadow-road-birmingham/589312#property-images" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">On the market for £450,000</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES</h2>



<p>There&#8217;s <a href="https://victorianursery.business.site">Victoria Nursery</a>, curiosity approach <a href="https://www.thenestnursery.co.uk">The Nest</a>, <a href="https://www.littlepioneers.coop/find-your-nursery/Stonehouse_nursery/">Stonehouse</a> and <a href="https://www.brighthorizons.co.uk/our-nurseries/court-oak-nursery-and-preschool?utm_source=googlemybusiness&amp;utm_medium=Referral&amp;utm_campaign=4368-CourtOak">Bright Horizons</a> which were both rated Good by Ofsted, while Vivian Road was ranked Outstanding. In nearby Edgbaston, <a href="https://www.norfolkhouseschool.co.uk/nhn28/">Norfolk House</a>, <a href="https://childbasepartnership.com/nursery/highfield-day-nursery/">Highfield Day</a>, <a href="https://cheeky-monkeys-day-nursery.co.uk">Cheeky Monkeys</a> and <a href="https://www.kindergarten.co.uk">Edgbaston Kindergarten</a> are all Outstanding.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p>There are several Ofsted Outstanding schools in and around Harborne including <a href="http://www.chadvale.bham.sch.uk/">Chad Vale</a>, <a href="http://www.harborne.bham.sch.uk/">Harborne</a> and <a href="http://www.st-petersce.bham.sch.uk/">St Peter&#8217;s CofE</a>. Excellent independent options nearby include: <a href="https://www.hallfieldschool.co.uk">Hallfield</a>, <a href="https://www.edgbastonhigh.co.uk">Edgbaston High School for Girls</a> and <a href="https://www.highclareschool.co.uk">Highclare</a>. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>Its most famous industry,&nbsp;the Chad Valley Company, is probably Britain&#8217;s best known toy manufacturer&nbsp;and was based in the area for 80 years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>The nearest station is east at University, with trains running every 10 mins or so to Grand Central Birmingham – a 7 min journey. Links from there are really good and it will soon also be serviced by high speed line HS2. If you&#8217;re driving, the Hagley Road takes you to Birmingham and the M5 in 10 mins. Birmingham airport is 30 mins aways.</p>



<p><em>View the full&nbsp;<a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 300 Best Places to Live</a>.</em></p>


Harborne

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