Birmingham Central Backpackers

Overall Rating

557 out of 613 HostelBookers customers said that they would recommend 'Birmingham Central Backpackers'

Located in Birmingham’s city centre, a minute walk from the National Express Coach Station and mere streets from the Bull Ring; Birmingham Central Backpackers is Birmingham’s first, best and most centrally-located backpackers’ accommodation run by travellers with your needs in mind. With half board!

Just named by The Lonely Planet Guidebook as their pick for where to stay in Birmingham- We are Birmingham’s FIRST, BEST and ONLY Independent Hostel! Family owned and operated, we are oozing with quirky character, loads of things to do, and an amazingly friendly staff. Many of our guests keep coming back time and again, it's time you come and find out why!

We are run by travellers for travellers. When you stay at Birmingham Central you get far more than just a bed in a room. Our friendly staff, bright colours and over the top décor mean we're an exciting and interesting place to stay – no sterile and boring atmosphere here often typical in run of the mill chain hostels. And then there's the FREE breakfast and evening buffets – we're the West Midlands ONLY Half-Board Hostel! Add to that the fact that we're ridiculously close to all the main forms of public transport in Birmingham, and you've got to ask, why would anyone stay anywhere else?

Here at Birmingham Central we love our guests and we hope you love us too! So, in your honour, we decided to give you a lot of Free things to make your stay even more enjoyable - and because we know you're broke from your travels, just like us.

So enjoy the following... it's on us!

FREE light breakfast
FREE nightly snack buffet
FREE movies (over 600 to choose from!) on a gigantic projection screen TV and popcorn
FREE wi-fi
FREE clean linen and towels
FREE luggage storage
FREE use of a fully-fitted communal kitchen
FREE video and DVD rental
FREE pool table
FREE X-Box360, Wii, and Playstation 3 use
FREE maps and tourist information centre
FREE reading and travel library
FREE use of hairdryers and iron/ironing boards

Not enough there to convince you that we are the place to stay yet?

How about this:

SUNDAY - Pub Quiz Night! Gather around to answer some questions and raise a little money for Oxfam. Starts at 8pm.
MONDAY - Movie Marathon Night! Free Pizza and three movies back to back. Is there a theme? See if you can spot it! Starts at 7pm.
FIRST TUESDAY EVERY MONTH - English Ale and Cider Tasting! Come along with some of our staff to sample a little of what England has to offer in the way of traditional Alcoholic beverages at one of the local pubs - The Anchor Inn, Digbeth (A grade II listed Victorian pub serving traditional and hard to find ales and drought ciders - not to mention regularly and consistently winning awards). Be assembled in the Main Building Commons at 7pm for this outing.
WEDNESDAY - Fish & Chips and Games Night! Order and pay for your fish & chips from the staff at reception by 5.30pm and we'll all have a night of traditional English favourite and games - whether they be a multiplayer on one of our game systems, boardgames, pool games or card games. Last Orders taken at 5.30pm on the night, starts about 7pm.
THURSDAY – Open Night! YOU choose the entertainment tonight! And there’s loads of things to choose from.
FRIDAY – Tournament Night! Show off your skills at Wii Sports on the big screen or pool on our table both in our awesome common room.
SATURDAY – Free Morning Walking Tour! Join one of our staff members and other guests on a morning stroll through different parts of the city each week. Starts at 9am.
Live Sports! If there is a game on, you can be sure we'll have it up on our big screen on Saturday afternoons! And when it comes complete with drink specials during the game, there's no need to go out into the cold looking for a sports bar.

Still not enough? You’re a tough customer! Luckily, we’re up to the challenge.

Our common area is by far the coolest and funkiest around. Based in what used to be a pub, it has often been described as a 'technicolour explosion' you'll just have to see to believe. All we know is that our common room is simply awesome. The laidback atmosphere makes it easy to meet other travellers. Your only trouble will be convincing yourself to get out there and see the sights when there's so much to do here!

It's comfy, it's cosy. It's a great place to socialise with new friends and drink a cold beer from our bar (which sells quite the variety of international beer favourites and a collection of cocktail concoctions) while warming up in front of our fireplace.

In the summer, one of the best places to be is our garden. There are loads of plants, and it's a great place for a chat or a BBQ, or even to test your skills on our basketball game. At night it's lit up by all sorts of different lights, making the atmosphere really cool.

Need a snack or forget something? It's no problem. We sell travel essentials and a selection of crisps as well as other snacks to feed you - that is if you are still hungry after pigging out at our free nightly snack buffet!

So what kind of rooms do we have to offer? At Birmingham Central, we have it all.

We have private singles, twin and triple rooms which are with tea and coffee making facilities, TVs and DVD players as well as books and a selection from our movie library.

We also have dorm rooms that hold between four and eight people. Most dorm rooms have lockers, a sink and shower but toilet facilities are shared.

New last May: Our eight bed POD dorm! It adds a new level of privacy to backpacking. Based on the Japanese capsule design, each POD has a 360 degree private reading light, locker, extra comfy mattress, and curtain so you can have the utmost privacy if that’s what you are looking for. But book early if you want to secure one of these beds - they sell like hotcakes.

At BCB, we have something for everyone.

Do you want to stay somewhere that really is centrally located in the city because you don’t want to pay for transport? That’s smart thinking. Who wants to lug their belongings far distances across town when you first arrive? No one, of course. Not to mention the cost of taking taxis and buses (that can really add up). When we say we are centrally located, we mean it!

Check out how close we are to the following:
1 minute walk to the National Express Coach Station
1 minute walk to Barfly
1 minute walk to the bus to the NEC and Birmingham Airport
3 minute walk to Custard Factory
5 minute walk to the Bull Ring and Markets
5 minute walk to Moor Street Train Station
8 minute walk to New Street Train Station
8 minute walk to Arcadian and the Gay Quarter
10 minute walk to Carling Academy
10 minute walk to the Mega Bus stop
20 minute walk to Broad Street, the canals and the NIA

Check-in time is 2pm-11pm. If you need to arrive outside these times, please contact us and let us know once you have booked just so we know to expect you late.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
RULES: Only authorized guests are allowed in our hostel. Any guest (including their entire party) caught bringing in other people will be evicted immediately without refund and charged for the additional people they have allowed to trespass in our buildings. Due to our guests being of adult age and the fact that we are licensed as a pub, we do not accept guests under the age of 16 or liquor brought in from outside. Alcohol consumed on our premises must be bought at the bar due to our licensing laws and consumed in our common room or outdoor garden and no where else. We are a non-smoking hostel in accordance with English law. Guests caught bringing in outside alcohol into our buildings, smoking or drinking alcohol purchased from us into unauthorized areas of the buildings will be evicted (along with their entire group) immediately without refund. There will be no debate or arguments. In addition a fine of £200 will be made to the card booked with. If you book to stay with us you are accepting these conditions.
• We accept debit and credit cards but for bookings over £50 debit cards will be charged an additional 40 p charge and credit cards will be charged 2% of the total charge. This is to off-set the cost of processing the transaction.
• Most rooms are of equal value and are interchangeable
• ***PHOTO ID is needed to check into this hostel-without it we will not be required to honour your booking***
• Prices on this website are Internet Prices Only. Walk-in prices start at £15 on weekdays, and £16 on weekends.

Photo ID is required for check-in. We will not be able to check you in without it, and you will be charged for the first night of your stay.
We don't accept guests under the age of 16 due to licensing laws.
Smoking and outside alcohol are prohibited in our buildings. Violation of these rules will result in the entire group being ejected without refund and a fine of £200 being charged to the card booked with.
Cancellations need to be made 48 hours in advance of the 2pm check-in time or the first night of the stay will be charged, for group bookings of 6 or more it is 7 days notice.

Accommodation Information

From private singles, twins and three bed rooms with tvs/dvd players, dvd selections, books, tea and coffee making facilities to dorms with 4-8 beds and shared toilet facilities, including our specially built pod dorm with 8 beds with special reading lights, extra comfy mattresses, and 360 degree reading lights, we have it all!

Location Information

When we say centrally located we mean it! Located in the oldest area in Birmingham called Digbeth, we are a 4 streets from the Bull Ring Shopping Centre and markets. A 1 minute walk from the Digbeth Coach Station which all National Express coaches terminate at in Birmingham. A 1 minute walk to the bus to the NEC and Birmingham Airport. An eight minute walk from New Street Train Station and five minutes from Moor Street Train Station. We are a 1 minute walk to Barfly/Dragon Room, 3 minute walk to Custard Factory and Air Nightclub. We are an 8 minute walk to the Acadian Complex, 10 minute walk to the Mega Bus Stop on Priory Queensway, and a 20 minute walk to Broad Street, the NIA, Canals, Brindley Place and the Mailbox. Now, how's that for centrally located???