Jewellery Quarter

I’ve lived in three areas within the JQ and each location seemed perfect, with everything I needed pretty much on my doorstep. That’s the beauty of this location, convenience! In fact, everything was so convenient I gave my car away and now just walk everywhere, or pop on a bus, metro or train if heading further afield. I can even get to London from the JQ station without changes, so no need to even walk into town!
The area is of course legendary for jewellery and the very many small scale makers. But more and more (perhaps unfortunately) it’s becoming increasingly popular for its bars, of which there are many scrapping for existence. There’s also no shortage of food venues, everything from your classic greasy café to enough tip-​top restaurants to meet every taste.
Fancy a bit of greenery, we’ll the JQ has that as well! It also boasts one of the very best museums I’ve been to anywhere in the world, the JQ Museum, and there’s lots more to see and do right on the doorstep.
All in the best place to live and work in the city!

One of my favourite areas in Birmingham. A couple of great museums; Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Coffin Works and the Pen Museum. Plenty of great bars and pubs and lots of fab places to eat out too. Of course it’s also still jam packed with jewellers if you’re visiting to shop!
Great place to live for young professionals.

How to actually review the Jewellery Quarter without taking up a whole day?
Myself and my soon-​to-​be-​wife moved here nearly 4 years ago. Firstly we wanted to live somewhere in the city centre, secondly we wanted somewhere nice and having encountered the JQ before this was the top of my suggestions list. We found a place perfect for us located on Newhall Hill and since then we have never looked back. The community spirit here in the JQ is tremendous, not just for the residents but for the businesses in the area as well. We have gotten to know a lot of people in the area and attended various meetings and everybody is just lovely.
On terms of what the JQ has to offer there is the obvious (Jewellery) but so much more beyond that. There are great cafes such as Urban Coffee Company, restaurants such as the Vittoria and Blue Nile, excellent pubs such as The Lord Clifden and Rose Villa Tavern and much much more.
In terms of location it is easily walkable into the centre of Birmingham from here but far enough away to avoid the hustle and bustle of everyday city life.
As we are soon to be married we have toyed with the idea of moving into a house with a garden etc but our love for the JQ remains so strong its just too difficult to tear ourselves away at this present time. As more and more developments pop up the community just gets better and better. I’m so excited to see what it will look like in 10 years time.
If you don’t know Birmingham at all and you are just visiting, pop down and spend a couple of hours in the JQ, its charm will resonate on your for some time.

The Jewellery Quarter isn’t just about jewellery, although it really is the place to go for engagement rings, with a plethora of independent jewellers specialising in diamonds. That isn’t all though, there are lots of good quality jewellers and watch makers worth checking out– simply take a stroll up the high street and peek down the side streets. I’d also recommend a quick visit to the museum of the Jewellery Quarter, which is an abandoned factory– very interesting– and some lovely jewellery in the shop, too.
Local markets occasionally set up at St Paul’s Square– the farmers’ market does the odd Saturday, and 24 Carrots usually holds markets around key holidays (Easter, Christmas). Both are a great intro to local produce from lovely sausages to loose leaf teas, and 24 Carrots often features crafts and also local jewellers, who produce stunning and varied ranges of jewellery which are unique and often extremely well priced. It can be a good chance to commission something bespoke, too.
So, sit at St Paul’s to enjoy the lovely church and the greenery. Take some tea in one of the many lovely cafés, sip a beer in the Rectory, the Rose Villa Tavern, the Red Lion or stay up all night at the Jam House or the Actress and Bishop. Visit the catacombs at the cemetery, the Pen Museum, the Assay Office and the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter.
It’s a lovely place to work in and to visit, and I imagine it would be the same for residents, too.