The Vale

Having been to several other universities (both on open days and to visit friends) and sampled numerous different examples of university accommodation, I can with some degree of certainty see that the Vale is the nicest setting for student flats in the country. The main blocks of accommodation are all adjacent to, or indeed, actually part of, the Vale, an expansive stretch of park in the middle of the leafy area of Edgbaston (although even here it stands out as an exceptionally beautiful setting). Various trails wind in and out of various wooded areas, and the whole effect is set off by a huge lake, home of many birds, and, if you’re lucky, you may get to see swans nesting and eventually having signets at the start of third term. It’s a wonderful location, and really shows students apprehensive about Birmingham, possibly due to its reputation in parts as being something of a concrete jungle, that there’s most definitely another side to it. The one downside to living on the Vale is that it when it’s sunny, it’s very hard to resist the temptation to stop working and go outside!

With a pretty lake at it’s centre, sloping grass verges and wildlife, it’s easy to see why the parents of a prospective student would want their child to live here whilst studying. With many facilities on site such as a bar, restaurant and shop, there’s not many reasons for students to leave, apart from to go to lectures of course. The village even has it’s own one day music festival each year, the much loved Vale Fest.
However, living in such attractive surroundings does not come cheaply, and in such destitute times, the Vale is going to be outside many students’ budgets. The onsite Costcutter is also seen by many as being overpriced, which is particularly a problem when the local shops are quite a distance away.
In conclusion, though the Vale is not without it’s flaws, this is a nice place to live when doing your degree. As long as you can afford it…

The Vale is by far one of the prettiest student villages that I have come across. Based on a conservation area the halls of residence are situated around a beautiful lake, which is home to many geese and ducks. There are lots of trees and it is a very green area. The students are lucky to have to it! The hub which is the centre of the Vale Village houses a 24hour reception, a café, restaurant for catered and non-​catered students, a bar, toilets and a Costcutter shop. The staff that reception are always extremely helpful, as are the staff at Costcutter and elsewhere in the hub. The accommodation is varied, ranging from the modern halls at Mason to the basic halls of Maple Bank. I like Mason as the kitchens are fairly larger and the rooms are all ensuite. If there is ever a problem with your room or hall, then there are maintenance staff, which can come out and see to a problem if you inform reception. Overall, the Vale is a lovely place for students to live and other than going to University for lectures or venturing into town for a night out, there are few reasons to live this lovely student village.