Venue Information

Venue:

The summer school will be held at STEAMhouse, home of Birmingham City University's College of Computing.

STEAMhouse provides access to a wide range of spaces including coworking and meeting spaces, prototyping facilities, and a digital hub. The space brings together the five STEAM disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics to create new ways of thinking and design innovative solutions, which are well aligned with the goals of the summer school.

The 100,000+ square-feet, five-story complex provides state-of-the-art facilities, tools, and production workspaces to understand problems and uncover new opportunities in breakthrough technologies such as AI, 5G, Internet of Things, and Extended Reality.

Address: Belmont Row, Birmingham, B4 7RQ

Google Maps link(opens in new tab)

The venue has step-free access. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions about accessibility.

A ground-level photograph of the STEAMhouse building in the foreground at the bottom of the photo, with a blue sky in the background.

About Birmingham:

The thriving second city of the United Kingdom is the social, cultural, and financial centre of the Midlands. Renowned for its rich industrial heritage, historical advances during the Industrial Revolution in science and technology saw tremendous growth, laying the foundations for the industrial society. Since the turn of the 21st century, Birmingham has gone through extensive redevelopment, with the largest public library in Europe, regenerated industrial areas such as the canalside Brindleyplace, world-class universities and research institutions, and major cultural institutions such as the Birmingham Symphony Hall gaining international reputations.

The close proximity of STEAMhouse to the city centre means a number of historical sites are within walking distance, including: Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum (0.3 miles), Birmingham Hippodrome (1.1 miles), Library of Birmingham (1.3 miles), Gas Street Basin (1.4 miles), Symphony Hall (1.4 miles), & Villa Park (2 miles).

A photograph of Birmingham canals with people kayaking during Summer

Travel information:

Accommodation

Several affordable hotel options are available within walking distance from STEAMhouse. Including:

Premier Inn Birmingham City Centre (Exchange Square) [5-minute walk]
Premier Inn Birmingham City Centre (New Street Station) [10-minute walk]
Travelodge Birmingham Central Moor Street Hotel [6-minute walk]
Travelodge Birmingham Central Bull-Ring Hotel [10-minute walk]
Travelodge Birmingham Central Newhall Street Hotel [15-minute walk]
Travelodge Birmingham Central Hotel [20-minute walk]
Aloft Eastside Birmingham Hotel [1-minute walk]

Getting to Birmingham

From the Airport:

STEAMhouse, located at the heart of Birmingham, is approximately 9 miles from Birmingham International Airport (BHX) and 101 miles from London. There are numerous affordable options to transfer from and to Birmingham International Airport, including:

Train:

From Birmingham International Airport (via Birmingham International Railway Station) – [approx. 8.6m, 28-minute journey], with 8-10 trains an hour to:

Moor Street Station [approx. 0.4 miles, 9-minute walk]

New Street Station [approx. 0.7 miles, 13-minute walk]

Snow Hill Station [approx. 0.7 miles, 14-minute walk]

If you're coming from London, you can reach Birmingham New Street Station from London Euston Station in 1 hour and 30 minutes with multiple trains leaving each hour.

Car/taxi:

From Birmingham International Airport [approx. 9 miles, 36-minute drive/taxi]. STEAMhouse is located within Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone. Charges may apply if you are choosing to visit us using a private motorised vehicle. To discover more, please visit: https://www.brumbreathes.co.uk/(opens in new tab)

Car parking is available in the nearby Millennium Point Car Park [approx. 2-minute walk].

Bus:

X1 - NX Bus West Midlands (approx. every 15 mins) Birmingham Airport Bus Interchange - Birmingham Moor Street [approx. 1 hour journey]

X12 - NX Bus West Midlands (approx. every 30 mins) Birmingham Airport Bus Interchange - Chelmsley Interchange [approx. 1 hour 20 min journey]

National Express (approx. once an hour) - Birmingham Airport (BHX) - Birmingham Coach Station, Digbeth [approx. 55 min journey]

A photograph of Ikon Gallery, a famous building in Birmingham with Victorian architecture

Mobile apps, links, and guides:

Citymapper(opens in new tab) - public transit app to plan routes using all modes of transport.

Google Maps(opens in new tab) - general use mapping app

Uber(opens in new tab) or Bolt(opens in new tab) - ride-sharing platforms

Just Eat(opens in new tab), Deliveroo(opens in new tab), or Uber Eats(opens in new tab) - food delivery

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/tourism(opens in new tab)

https://visitbirmingham.com/(opens in new tab)

Food close to STEAMhouse:

Coffee/Brunch/Lunch:

Mulino Birmingham(opens in new tab)

Perch(opens in new tab)

Boston Tea Party Birmingham(opens in new tab)

Dinner:

Cafe Lovelife(opens in new tab)

HanBao(opens in new tab)

Original Patty Men(opens in new tab)

Pubs:

Eagle and Ball(opens in new tab)

The Gosta Green(opens in new tab)

The Old Crown(opens in new tab)

Cultural Life:

The vibrant culture of Birmingham reflects its diverse populace and rich history. From its industrial roots to its contemporary vibrancy, the city boasts a wealth of cultural offerings. Explore the Midlands industrial heritage through immersive attractions like the Birmingham Back to Backs museum, offering a journey back in time to the region's Peaky Blinders heyday. Jump into the city's musical heritage at venues like Symphony Hall, where classical performances resonate alongside contemporary sounds, or discover the vibrant Custard Factory in Digbeth, a creative quarter bustling with independent artistic energy. With its eclectic mix of museums, theatres, historic architecture, and majestic waterways, Birmingham thrives as a cultural hotbed at the heart of the UK.

A photograph of Birmingham's Chamberlain Square and its Victorian architecture

Landmarks:

Symphony Hall(opens in new tab): Renowned for its exceptional acoustics, ranked as one of the best in the world, the world-class concert venue hosts around 270 performances a year, ranging from classical to contemporary music, to dance and stand-up comedy.

Birmingham Hippodrome(opens in new tab): One of the UK's premier and busiest theatres, presenting productions of musicals, ballets, and operas. Located within the Chinese Quarter in the city centre’s Southside.

Aston Hall(opens in new tab): A stunning Jacobean mansion surrounded by picturesque gardens, offering a glimpse into Birmingham's aristocratic past. Located right next door to Villa Park, home of Aston Villa Football Club.

Library of Birmingham(opens in new tab): Architecturally striking, this modern library houses a vast collection of books, archives, and exhibitions. Viewed as the flagship project for the redevelopment of the city, the largest public cultural space in Europe is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the whole of the UK.

Black Country Living Museum(opens in new tab): For people interested in the history of the surrounding Black Country, this open-air museum in Dudley contains historic buildings and costumed interpreters that bring the industrial past of the West Midlands to life.

Birmingham Back to Backs(opens in new tab): Restored 19th-century courtyard houses that provide a captivating glimpse into the lives of working-class industrial families through guided tours. These humble dwellings just south of the giant Bullring Shopping Centre offer a poignant narrative of urban life and industrial history in Birmingham.

Jewellery Quarter(opens in new tab): Home to over 700 jewellery businesses, this historic district in the north-west of the City Centre offers guided tours and workshops showcasing Birmingham's craftsmanship.

The Pen Museum(opens in new tab): Explore the history of the steel pen trade in Birmingham, from quills to modern fountain pens, at this unique museum located within the Jewellery Quarter.

Coffin Works(opens in new tab): located in the Jewellery Quarter, this speciality museum showcases the heritage of coffin manufacturing. Visitors can explore the historic factory, learn about the craftsmanship involved, and gain a fascinating perspective on Victorian-era businesses and traditions.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens(opens in new tab): A tranquil oasis south of the city centre, featuring glasshouses, landscaped gardens, and a wide variety of plant species and birds from around the world.

Cadbury World(opens in new tab): A bit of a further trip south of the city centre is this tour of the history of chocolate. Delve into the chocolate-making process at this immersive attraction, with interactive exhibits.

Useful information:

Language	The native language is English, often with a distinct Brummie accent and dialect.
Time	Greenwich Mean Time.
Health	Emergency treatment provided by the National Health Service (NHS) is generally free to visitors, including emergency medical care at hospitals. However, charges may apply for non-emergency services, prescriptions, and dental care.
Currency	British Pound (£), with ATMs widely available for convenient access to funds, and all major credit cards widely accepted. Contactless card payments are accepted up to £100.
Visa information	European travellers planning a short trip to Birmingham typically don't require visas, enjoying the ease of entry under EU freedom of movement regulations.

Birmingham City University (BCU), Birmingham, U.K.

Venue Information

Venue:

About Birmingham:

Travel information:

Mobile apps, links, and guides:

Food close to STEAMhouse:

Cultural Life:

Landmarks:

Useful information:

Register

Speaker Bios

Venue

Program Schedule