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Local Area Information

Postal services

In the UK, two postal rates exist for inland letters: 1st Class, which should arrive one or two days after posting, and 2nd Class, which can take several days longer.1st and 2nd Class stamps are widely available in many newsagents and stationery shops as well as from the Post Office. The cost of postage depends on weight and size. Letters should be taken to a Post Office for weighing. Letters can be posted at the Post Office or in the red post boxes in the streets. The times of collection are shown on the front of each post box.

Registered post is relatively expensive. However, it is still advisable if sending money or valuables by post. A Recorded Delivery service is provided by the Post Office and is slightly cheaper than Registered post and this should ensure that your correspondence reaches the correct person and provides proof of posting.

Parcels sent in the post are weighed and stamped by Post Office counter staff. When sending a parcel abroad a customs form must be completed and attached to the parcel. Post Office staff will be happy to assist you with this. If you are sending goods abroad within the last few months of your stay, you should enquire about VAT or Value Added Tax exemption.

There is a Post Office in Birmingham City Centre, within a short walking distance from campus.

Telephone services

There are public telephones at all airports, seaports, railway stations, bus stations and in the streets. There are often instructions on how to use the telephones printed on the inside of the kiosk. Many students prefer to use their own mobile phones (sometimes known as 'hand phones' or 'cellular phones') or to get mobile phones after their arrival.

Pay phones will accept most British coins and many are operated by a phone card. Phone cards can be bought from shops displaying the green phone card symbol and be bought for different values, very useful when phoning abroad. Some newsagents sell special international phone cards that sometimes offer cheaper call rates.

Different types of calls within the UK cost different amounts, depending upon length of call and to where you make them. Most Post Offices hold telephone directories for the area and also the local 'Yellow Pages' which lists commercial organisations and services
(e.g., doctors, clothes shops, plumbers, etc). Libraries also hold directories for the whole of the United Kingdom. Alternatively, if you need to refer to the local telephone directories, you can visit the The Hub on the Ground Floor of the Main Building, just off the Upper Foyer.

If you need help making an International telephone call, you can dial 155 for the International operator. Should you have any problems, Dial 100 and ask the operator for assistance. In an emergency, (but only then), the Police, Fire or Ambulance Service can be obtained by dialling 999 - these calls are free.

Banks and banking

Details of how to open a bank account, the documents you will need and a list of the banks in the local area can be found in the The Hub

Food and drink

There are many shops in the city that sell food to meet the requirements of Birmingham's multi-cultural and multi-racial community. If you are living on campus and cooking for yourself you will find it cheaper to buy food from one of the larger supermarkets. The Students' Guild will be organising trips to the local supermarkets for new students during Freshers' Week. You should find out when these trips take place and ensure that you join one of the trips. Birmingham's Bull Ring Market is in the City Centre and it is a good place to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and fish.

Drinking alcohol is perfectly acceptable in Britain, although over-indulgence is normally frowned upon. Meeting for a drink in a bar is a very common form of socialising, especially among students. People will usually offer you a drink when you visit them at home or go to a party. In any of these situations it is perfectly acceptable to request a non-alcoholic drink. Because of the strict law in the UK on drinking and driving it is understood that some people will not be drinking alcohol so you will not be alone in choosing a 'soft' (non-alcoholic) drink.

All cold tap water in the UK is safe drinking water, unless otherwise indicated (e.g. on trains). It is also safe to drink from the cold water taps in the University accommodation.

Information on shopping and working hours in the UK

There is a large range of shops in the UK, some of which are closed on Sundays. However, some of the shops in Birmingham City Centre and most supermarkets are open on Sundays. Shops are usually open from 9.00 am until 6.00 pm on weekdays and Saturdays and 10.00 am to 4.00 pm on Sundays.

There may be one or two customs that may differ from your practice at home; bargaining is not customary - you are expected to pay the price marked on the goods. Additionally, you are also expected to queue for services or payment if a shop is busy.

Generally, office hours in the UK are from 9.00 am to 5 pm or 6 pm. Usually, most people work from Mondays through to Fridays. At Aston University, staff are generally in work Mondays to Fridays, 9.00 am to 5 pm.

Buses, trains and trams

Several bus companies operate in the Birmingham area. The largest of these companies is West Midlands Travel. A season travel card is often the cheapest and most convenient way of paying for bus journeys within Birmingham. Season travel cards can either be weekly or monthly and may be purchased at certain newsagents or Post Offices. Otherwise you will have to use the "Pay As You Enter" method as follows:
  • Have the correct fare ready when you board the bus. As no change is given, keep a supply of change.
  • Place the correct fare in the hopper at the side of the driver. If you are unsure as to the correct fare tell the driver your destination and he/she will tell you the price.
Local bus maps are available in the The Hub and the Students' Advice Centre in the Students' Guild has current timetables.

If you wish to travel by train (e.g. during the vacation) to other parts of the UK, Intercity trains run from Birmingham New Street Station in the City centre to all the major cities in the UK. There are also two other local train stations - Moor Street Station and Snow Hill Station. From these stations, train services connect to Birmingham's suburbs and other towns. For example, there is a regular service from Moor Street Station to the historic castle town of Warwick.

As a student, you may be eligible for a Student Railcard which will allow you to make savings on train fares.

The Midland Metro is the tram line linking Birmingham Snow Hill to Wolverhamptonand serves a number of places of local interest. You can catch the tram at Snow Hill Station

For details, call the Centro Hotline 0121 200 2787, visit the Network West Midlands Website