Harborne is located 3 miles (5 km) to the southwest of Birmingham city centre, Harborne is an affluent, highly regarded suburb. It has been voted as one of the best places to live in the country, and is widely regarded as having the most desirable post-code in Birmingham. In the 2011 census, it had a population of 23,001.
The History of Harborne
There is evidence of a Roman fort (in the location of today’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital), but Harborne itself dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, particularly the area termed Harborne Village, which is the area around Old Church Road and St Peter’s Church. Being a non-Quaker area, Harborne was home to a lot of pubs compared to the surrounding areas, and the Harborne Mile, a pub crawl became famous, taking in as many as 15 of the local hostelries along its route.
Transport Links
Harborne no longer has its own train station. Its nearest one is University on the Cross-City Line. Frequent trains run into Birmingham New Street, as well as services to Hereford, Cardiff and Nottingham.
The area is served by the 10S, 11A, 11C, 19, 23, 24, 48 and 76 bus routes.
Schools
Harborne has six primary and four secondary schools:
Birmingham Blue Coat School
Chad Vale Primary School
Harborne Primary School
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
St Peter's Church of England Primary School
Welsh House Farm Community School.
Baskerville School
Harborne Academy
Lordswood Boys' School
Lordswood Girls' School.
Amenities
There are a number of chemists in the area, and Harborne is also home to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Harborne Library dates back to 1892, though the building itself is from the 1870’s. The area is famous for the number of pubs it has in its boundaries, but there are also several highly thought of restaurants and places to eat. Harborne has 2 golf courses, a cricket club and bowling greens as well a very active hockey club. There is also a swimming pool complete with its own gym. Harborne has a number of allotments for those with green fingers.
Things to do in and around Harborne
Located along the former railway line which closed in 1963, is the Harborne Walkway. This 2-mile-long nature walk and cycleway runs between Ladywood and Harborne. Harborne has a farmers market every month as well as its own food school. Nearby is Woodgate Valley Country Park, while Harborne Carnival, an annual street festival that attracts tens of thousands is second only to the Notting Hill Carnival.