Map & location
Overview
B17 9NS is located in Harborne, a prosperous and well-regarded suburb of Birmingham situated approximately 3 miles south-west of the city centre. The area is characterised by attractive Victorian and Edwardian terraced and semi-detached housing, tree-lined streets, and a strong sense of community identity. Harborne High Street — the neighbourhood's bustling retail spine — lies just a short walk away, offering independent boutiques, cafés, restaurants, and a weekly farmers' market.
The postcode falls within the Harborne ward of Birmingham City Council and the parliamentary constituency of Birmingham Edgbaston. The proximity of Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, the University of Birmingham, and the wider Edgbaston campus makes this corner of south-west Birmingham particularly popular with healthcare professionals, academics, and families alike. Green spaces such as Harborne Walkway and Victoria Park add to the area's appeal.
Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid
The median sold price here is £347,500, around 13% above the wider B17 district average of £308,500 (HM Land Registry, 443 recent sales).
Getting here
Harborne is well served by Birmingham's bus network, with several frequent services connecting the area to Birmingham city centre, Selly Oak, and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The A456 (Hagley Road) to the north and the B4124 (High Street/Court Oak Road) provide straightforward road access. Cycling is popular locally, with the Harborne Walkway — a former railway line converted into a traffic-free greenway — offering a safe off-road route towards the city. The wider road network gives easy access to the M5 at Junction 3 (approximately 4 miles) and the M6 via the city centre.
What it's famous for
Harborne has long been known as one of Birmingham's most desirable suburbs, combining Victorian architectural heritage with a lively village-like atmosphere centred on its High Street. The suburb was historically associated with the chocolate-manufacturing Cadbury family, who had strong connections across south Birmingham. The nearby University of Birmingham and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham give the wider B17 area a significant academic and medical character. Harborne also has a proud sporting heritage, being home to Harborne Cricket Club — one of the oldest in the county — and several well-established tennis and bowls clubs.
Services & facilities
Local authority providing refuse, planning and social services
Public lending library on Lordswood Road
Counter services on Harborne High Street
Local civic body supporting neighbourhood activities
Nearest household waste and recycling centre
Tourist attractions
Formal public park with bandstand and bowling green
~0.4 miTraffic-free former-railway greenway popular with cyclists and walkers
~0.3 miPopular weekly market on the High Street selling local produce
~0.4 miWorld-class art gallery on the University of Birmingham campus
~1.2 miLarge ornamental park alongside the River Rea
~1.5 miProtected streetscape of Victorian and Edwardian commercial buildings
~0.4 miGPs, pharmacies & dentists
GP surgeries
B170HG · 0121 4275246
~200 mB170HG · 0121 4275247
~200 mB152QU · 0121 6873055
~700 mPharmacies
B179NR · 0121 4273118
~100 mB179NN · 0121 4278565
~200 mB179NP · 01242 71083
~250 mDentists
B170HP
~150 mB153JX
~200 mSource: NHS Organisation Data Service
Schools & universities
The nearest school, The Blue Coat School Birmingham, is ~350 m away.
Other independent school
~350 mCommunity school
~400 mAcademy sponsor led
~500 mCommunity school
~550 mAcademy sponsor led
~550 mSource: Get Information About Schools (DfE)
Businesses & shops
Concentration of independent cafés, delis and boutiques
Diverse dining from brunch spots to evening restaurants
Small professional firms serving the south Birmingham catchment
Growing cluster of private healthcare and wellness businesses
Several tutoring and supplementary education providers locally
Gyms & leisure
Historic cricket club on Lordswood Road, founded 1874
~0.5 miActive tennis club with multiple courts and junior coaching
~0.6 miCouncil-run leisure centre with pool and gym
~0.4 miFormal park with bowling greens, ideal for weekend recreation
~0.4 mi2-mile off-road greenway linking Harborne to Metchley Park
~0.3 miFree-entry gallery with internationally significant collection
~1.2 miService providers
Full-fibre broadband available across much of Harborne
Cable broadband served in most Harborne residential streets
Good 4G and 5G coverage reported across B17
Water and sewerage provider for the area
Electricity distribution network operator
Residential & community
Predominant street form, often with bay windows and original tiling
1930s semis common on quieter residential roads
Period houses frequently converted into flats, popular with professionals
Estimated majority of homes owner-occupied, above city average
Small number of contemporary apartment schemes on former commercial plots
Transport
Train & Tube
University Rail Station
Birmingham University
Edgbaston Village (West Midlands Metro)
Birmingham
Selly Oak Rail Station
Selly Oak
Five Ways Rail Station
Birmingham
Bus stops
Harborne High Street stops
Frequent services to Birmingham city centre and Selly Oak
Court Oak Road stops
Services towards Quinton, Oldbury and the QE Hospital
Lordswood Road stops
Local bus links connecting Harborne to Bearwood and Smethwick
Cycle hire
Harborne Walkway (NCN Route 5)
Traffic-free off-road path towards Edgbaston and the city
West Birmingham Cycle Routes
Signed on-road cycle routes connecting to Selly Oak and Bearwood
Source: NaPTAN (DfT)
EV, defibrillators & more
EV charging
Harborne High Street car park EV points
Public charge points in the main Harborne car park
On-street EV chargers (Harborne)
Birmingham City Council lamp-post chargers on residential streets
Defibrillators
Harborne Leisure Centre
Publicly registered defibrillator at the leisure centre entrance
Harborne High Street (various premises)
Several registered AEDs in shops and community buildings
Postboxes & Post Office
Harborne Post Office
Full-service post office counter on Harborne High Street
Fuel stations
Petrol station, Court Oak Road
Forecourt fuel and convenience store near the Court Oak junction
Places of worship
Medieval parish church, the historic heart of Harborne village
~0.5 miCatholic parish church serving Harborne and surrounding areas
~0.6 miActive Methodist congregation on the High Street
~0.4 miBaptist fellowship with community outreach programmes
~0.5 miNearest mosques are in neighbouring Bearwood and Selly Oak
~1.0 miCrime & safety
Recorded crime here runs about 256% above the national average (242.5 crimes per 1,000 residents per month, police.uk).
301 street-level crimes were reported within about a mile of this postcode in April 2026.
Source: data.police.uk. Locations are approximate (anonymised to map points) and cover England, Wales & Northern Ireland.
Area data & demographics
This neighbourhood falls in deprivation decile 6 of 10 (1 = most deprived), among the less deprived areas (Indices of Deprivation).
At the 2021 Census, this neighbourhood (LSOA) had a usual resident population of about 1,641.
Housing & utilities
Most streets retain original period terraces and semis
Consistently popular with families and professionals; low turnover
Most terraced and semi-detached homes have rear gardens
Demographics
Air quality & noise
Parks, walkway and tree-lined streets improve air quality
Away from major arterials; generally cleaner air than city centre
Harborne sits on elevated ground; minimal fluvial flood risk
B17 9NS is away from main roads; low ambient noise levels
FAQs
Where exactly is B17 9NS?
B17 9NS is in Harborne, a residential suburb of Birmingham approximately 3 miles south-west of the city centre. It falls within the Harborne ward of Birmingham City Council.
What is the area around B17 9NS like?
Harborne is widely regarded as one of Birmingham's most pleasant and desirable suburbs. It has a strong village-like feel centred on a busy High Street, with attractive Victorian and Edwardian housing, good schools, parks, and a sociable café and restaurant scene.
Which council covers B17 9NS?
B17 9NS falls under Birmingham City Council, within the Harborne ward. For national government purposes it is in the parliamentary constituency of Birmingham Edgbaston.
Which parliamentary constituency is B17 9NS in?
B17 9NS is in the Birmingham Edgbaston parliamentary constituency.
Are there good schools near B17 9NS?
Several schools serve the Harborne area across all phases — see the Schools section above for the nearest options with distances and Ofsted ratings.
How do I get to Harborne (B17 9NS) by bus?
Harborne is well connected by several Birmingham bus routes running along the High Street and Court Oak Road, linking to the city centre, Selly Oak, and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Services are frequent during peak hours.
Is B17 9NS a good area for cycling?
Yes — the Harborne Walkway, a traffic-free former railway line forming part of National Cycle Network Route 5, starts nearby and provides a safe off-road route towards Edgbaston and central Birmingham. On-road signed routes also connect to Selly Oak and Bearwood.
What green spaces are near B17 9NS?
Victoria Park in Harborne is within walking distance and offers formal gardens, a bowling green and a bandstand. The Harborne Walkway greenway is also very close, and Cannon Hill Park is around 1.5 miles away.
Useful links
Official records and property listings for B17 9NS: