Long thought of as the UK's second city, you would be hard-pressed to be bored there.

Home to five universities and an ever-growing crowd of young professionals, Birmingham can lay claim to having a thriving nightlife. Broad Street and the surrounding canal boasts a mixture of bars, restaurants and nightclubs, whilst the Bullring shopping centre can provide some much-needed retail therapy.

Local house prices are cheaper than the UK average, but they are on the rise. The average home in Birmingham costs £233,352.

Are you a sports fan?

There are plenty of opportunities in Birmingham to catch a game in person. Why not head over to Edgbaston, a venue that plays host to the Warwickshire County Cricket Club, the Birmingham Bears and, occasionally, the England team?

Or, if football is more your thing, you're in luck; Aston Villa, Wolves, Birmingham and West Brom all have football grounds in central Birmingham.

Don't miss the food and drink scene!

Birmingham is the only UK city outside London to have five Michelin starred restaurants. But it doesn't have to be high-priced fine dining only! Several Victorian pubs and bars are scattered across the city, alongside a thriving independent and artisan food sector. Or, why not head to the Balti Triangle to sample to city's brilliant Indian food?

There may be no better place to check some of the offerings than at one of the food festivals, such as the Birmingham Independent Food Fair.

When renting, you can look to pay, on average £754 per calendar month for a room, £934 per calendar month for a flat, and £1,615 per calendar month for a house.

Renting a house will differ a fair amount depending on the size and location of the property; a one bedroom will often cost, on average £707 per calendar month, whereas a five bedroom home will cost up to £2,000 per calendar month.