Birmingham (Michigan)

Birmingham is a city in Oakland County, in Southeast Michigan.

Understand
Birmingham is an upscale suburb of Detroit. As the northernmost "Streetcar Suburb" it is the furthest suburb from Detroit to feature a walkable somewhat historic downtown core with shopping, dining, and entertainment. Though long since removed, the street car line from Detroit along Woodward Avenue terminated in downtown Birmingham and made a loop to head back towards Detroit in what is now Booth Park. Likewise, the housing stock in Birmingham tends to be older and more varied than in suburbs further north such as Bloomfield Township, Troy, and West Bloomfield, but larger and more upscale than in suburbs closer to Detroit such as Royal Oak, Southfield or Berkley. Birmingham is a blend of the opulent estates and tract homes to the north and the more dense suburbs to the south.

Get around
Most travel through Birmingham requires a car. SMART bus service serves Birmingham but is of limited use (routes through Birmingham are only along Woodward Avenue and 15 Mile/Maple Road).

Birmingham can be most easily reached by taking Woodward or Maple road. Parking is normally easy and inexpensive, as there are multiple parking structures and lots that offers free two hour parking.

The downtown Birmingham area is quite walkable.