Birmingham has an international airport with a homepage of its own. It's possible to fly directly to Birmingham airport from, amongst others,
In the airport homepage you'll also find some information about getting to London's airports (Heathrowm, Gatwick and Stanstead) and to town. In particular, if you arrive at Gatwick, there are trains leaving Gatwick to London(Victoria) at 5, 20, 35, and 50 minutes past the hour. Then you'll need to take the tube to Euston and from there trains leave to B'ham New Street at 15 and 45 past the hour. If you prefer the coach (to avoid the tube in London) there are two completely different coach companies that do Gatwick--B'ham in aproximately four hours. One is called Flightlink, for this we have a timetable, ask to have it faxed, if you want it.
From town (New Street Station) to the University of Birmingham (University Station) is a short hop in the train (10 minutes) and there are approx. four trains per hour. More information on how to get to the School from Birmingham, can be found in the School of Computer Science homepage. By Car
-- From HP, Bristol, etc. via M5
Come up the M5 until you get to Junction 4 and then take the A38 towards the centre of Birmingham for a few miles. (Do NOT be tempted to go onto the M42 at junction 4a.) Once on the A38 you'll find it wiggles a bit then straightens out. There are dual-carriageway bits and then eventually it gets to a junction with traffic lights, and several big shops on left (Sainsbury's, Halfords, A pizza place, a Pub, etc.) carry straight on across the junction. The road narrows and gets slower.
That's where you enter Selly Oak, so see section labelled "Approaching from Selly Oak on A38"
-- From South East, e.g. Brighton, London
If you start in Central or North London, take the M1 north, and then turn west into M6 at junction 19. Proceed to Junction 6 on M6, then see section below headed "From the north, via M6".
If you start south or west of London, take the M25 or whatever you need to get onto the M40 going away from London towards Oxford and Birmingham.
See section headed "From M40"
-- From Reading or Oxford etc.
Get onto the A34 heading north, until you join the M40. Turn left onto M40 and continue towards Birmingham.
-- From M40
Many miles after joining the M40 you'll get to the junction with the M42. Go STRAIGHT on. (Do not take the left branch, as that curves round, crosses over and then joins the M42 heading north towards Birmingham International Airport, the NEC and M6.)
Proceed along M42 (about 5 miles) until you reach junction 2 and then turn off and go right (North) along the A441, signposted Birmingham City Centre.
The A441 has several bends but is clearly the main road (later marked Redditch road).
After the first roundabout you'll pass a slightly built up area labelled "Hopwood".
At the next roundabout turn LEFT into Longbridge Lane (It should be signposted "Longbridge").
Keep following Longbridge Lane (which wiggles a bit and crosses other roads and goes past Longbridge Railway station, and past the Austin/Rover works) till you meet a large dual carriage way, at a Tee junction with traffic lights.
That's the Bristol Road South, also labelled "A38".
Turn RIGHT into the A38 (i.e. roughly North East), following signs to Birmingham City Centre.
Keep going along the A38 towards the City centre for two or three miles.
You'll reach a major junction at Selly Oak, with a large Shopping Centre, on the left including Sainsbury's, etc.
Go straight on. See the section labelled "Approaching from Selly Oak on A38"
-- Approaching from Selly Oak on A38
Selly Oak is just south of the University.
You may start seeing the big redbrick clock tower ahead on left, in the University grounds.
Go under railway bridge, and past Fina petrol station. (There are about three roads off to the left. Ignore them.)
Eventually, just past a pedestrian crossing you'll come to big gates into the University on your left, Bournbrook road on right.
[You may be able to get into the university that way. In which case go up to ring road, turn right, and go to the multi-storey car park. Further instructions from car park below.]
If you come after 11 am I think you can't get in through the Bristol Road gate, only out -- see if there's a porter letting people in.
If not, carry straight on a couple of hundred yards, (still A38 Bristol Road) past pub on left (Gun Barrells) to the next corner, and turn LEFT, into Edgbaston Park Road, just before the road splits into dual carriageway again.
See section "Car Park", below.
-- From Coventry, along A45
Head towards Birmingham following signs for A38, the University of Birmingham. Eventually you'll reach the intersection between the ring road and the A38, where you'll see a large Maconalds on the opposite side of the junction.
Turn left into the A38 (Bristol Road, heading south).
See section "Coming south on A38 from City Centre"
-- From the north, via M6
Come in to the north of Birmingham via the M6, and then at junction 6 turn south into the A38(M), sign-posted city centre.
Directions: come along M6, then head down A38(M) into centre of Birmingham. Keep going straight on after it becomes A38. You'll go under various tunnels. Follow signs to A38 / Bristol. Eventually you'll pass a large Macdonald's on the right at a big junction with traffic lights.
-- Coming south on A38 from City Centre
After you've passed the Macdonalds continue straight on, still on the A38 Bristol Road. You'll eventually pass Pebble Mill (a road, and BBC Centre) on your left. Much of the road is dual carriageway.
Just before you get to the University you'll come to a pedestrian crossing, where the dual carriage way ends, and the Gun Barrells Pub is visible on the right, beyond the crossing.
Turn RIGHT into Edgbaston Park Road, at the intersection just after the pedestrian crossing, and just before the Pub. It's a nasty turn. Be careful.
-- The Car Park
Once in Edgbaston Park Road, you will see on your left the Gun Barrells pub, with its car park. A short way after that you'll find the University's three-storey car park on the left, set back some way from the road, opposite Lloyds Bank.
It does not look like a very imposing entrance, so you may miss it if you expect something well sign-posted! It is the very first turn left after the Pub's car park.
Park in there, and continue on foot into the university.
(If you miss the car park entrance, or if you cannot find a spare place, continue up Edgbaston Park Road. You will very soon come to the main University entrance on the left, with a barrier and a security officer in charge. You should say you have come to visit me to give a talk, and ask to be let in. They never seem to stop people. )