Things to see and do in Birmingham

August 16, 2017

Birmingham

5 Unmissable things to see and do in Birmingham

Planning on visiting Birmingham? Discover the best attractions in one of Britain's largest city, including children's activities, popular restaurants and much more.

1. Central Library

Birmingham Central Library is a public library in Birmingham, England from 1974 to 2013. It was one of the largest and most important libraries of Europe.

If you’re in Birmingham, why not visit the library and unleash your imagination! You can read, write, listen and explore our large collections of books. Collections include, photography, the First World War, Shakespeare, Great British Railway Museum and more!

There is plenty to keep the children entertained in the school holidays, such as activities and stories.

Opening hours
Monday and Tuesday 11am – 7pm,

Wednesday to Saturday 11am to 5pm
Address
Library of Birmingham
Centenary Square
Broad Street
Birmingham
B1 2ND
Contact details
0121 2424242
www.libraryofbirmingham.com

2. Grand Central

Grand Central is a popular shopping centre in Birmingham – It’s a shopaholic’s dream, with many high street and boutique shops to browse in.

Why not spend a Saturday here for some retail therapy, or meet your friends for lunch in one of the many restaurants or cafes! There is a range of restaurants to try and there’s always something new to try at the Grand Central.

Grand Central Birmingham art and gifts Grand Central has many transport links such as by car, train, bus or metro. The easiest way to get there is by train, as the shopping centre is situated above New Street Station.

Opening times
Monday to Saturday: 9am – 8pm
Sunday: 11am – 5pm
Address
68A E Mews
Birmingham
B2 4XJ
Contact details
0121 6541000
www.grandcentralbirmingham.com

3. Victoria Square

Victoria Square in Birmingham is a pedestrian friendly square, which is located at the junction of three streets; New Street, Paradise Street and Colmore ROW. It is home to both the Town Hall and the Council House.

Victoria Square Birmingham gifts There are many restaurants nearby, which makes it perfect if you’re visiting for a day. There are fine dining restaurants, pizzerias, pubs and more.The square is known to be a central part of Birmingham by the locals and is where local road sign distances are measured. It became known as Victoria Square since the arrival of the statue of Queen Victoria 1901 and now holds many public events and exhibitions for locals and tourists!

Address
New Street
Birmingham
B1 1BB
www.visitbirmingham.com/explore-birmingham

3. Hall of Memory

Hall of Memory in Birmingham opened in 1925 and is a war memorial, remembering people who died in World War 1 and the Second World War.

The Hall of Memory is great for someone who is interested in history and the war. Why not take a visit with your friends and then take a stroll around the beautiful architecture in the city.

Opening times
Monday to Saturday: 10am – 4pm
If you’re interested in having a look, see which events are taking place at the Hall of Memory. There is also a remembrance book where you can see who died during the First and Second World Wars.
Address
Hall of Memory
Broad Street
Birmingham
B1 2HF
Contact details
0121 303 6434
www.hallofmemory.co.uk

4. Aston Hall

Aston Hall is a Grade I listed Jacobean house in Aston, Birmingham, England. Follow in the footsteps of royalty and visit one of the last Jackobean houses to be built. Aston Hall was designed by John Thorpe and built between 1618 and 1635, which fascinates people from all over the world.

Why not take your family to visit Aston Hall, where you will feel like loyalty whilst walking through the stunning interiors. There are many events at Aston Hall such as open days, drawing tours and more! It is great for weekend trips and educational school trips.

Aston Hall Birmingham gifts

After you have had a look around the hall, why not sit back and relax in the onsite café. There is a great selection of food and drink to choose from, including full English Breakfasts!

Opening times
Summer Opening Times (8th April – 29th October)
Open Tuesday – Sunday (and bank holiday Mondays), 11am - 4pm.
Closed on Aston Villa home games and for private hire. Visit website for closed dates.

Closed 23rd December - 2nd January.
Entry
Weekdays, during Birmingham term time, entry to the hall is by timed guided tour. Tours take place at 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm. Tours last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Weekends, Birmingham school holidays and bank holiday Mondays, the hall is open for visitors to explore at their leisure. Entry is by timed ticket every 30 minutes from 11am - 3.30pm.
Address
Trinity Road
Aston
Birmingham
B6 6JD
Contact details
0121 348 8000
www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/aston

Top 5 kid’s activities

From Aquariums to Botanical Gardens, there are so many attractions for families to visit in Birmingham.

1. Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Discover Birmingham’s most beautiful gardens at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. There is so much to explore, including the glasshouses, colourful star plants and more!

After a relaxing walk around the Botanical gardens, why not take a trip to the onsite café. – There’s nothing better than homemade cake and a cup of tea! The Pavilion Tea Room is the perfect place to be to soak up the sun and take in the beautiful garden scenery. At the tea room, you will find a range of delicious dishes, refreshing drinks and of course a selection of teas!

The Botanical Gardens is great for children, offering a range of outdoor and indoor activities such as trails, family explorer packs and other great family events to take part in. There are also many workshops on offer, as well as educational school trips.

Opening times
The Gardens: 10am
Prices
Family: £22.00
1 Adult: £7.00
2 Adults: £12.00
Under 5s: Free
Address
Westbourne Road
Birmingham
West Midlands
B15 3TR
England
Contact details
0121 454 1860
www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk

2. Think Tank

ThinkTank is an award winning museum and would be an amazing day out for any enthusiastic scientist. With over 200 hands on displays in the field of science and technology from the past, present and future.

Think Tank Birmingham ThinkTank is perfect for families, where children can learn and have fun at the same time. There is also a vibrant outdoor play area for younger children, where children are encouraged to explore and discover the world of science!There are many things to do at ThinkTank including many interactive displays and exhibitions over 4 floors, including robots, chocolate wrapping machines, steam engines and much more which challenge the most creative of minds. Inside ThinkTank, there is a Planetarium which holds a wide variety of shows on space and astronomy.

Opening hours
Monday to Sunday: 10am – 5pm
Prices
Adult: £13.50
Kids (3-15 years): £9.75
Toddlers (0-2): Free
Family of 3: £33.00
Family of 4: £41.00
Planetarium show: £1.50 per person
Address
Millennium Point
Curzon Street
Birmingham
West Midlands
B4 7XG
Contact details
0121 348 8000
www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank

3. National Sea Life Centre Birmingham

Explore the animals that live under the sea, at the Sea Life Centre in Birmingham! All children love going to aquariums and learning all about animals, which makes it the ideal place during the weekend and school holidays! There are 60 displays of freshwater and marine life and over 2000 sea creatures - Who wouldn’t want to get close and personal with a shark, or stroke a starfish!

Sea Life Centre Birmingham There are so many fun things to do and see at Sea Life, so bring all the family along to experience an underwater adventure.Discover many species of fish, sea turtles and penguins – You can even watch talks and feeding times at the Sea Life centre. There is also a 4D cinema, where you can go on your own Amazon Adventure!

Opening times
10th – 21st April, 24th July – 2nd September
Monday to Sunday: 10am – 6pm
20th – 24th February, 29th May – 2nd June, 23rd – 17th October, 26th – 29th December
Monday to Friday: 10am – 6pm
25th February – 9th April, 22nd April – 28th May, 3rd June – 23rd July, 3rd September –
22nd October, 28th October – 24th, 30th, 31st December
Monday to Friday: 10am – 4pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10am – 6pm
Prices
Door
All ages: £20.95
Under 3: Free
Online
All ages: £12.75
Under 3: Free
Address
The Waters Edge
Brindley Place
Birmingham
West Midlands
B1 2HL
Contact details
0871 423 2110
www.visitsealife.com/birmingham

4. Museum of the Jewelry Quarter

The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter is a remarkable museum, which explains the story of the Jewellery Quarter and Birmingham’s renowned jewellery and metalworking heritage. It is a perfectly preserved jewellery workshop, which offers interesting tours to the public, where they can see how jewellery was made without machines!

Museum of the Jewelry Quarter Birmingham The jewellery museum is a great trip out for children, as they will be fascinated by the history of the factory and how it has frozen in time.

Opening times
Tuesday to Saturday: 10.30am – 5pm
Closed Sundays and Mondays, except Bank Holiday Mondays
Prices
Adult: £7.00
Child (3-15 years): £3.00
Address
75 – 79 Vyse Street
Hockley
Birmingham
West Midlands
B18 6HA
Contact details
0121 5543598
www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/jewellery

5. Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park

Children love animals, so why not visit the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park! It's home to many animals across the world including, otters, meerkats, pandas, birds and much more!

It’s a great day out for families and children, where they can learn all about the animals, including endangered species and their habitats – you can even visit them during their feeding times!

Opening times
Summer (From 1st April)
Monday to Sunday: 10am – 5pm
Winter (From end of October)
Monday to Sunday: 10am – 6pm
Prices
Adult: £6.95
Senior/Student: £5.00
Children (3-15 years): £3.30
Under 3: Free
Address
Pershore Road
Birmingham
West Midlands
B5 7RL
England
Contact details
0121 472 7775
https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info