Birmingham is such a fun and vibrant city that’s full of things to do, especially for families. Me and my husband visited a few years ago and are hoping to go back with the children soon. With this in mind, I’ve done a little research on what activities we could do while we are there. Read on to find out what’s on in Birmingham…
1. Shopping
The first thing that comes to mind when most people think of shopping in Birmingham is the Bullring, which is full of popular High Street stores such as Zara, Monsoon and Pandora. But there’s lots of other places to shop in Birmingham too. Check out Custard Factory for independent small businesses and don’t miss the Jewellery Quarter if you’re looking for something special.
2. Cadbury World
Cadbury World is situated around 15 minutes from Birmingham City Centre and is truly a little kids dream! Learn how Cadbury’s make their famous chocolate, enjoy the rides and travel back in time to visit Victorian Bull Street…
3. SEA LIFE Centre
Visit Birmingham’s SEA LIFE Centre, home to the UK’s only 360° ocean tunnel. Here you’ll be able to see sharks, giant turtles and rays as well as hundreds of tropical fish. The perfect day out for babies, toddlers and even bigger kids like my two.
4. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is currently closed for essential maintenance, but is due to reopen next year. So if you’re planning a trip to Birmingham in 2024, this is definitely one activity to add to your list. It’s definitely somewhere we will be visiting.
5. LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
The LEGOLAND discovery Centre is ideal for younger children and toddlers. There’s often offers on attraction tickets, so you can get a good discount when visiting the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre and the SEA LIFE Centre together.
6. Canal boat hire
Did you know that Birmingham is said to have more waterways than Venice? A whopping 35 miles to be exact. You could go for a gentle stroll along the canal, stopping at the bars and restaurants along the way. Or why not do something a little different and hire a boat? The kids are guaranteed to love this.
7. Botanical Gardens
Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens and Glasshouses is a beautiful green space in the heart of the city. A great way to escape the hustle and bustle for a while. If you’re visiting in summer, why not take a walk around the gardens and enjoy a picnic lunch while you’re there.
8. Birmingham Back to Backs
This is somewhere I’ve wanted to visit for a while. The last time we visited Birmingham we planned to do this, but unfortunately it was closed on the particular day that we were there. The back to backs show just what life was like for working class people in the 19th century. It looks so interesting and a great learning opportunity for children.
9. National Motorcycle Museum
The National Motorcycle Museum is located about 20 minutes from Birmingham City Centre. Here you can see over 1000 motorcycles, from 170 different countries up close. Perfect for motorbike mad Dads and lads.
10. Thinktank Science Museum
Thinktank Science Museum is ideally located in Birmingham City Centre. Children of all ages will enjoy exploring MiniBrum, a child-sized mini city and the 4K Planetarium where you can journey to the stars. There’s also an interactive outdoor Science Garden as well as the opportunity to learn more about Birmingham’s industrial past.
Have you ever visited Birmingham? Or are you planning to? If you have anything else to add to this list, please leave a comment and let me know!
Thank you for reading.
