10 bucket list-worthy things to do in Birmingham you’ll never forget
“What’s there to do in Birmingham?”
That’s a question that family and friends outside my beloved city usually ask me, and I’m always more than happy to oblige.
Once they drop that question, I’d go on and on mentioning the many things to do in Birmingham, like I’m building up my city to outsiders.
Actually, there are so many of them that I often don’t know where to begin when I’m asked that question. It’s why I’ve decided to make my own list of the best activities you can do here.
1. Immerse yourself in culture at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Media from birmingham_mag
Website: https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/birmingham-museum-and-art-gallery
Location: Chamberlain Square
Contact: +44 121 348 8000
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM | Monday to Tuesday: Closed
Price: ££
The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is one of my favourite places in the city. There’s just something relaxing and refreshing about admiring artworks from renowned artists past and present, and this venue has so many of them.
I’m especially stoked that the Round Room and Industrial Gallery have reopened. I love the former because it highlights how art is a way to see life from a different lens. I like the latter because it boasts a “Made in Birmingham” display that tells the story of the city through art.
I’m also a big fan of Pixel Studio, which is a digital art gallery and interactive activity space for guests of all ages.
Pro Tip:
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is known for putting up temporary exhibits year-round. Check the museum’s What’s On page here to keep tabs on these special displays. You’re almost always guaranteed to find something interesting.
2. Discover chocolates at Cadbury World
Media from cadburyworlduk
Website: https://www.cadburyworld.co.uk/
Location: 69 Linden Rd
Contact: +44 121 828 9300
Hours: Monday to Sunday: Between 9 AM and 10 AM – Between 4 PM and 6 PM
Price: ££
Going to Cadbury World with my young nephews and nieces is a guilty pleasure. That’s because many attractions in this magical world guarantee a great time.
This might be an adulting bias, but I find the manufacturing attraction truly fascinating. It’s mainly because I get to see how my favourite Cadbury chocolates—Creme Egg is one—are made.
The Chocolate Making Zone also earns my thumbs up, as it allows guests to actually make their own chocolate.
What’s more, Cadbury World’s fun zones will definitely get kids and kids-at-heart coming back. The Cadbury Chocolate Quest, an interactive 3D “quest” to find chocolate ingredients, is highly recommended.
Pro Tip:
Make sure to take the kids to the Cadbury World Cafe. You can’t go wrong with the Cadbury Dairy Milk Hot Chocolate or the Cadbury White Chocolate Mocha. For something sweeter and more filling, go for Freddo’s White Hot Chocolate.
3. Explore the Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Media from bhambotanicalgardens
Website: https://birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk/
Location: Westbourne Rd
Contact: +44 121 454 1860
Hours: Monday to Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Price: £
The sprawling Birmingham Botanical Gardens encompass 15 acres of ornamental gardens and various glasshouses. It’s so majestically beautiful and diverse that I always recommend it to first-time visitors to Birmingham, whether family or friends.
The Pinetum, a collection of over 500 different tree species, is particularly fascinating due to its diverse collection of conifers from around the world. The area is also home to pine trees and spruces, which provide natural shade, making it an ideal spot to rest.
An even more interesting area is the Alan King Alpine Garden. An alpine environment is commonly found in high mountain regions, but the Birmingham Botanical Gardens replicates it using various rock types, compost, and other elements.
Pro Tip:
Elevate your visit by timing it with the different activities Birmingham Botanical Garden regularly organises. It usually hosts candlelight concerts, animal handling sessions, and more. You can keep track of these events here.
4. Visit the Jewellery Quarter
Media from jq_bid
Website: https://www.birmingham-jewellery-quarter.net/
Location: Jewellery Quarter, West Midlands B1, B3, B18
Hours: Operating hours vary
Price: ££
There’s a lot to do in Europe’s largest cluster of jewellery stores on top of scoring that perfect necklace or that sparkling bracelet. But if you’re looking to buy jewellery, there’s no place else for you to be than here.
Once you’re done jewellery shopping, you can choose what comes next. You can, for example, visit the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter to get a better sense of the area’s backstory.
You can also visit the Pen Museum for a history lesson on Birmingham’s steel pen-making past.
But if it were up to me, I’d explore the food scene in Jewellery Quarters. Ana Rocha and their yummy homemade tapas are a personal favourite.
Pro Tip:
Extend your visit to the Jewellery Quarters up to nighttime or up until the wee hours of the morning to experience the area’s pulsating bar scene. For something more laid-back, go to the Hockley Social Club.
5. Shop and dine at Bullring & Grand Central
Media from bullring
Website: https://www.bullring.co.uk/
Location: Moor St
Contact: +44 121 632 1526
Hours: Monday to Friday: 10 AM – 8 PM | Saturday: 9 AM – 8 PM | Sunday: 11 AM – 5 PM
Price: ££
Bullring & Grand Central make up the UK’s largest shopping centre, which is why I’m not surprised that my shopaholic friends love going here. With over 200 stores, this mall is perfect for shop-till-you-drop adventures, offering choices like H&M, Cath Kidston, and more.
While my friends come here for retail therapy, I usually visit to participate in super-fun activities. My favourite is Lane7, a three-floor powerhouse of leisure activities that include boutique bowling and karaoke.
One thing my friends and I agree on is that Bullring & Grand Central is great for a food trip. With over 100 restaurants, bars, and coffee shops here, you’re guaranteed to never go hungry. If you must, do try Pho for Vietnamese cuisine and Chaopraya for Thai delights.
Pro Tip:
Check out the Selfridges. It’s an iconic, aesthetically pleasing attraction at the Bullring & Grand Central. The four-floor Selfridges is one of the centre’s must-visit destinations as it houses brand names for clothing, footwear, and more.
6. Stroll through Gas Street Basin
Media from lassijtkl
Location: 42 Gas St
Hours: Monday to Sunday: Open 24 hours
Price: Free
When I want some quiet time, I usually take a stroll around Gas Street Basin. It’s located right at the centre of Birmingham and feels like a hidden world of its own, overlooking the city’s old brick buildings.
Cafes and bars line the Gas Street Basin path. These offer cosy places to stop for a while and enjoy a tasty treat or drink. The Canalside Cafe and Gas Street Social, in particular, are local favourites due to their variety of drinks.
The most well-known of these cosy bars, though, is Worcester Bar. It was constructed in the late 1800s to stand between the Worcester and Birmingham Canal and Birmingham Canal Navigation so that the latter wouldn’t lose water to the former.
Today, the Worcester Bar has been refurbished and stands as both a reminder of history and one of Gas Street Basin’s most popular attractions.
Pro Tip:
A great way to explore Gas Street Basin is with a ride on a narrowboat. Local companies around the area offer boat rentals starting at £5. If you’re up for it, go for companies that offer free navigation tutorials so you can steer the boat yourself.
7. Be one with nature at Cannon Hill Park
Media from cannonhillpark
Website: https://www.cannonhillpark.co.uk/
Location: Russell Rd, Moseley
Contact: +44 121 303 1111
Hours: Monday to Sunday: 7:30 AM – 8:15 PM
Price: £
Cannon Hill Park isn’t just a park; it’s a park and a recreational centre rolled into one, with a museum and a couple of food and drink establishments. I consider it the ultimate relaxation and recreation package.
My favourite spot is the Edgbaston Reservoir, one of the quietest areas in the park, which is ideal for birdwatching and sightseeing. I then visit the beautiful Japanese Garden before concluding the day with a trip to MAC Birmingham and its art exhibits.
But, more than anything, Cannon Hill Park is a family-friendly destination. My nephews and nieces, in fact, could play all day in the Fun Park. They also adore rides on the land train to go around the park and a detour to the boating lake aboard swan pedal boats.
Pro Tip:
If you’re bringing kids along, bundle their Fun Pass so they can maximise the park’s attractions. Each credit costs £1, but a bundled Fun Pass offers additional credits. For instance, the £24 bundle offers six extra credits, while the £64 bundle means 28 free credits.
8. Experience the Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum
Media from thinktankmuseum
Website: https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank
Location: Millennium Point, Curzon St, B4 7XG
Contact: +44 121 348 8000
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM | Monday Closed
Price: ££
Science is fascinating, and there’s no better place to dive into it than the Thinktank Science Museum in Birmingham.
What I love is the variety of learning zones the museum offers. My favourite is “Our Changing Planet” as it outlines the seismic transformations that have shaped Earth.
My younger cousins, meanwhile, are big fans of “Move It”. They like it because it showcases the modes of transportation that once made the city a UK transport hub during the Industrial Revolution.
They especially love MiniBrum. It’s the museum’s very own mini-city, featuring different play zones, including a transport hub and a construction site.
Pro Tip:
Plan your visit better by taking a 360° interactive tour of Thinktank first. Take the tour and decide which attractions you’ll visit first and for how long.
9. Discover Villa Park
Media from avfcofficial
Website: https://www.avfc.co.uk/
Location: Trinity Rd, B6 6HE
Contact: +44 333 323 1874
Hours: Monday to Friday: 10 AM – 5 PM | Saturday: 10 AM – 8 PM | Sunday: 11 AM – 4 PM
Price: £££
My friend took me to Villa Park twice, and each time, I’m always amazed at the rich history of Birmingham’s own, the Aston Villa Football Club. The artefacts on display chronicle the team’s history, which dates back to 1897.
I also enjoy the stadium tour. The tour, which you will need to book beforehand, starting at £23, provides an inside look at how large stadiums operate and how a typical game day unfolds.
Another thing I love about this paid tour of the facility is the expert knowledge of the guides. The anecdotes they share provide valuable insights for a more eye-opening experience about Birmingham’s beloved football club.
What’s more, I think seeing Villa Park’s infamous Holte End is an experience in itself. Its red brick exterior, similar to that of the Holte Hotel, gives off a vintage vibe. It contrasts perfectly with the massive, cathedral-like interior, which can accommodate up to 13,000 passionate fans.
Pro Tip:
Don’t forget to check out the Trinity Road Stand. This section is one of the stadium’s oldest parts and is full of life-size murals dedicated to Aston Villa. It also offers some of the best, most unobstructed views of the fabled pitch.
10. Go to Birmingham Back to Backs
Media from ntbacktobacks
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/birmingham-west-midlands/birmingham-back-to-backs
Location: 50-54, 55-63 Inge St, Hurst St, B5 4TE
Contact: +44 121 622 2442
Hours: Monday: Closed | Tuesday to Wednesday: 1 PM – 3 PM | Thursday to Sunday: 10 AM – 3 PM
Price: £
What’s cool about Birmingham Back to Backs is that it’s like stepping into a different time zone, that of the late 1800s.
The highlights are the two Victorian-era houses situated back to back. These were restored in 2004 and tell the story of working-class locals hundreds of years ago.
A visit to these vintage houses is available only through guided tours, which I think is fitting. The guides are experts in the city’s history, and they share authentic stories about Birmingham’s working people from the past.
Additionally, I’m fascinated by the George Saunders collection found in Court 15, just within Inge and Hurst Streets.
This historic collection features items such as suits and jodhpurs. The best way to describe it is it’s like a fashion time capsule of a bygone era, captured through the tailoring expertise of Saunders, a renowned Caribbean tailor of his time.
Pro Tip:
Check out the second-hand bookshop known as Court 15 Books, located at 61-63 Hurst Street. Do buy what you like because the proceeds go directly into preserving Birmingham Back to Backs. You can also donate your old books here.