Attracting over 34 million visitors a year, Birmingham is brimming with culture and filled with amazing attractions, delicious dining, and fabulous shopping!
Being the second largest city in the UK, Birmingham is best known for its bustling business and industrial background.
Birmingham is perfect for a city break as it gives you the chance to explore a colourful new city without having to travel for hours.
Whether you’re a chocoholic and fancy treating yourself to a bar from the largest Cadbury shop in the world, or a spot of shopping at The Bull Ring, this city has it all.
We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 things you can do here to ensure you have as much as fun as possible when visiting!
1. Cadbury World
Did somebody say chocolate? Cadbury World in Bournville, Birmingham, is easy to get to via car, train or bus.
Sadly, there are no Oompa Loompas in sight, and you definitely won’t get the chance to meet Willy Wonka, but you are guaranteed free chocolate and a self-guided exhibition tour!
Chocoholics can learn how their favourite snack is made and see a full-scale replica of the original street in Birmingham where John Cadbury opened his shop in 1824.
Take a look at the Cadbury World demonstration staff showing off their chocolate making skills in the chocolate making zone, you can even try it yourself if you’re feeling brave enough!
2. National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham
This stunning aquarium has over 60 displays of freshwater and marine life in Brindleyplace, Birmingham and is definitely worth a visit.
The SEA LIFE Centre is super easy to get to via public transport, the nearest train stations are Birmingham New Street and Birmingham Snow Hill.
All you need to do is follow walking signs for the International Convention Centre and Arena Birmingham.
If you’d prefer to take the tram, the nearest station is The Library, just a mere two-minute walk away from the centre.
The best news is, they have Gentoo Penguins at the centre who have travelled half the way around the world to play and swim in their brand-new home.
Other zones include sharks, clownfish, octopus, stingrays, jellyfish, turtles and many more.
A flexi ticket if bought online can be around £13.17 which gives you entry only, but there are plenty more tickets to choose from including penguin feeding experience.
3. Black Country Living Museum
It takes about 40 minutes to get here from Birmingham on the train and about a 25-minute drive, although slightly out of Birmingham, it’s totally worth it.
The open-air museum features rebuilt historic buildings in Dudley, offering a glimpse into 300 years of history.
Set in a landscape of 26 acres, explore over forty carefully reconstructed shops, houses and industrial areas.
You can even meet historical characters who will tell you what it’s like to live and work during the Industrial Revolution.
Take a ride on old heritage vehicles or visit a 1912 school lesson, a 1920s cinema, a 1930s fish and chip shop and many more.
4. Go On A Canal Boat Trip
Did you know Birmingham has more canals than Venice? Why not enjoy a narrowboat tour with your loved one, a great way to explore the city and check out the hidden nooks and crannies of the city.
Depart from the International Convention Centre Quayside and travel along the quiet stretches of the canal which first brought commercial life to the ‘UK’s Second City’.
This is a great way to see more of the city, and hopefully enjoy some sunshine whilst doing so.
5. Shopping At The Bullring
It has over 200 shops, including two department stores Selfridges and Debenhams as well as a whopping 28 restaurants to choose from if you’re feeling hungry.
When combined with Grand Central, a shopping centre located above New Street railway station, it became the UK’s largest city centre based shopping centre!
The centre has been an important feature of Birmingham since the middle ages, when its market was first held.
Since then, two shopping centres have been built in the area in the 1960s and again in 2003 where it became the Bullring.
There are plenty of shops to choose from including Footlocker, New Look and H&M to name a few!
6. Digbeth Dining Club
This trendy street food destination on Lower Trinity Street was found in 2012 and is a multi-award-winning venue.
Digbeth Dining Club isn’t your usual dining setting either, each trader is trialed to ensure that customers are getting the best experience possible at an affordable price.
There’s a real bustling atmosphere at this venue with a great choice of music offering a great vibe for visitors.
We’d highly recommend visiting Digbeth Dining Club when visiting Birmingham, you won’t be disappointed!
For those with a sweet tooth, be sure to check out the Bournville Waffle Company for a scrumptious waffle.
7. Warwick Castle
With over 1100 years of history at this medieval castle, we’d highly recommend you visit Warwick castle when visiting Birmingham, roughly a 30-minute drive from the city.The Castle was developed from a wooden fort, originally built by William the Conqueror during 1068, and sits on a bend of the River Avon.Originally a wooden motte-and-bailey castle, it was rebuilt in strong, sturdy stone during the 12thcentury.
There are different types of tickets suited for everyone, the ‘Grounds & Gardens’ ticket for £12.50 gives you the chance to explore the 60 acres of rolling grounds and gardens!
The castle is open from 10-4pm where you can attend events like “The Falconer’s Quest” featuring aerial acrobatics from different species of birds.
8. Visit The Custard Factory
This edgy independent shopping destination is home to a variety of creative and digital businesses, independent shops, cafes and bars.If you feel like taking a break from mainstream brands within the city, we’d highly recommend taking a trip to The Custard Factory for some local independent venues.Situated in Digbeth and set in 15 acres of restored Victorian factories, it’s only a five-minute stroll from the Bullring.
9. Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
Fancy a bit of culture? The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is free to visit and filled with fascinating local history and art.
In addition to the permanent galleries, there’s a diverse exhibition programme that varies year after year.
It’s definitely worth a visit when visiting the city of Birmingham and is a great way of immersing yourself in some local arty talent.
10. Peaky Blinders Tour
If you haven’t watched Peaky Blinders yet, we’d suggest you get started on a Netflix binge as soon as possible!
Based on the dark past of Birmingham in the 1880s and early 1900s when gangs roamed the streets, a Peaky Blinders tour will allow you to delve into the history of the city.
The tour gives you the chance to enter exclusive set areas and recounts the story of the real Peaky Blinder gang.
