Looking for the best things to do in Birmingham, UK? Birmingham sits in the heart of England in the Midland region. I live a few minutes away from the centre of Birmingham. I guess it would be ideal to suggest some places to visit and the best things to do in Birmingham thru this blog post.
I first knew Birmingham as a lyric to a famous song, I would have never thought that this would become my second home. Birmingham is the second largest in the UK. Birmingham is also the birthplace of heavy metal music, pioneered and created by the local Birmingham band – Black Sabbath.
Unlike London, the city has no castles and palaces because of its industrial roots. I made another blog post about London vs Birmingham: Detailed City Comparison Guide to discuss with you the difference between the two cities.
Read More: The Best Day Trips from Birmingham (UK)
Here are the best things to do in Birmingham, UK
1. Cadbury World
Address: The Cadbury World, Linden Rd, Bournville, Birmingham B30 1JR
Birmingham is the home of the world-renowned and most loved chocolate – Cadbury chocolate.
One of the best things to do in the city is a day out in Cadbury World is one of the most popular things to do with kids in Birmingham. The chocolate factory also has a museum that displays the history and heritage of cocoa farming and chocolate making from the humble beginnings of Cadbury up to what it is now today.
Of course, there is no better place to buy your Cadbury chocolate than here at a discounted price. What else can you ask for perfect days out in Birmingham! Just a note, there is no Umpa Lumpa in this chocolate factory!
I made helpful transport guides from London to Cadbury World and from Birmingham to Cadbury World to help you to visit this fun destination.
Read More: Best UK Travel Itinerary for 2 Weeks
2. The Thinktank museum
Address: ThinkTank Museum, Millennium Point, Curzon St, Birmingham B4 7XG
Another one of the great things to do with kids and days out in Birmingham, as well as for those young at heart who loves science, this is the place to go!
Think tank museum is an award-winning museum in the city that features everything about robotics and science. It will surely it will be a great day out for the family.
3. Sea Life Centre
Address: National Sea Life Centre, The Water’s Edge, 3 Brindley place, Birmingham B1 2HL
Another fantastic Birmingham attraction is the Sea Life Centre. If you love marine animals, this is one of the places to go in Birmingham.
Sea Life Centres are dotted around the UK, you can also get some discount vouchers e.g. 2 for 1 entry and other combo ticket promotion in other Merlin attractions.
4. Birmingham German Market (Seasonal)
Address: Birmingham City Centre High Street
One of the most visited Christmas markets outside of Germany. The start of the Birmingham German Market kick starts the festive season here in the Midlands.
The Birmingham city centre high street will light up and be filled with log cabins full of delicious deli and drinks from Germany.
If you are looking for free things to do in Birmingham during the festive season, I highly recommend you to visit the German Market.
Have a lovely mulled wine and eat bratwurst, pretzels, strudel and much more!
5. JRR Tolkien Trail
Are you a Lord of the Rings fan? The Tolkien Trail is one of Birmingham’s points of interest.
John Ronal Reuel Tolkien (JRR Tolkien) grew up in Birmingham. The inspirations of his masterpiece “The Lord of the Rings” can all be found in Birmingham and its surrounding area.
Once you follow the trail, you’ll get to see the inspiration of the iconic hobbit circular door at the Sarehole mill where JRR Tolkien spent most of his childhood playing in this area.
The two towers of inspiration are also from two famous landmarks in Birmingham, the Perrott’s Folley and the Edgbaston Waterworks Tower.
In the Lord of the Rings book, you’ll probably know this as the Minas Morgul and the Minas Tirith, the Two Towers of Gondor. So welcome to Middle Earth and don’t worry there are no orcs around this area!
6. The Bullring
For all the shopaholics, no questions are necessary on what to do in Birmingham but to visit The Bullring Shopping Centre.
The Bullring has been the centre of the retail and commercial industries in Birmingham.
You can pretty much find all the high street and luxury brands you could ever want in this area. You can’t miss the beautiful St. Martin’s church in the middle of the shopping complex.
The commercial history of the Bullring began in the middle ages where people came to trade their cattle and corn. The area was known as the Corn Market in commemoration of the corn trading that began in this area. The name “Bullring” came from the green within the Corn Cheaping which was used for bull-baiting and the ring was an iron hoop in Corn Cheaping that was used to tie the bulls before slaughter.
Read more: 8 Best Things to Do in Warwickshire, UK
7. The Beacon Hill (Lickey hills)
Located on the outskirts of Birmingham and just at the edge of Worcestershire is Beacon Hill. At the top of Beacon Hill, you can see the beautiful landscape of Birmingham and Worcestershire.
I made a drone video of it! Go and watch it!
8. Birmingham Canals
The Birmingham Canal is 100 miles of intricate networks of canals within the city. Birmingham has more canals than Venice! I wrote another article here about the Canals in Britain, this will tell you more information about the influence of canals and waterways in the British Victorian times and how to use one.
The UK Canal network was the bloodline of the city in Victorian times where narrowboats were used to transport coal and other goods going in all directions within the UK. Nowadays, the Birmingham Canal network is popular with boat enthusiasts and holidaymakers.
9. Jewellery Quarter
The clue is in the name; Jewellery Quarter has been the heart of the jewellery production for hundreds of years since the 18th century.
Almost half of the British jewellery here in England comes from the highly skilled jewellers of the Jewellery Quarter. Truly this area of the city is the pride and gem of Britain.
10. Aston Villa (Villa Park)
Address: Villa Park, Trinity Rd, Birmingham B6 6HE
If you’re into sports, don’t miss a chance to visit Villa Park. The home of the famous Aston Villa Football Club since 1897. Villa Park has hosted prestigious football games throughout its history. One of the clubs most famous fans is Prince William!
11. Digbeth Dining Club
Address: Lower Trinity St, Deritend, Birmingham B9 4AG
If you are a food lover, a visit to Digbeth Dining Club (DDC) is a must! One of the best things to do in Birmingham is to go on a food trip to the hip area of Birmingham. Tucked in the old warehouses in Digbeth (just at the back of the Bullring shopping centre near the bus station) is a nice food haven.
You can find various food cart vendors from your favourite kebabs to the sweetest honeycomb brownies. Quench your thirst with the refreshing tropical cocktails or your bog-standard G&T. They are open on Thursday and Friday (4 pm – late) and Weekends (1 pm – late).
12. Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Address: Westbourne Rd, Birmingham B15 3TR
The Birmingham Botanical Gardens is one of the relaxing places to visit in Birmingham. Located in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, you will find a little oasis in the middle of the urban settings. Founded in 1892, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens has been the home of various exotic and native plants. It has charming Victorian glasshouses, butterfly houses, an aviary, and beautifully landscaped gardens.
The Glasshouses are one of the main highlights of the botanical garden. It displays various tropical, arid, and sub-tropical plants.
I also included the Birmingham Botanical Gardens among the best botanical gardens to visit in the UK, feel free to read the article if you want to know more about it.
Map of Birmingham, UK
HOW TO USE THIS MAP TO BOOK YOUR RESERVATIONS:
CLICK the YELLOW MARKER OR THE DROP DOWN MENU next to the title to see the various things to do and point of interest in this guide and CHOOSE your desired preview of the map, whether HOTELS & RENTALS, EXPERIENCES, RESTAURANTS OR OTHERS. Feel free to use the filters, number of guests, and your preferred dates. You can see more information about the different attractions (the GREEN MARKERS) when you click the icons, as well as finding your perfect accommodation that will suit your budget and location. You could also book your guided tours and restaurants using the map.
Recommended Activities in Birmingham, UK
On your visit to the Midlands, you can also visit these coffee shops around the Birmingham area.
🚑 Should I buy travel insurance for my UK trip?
YES – If you’re traveling to the UK, securing travel insurance with comprehensive medical coverage is essential for your peace of mind; I recommend Safety Wing Travel Insurance, which is renowned for its reliability. (READ MORE)
💧 Can I drink tap water in the UK?
YES – You can confidently drink tap water in the UK—just run it for a bit first—and use a Hydro Flask travel bottle, it is a great eco-friendly companion to keep you hydrated while touring the UK attractions.
🚗 Is it safe to rent a car in the UK?
YES – Renting a car in the UK is one of the best ways to see the country. I recommend Discover Cars, to check for the best car rental deals that suit your budget. See my UK driving tips here.
📲 Will my phone work in the UK?
POSSIBLY. Always check with your home mobile provider. If it won’t work or is too expensive, I recommend using Airlo E-Sim for data packages to stay connected online.
🔌 What adapter should I use in the UK?
TYPE G – In the UK, you’ll need a type G plug travel adapter with three rectangular pins arranged in a triangle to power your devices, and the electrical system runs on a 230V supply voltage at 50Hz. (READ MORE)
✈️ What is the best site to buy UK flights?
For finding affordable UK flights, I recommend using Skyscanner. You can always compare the prices that suit your budget.
🛏️ What is the best way to book accommodations in the UK?
My go-to for UK accommodations is Booking.com. I recommend to always check hotel reviews on TripAdvisor.
💷 What currency do I need for my UK trip?
Sterling Pounds – I suggest getting a Wise Travel Card for your hassle-free forex and contactless spending while in the UK. (READ MORE)
🧳 What do I pack for the UK trip?
Depending on the season – You can check my article about the best time to visit the UK.
🛂 Do I need a visa for the UK?
Likely Not – US, Canada, AU, NZ, and EU passport holders do not need a visit visa to the UK. If ever you need one, read more on how to apply for a UK visit visa. Visit iVisa.com to help you with your visa travel documentation needs.
I hope you’ll include Birmingham on your list of places to visit in England.
So go on and explore The Heart of England, here in the Midlands.
Have you been to Birmingham?
Share your experience in the comment box below.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ryazan Tristram
Travel Writer & PhotographerRyazan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism and Hotel Management. She also has more than 10 years of work experience gained from working in the hotel and travel sectors in Asia and Europe. Her work has been featured and published in BBC, Huffington Post, Reader’s Digest, Discovery Channel, World Travel Guide, MSN, CNBC, GMA, Daily Mail UK, Lonely Planet, and many more. She is currently living in the UK as a dual citizen (British-Filipina). Join her in travelling around the UK, Europe, and beyond with a mission to promote sustainable tourism and share travel guides, travel tips, foodies, history, and culture.
We have been to Birmingham twice on very short trips during which time we visited the Jewellery Quarter, the Sea Life aquarium and Bullring. A visit to Cadbury World is pending. Hopefully on our next trip!
5
Birmingham is an ideal destination for a short weekend break – good mix of historical buildings in the city and wonderful hilltop scenery in the outskirts such as Clent Hills and Lickey Hills – 30minutes drive from Stratford upon Avon and the beautiful Cotswold.
Thx for this great post on Birmingham and Worcestershire. I knew about Cadbury World, but had no idea of all the other attractions there are to see in the area.
4.5
I never knew anything about it never considered taking a trip down but you have me interested now! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Amazing blog, really interesting I loved reading it, please keep on writing blogs like this in future as well.