Are you searching for the Best Places to Visit in Birmingham? Are you thinking of a trip to Europe and wondering what to explore in Birmingham? We’ve got you covered. Birmingham is Britain’s second biggest city. Its position within the West Midlands makes it an excellent place to begin exploring areas like the Cotswolds and the Malvern Hills, primarily via the canal.
Birmingham’s canals were the result of the Industrial Revolution that saw the city’s growth, and the vast network of canals is mainly used as a pleasure-boating area. Birmingham is home to many more canals than Venice.
The city has more canals than Venice, with one of the best activities for kids in Birmingham is exploring the preserved canals and the historic structures of the famous Gas Street Basin. Today, the city is most well-known for its jewelry and food products and the many cultural events and events. One of their most popular is the biggest St. Patrick’s Day Parades.
About 20 miles to Birmingham, just 20 miles southeast of Birmingham Coventry, which is the heart of the British motor industry. It’s an excellent place to visit for a day.
To make sure you pack as much as you can to fit as much as you can into the England Midlands’ travel itinerary, Be sure to look over our list of the best places to visit and things to do in Birmingham.
Victoria Square & the City Center
Victoria Square & the City Center is one of the best places to visit in Birmingham. Birmingham’s center is in the pedestrian-friendly Victoria Square, an area accessible via the Birmingham City Centre Path. On the path, you’ll find the charming historic Town Hall, constructed in 1832, and a marvel in Victorian architecture. It resembles a Roman church. This magnificent structure is adorned with 40 intricate Corinthian columns made from Anglesey marble.
It’s been at the forefront of Birmingham’s music scene since the first Mendelssohn performance of Elijah in 1847. Today, the impressive Symphony Hall, featuring world-class acoustics and a spectacular auditorium, is regularly home to top performers and singers. It is also the home of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
In the forecourt, there are two memorials, one for Queen Victoria and one for creator James Watt. It is the Renaissance-style Council House (1874) is famous for its “Big Brum” clock (an expression of slang for Birmingham) is located close by.
Other historic city sites worth visiting include the pedestrian-only Chamberlain Square and the Central Library. The Central Library houses one of the most significant Shakespeare collections outside the United States (50,000 volumes in 90 languages).
Coffin Museum is just a few minutes north of the city center, just a short walk northeast of the city center. This intriguing attraction focuses on the past and culture of funerals and coffins and is recommended to include in your Birmingham travel plans. Guided tours are offered.
Birmingham Science Museum
Families traveling with scientists in their teens shouldn’t skip Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum. This museum that has won awards boasts an array of interesting science-related exhibits. Many are interactive and hands-on.
Highlights include the impressive collection of steam-powered machinery, including tractors, locomotives and tractors, and industrial machinery. Many connected Birmingham’s importance as an industrial hub throughout the ages.
Other exciting exhibits include chocolate packaging machines and a display called the Spitfire Gallery, with its authentic WWII-era aircraft (including one of the 10,000 Spitfires produced locally).
Make sure to go to The Science Garden, with its colossal hamster wheel for humans. The Thinktank Planetarium, which offers an impressive exploration of the planets and stars, is another fantastic method to keep your children entertained.
Official site: www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank
Birmingham Hippodrome
In perfect harmony with Birmingham’s artistic spirit is the Hippodrome. As stated by The Independent, ‘Birmingham Hippodrome pantomimes, thank you, always one of the finest in the world. This renowned pantomime venue hosts everything from opera and ballet to family pantomimes as well as comedy.
It’s worth a look at what could be on the horizon while traveling. They’ll offer booster seats for children who have to sit in front of taller guests. For adults, you can pre-order your interval drinks to be purchased at any available bar for you to pick up at the entrance, meaning you don’t need to wait in line.
If you arrive early enough before the time your show is due to start, they have their restaurant with a star rating that opens two hours before each performance. However, the menus are formulated at least a month before the show, and it’s recommended to check their website first!
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, which was opened in 1885, is widely regarded as one of the best museums outside of London. The museum’s art treasures include works painted by pre-Raphaelite artists, art dating from the 17th to 19th centuries, and sculptures created by Rodin and James Tower.
There are also intriguing exhibits that tell the story of the city’s past and archaeological discoveries dating to the Stone Age, along with the fantastic Pinto Collection featuring 6,000 plus toys and other products made from wood. The gift shop is within the museum, and if you are looking for a great high tea experience, then the stunning Edwardian Tearooms are worth a stop.
If you’ve got time on your schedule, make sure to pay the visit to the Ikon Gallery, a contemporary art museum in a historic building worth a visit.
National Sea Life Centre
National Sea Life Centre is one of the best places to visit in Birmingham. One of Birmingham’s most visited tourist destinations Birmingham’s most-visited tourist attractions, the National SEA LIFE Centre is house to an impressive 60+ exhibits relating to marine life.
The spotlight is given to the aquarium’s enormous million-liter ocean tank with its distinctive underwater tunnel that offers visitors a continuous view of the wide variety of marine life in the exhibit, ranging from reef sharks to giant turtles.
A total of thousands of animals are housed in the aquarium with various rare seahorses and giant octopi, crabs, lobsters, and Stingrays. The aquarium’s biggest stars, however, are its playful otters (look at Mango and Starsky) and penguins.
In the stunning Penguin Ice Adventure habitat, these fantastic creatures are enjoyable to watch as they play. A cinema in 4D is available on-site and hosts regular educational programs. If you have the time and money, take advantage of one of the exciting activities behind the scenes or penguin feeding experiences.
Wander the Jewellery Quarter
The Jewellery Quarter is a part located in Birmingham steeped in history. There are over 200 workshops of jewelers and silversmiths that create 40% of the British jewelry, mainly around the Clock Tower at the corner of Vyse and Frederick Streets and around the Georgian church of St. Paul’s.
Visit the top tourist attraction in the region, and it’s the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, which provides an insider’s perspective of the business of the intriguing Smith & Pepper Factory. Another worth visiting is the adjacent Hall of Memory opposite Baskerville House, built in 1925 in honor of the city’s men who perished during WWI, and St. Paul’s Square with its beautiful church.
If you have time, take a trip to The Pen Museum. The museum is situated within the Jewellery Quarter’s former pen factory. This museum is a must-see for anyone interested in the city’s past as a hub for pen manufacturing and the story of writing instruments’ history.
The highlight is the chance to design your nib made of steel using the same techniques and machinery used in the 19th century. It’s also fun to see the replica Victorian schoolroom where visitors can practice penmanship using traditional quills.
Official site: www.jewelleryquarter.net
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth at Cadbury World, Bournville
The Cadbury World is located at the Bournville manufacturing facility, an hour’s drive from Birmingham. Cadbury World is one of the largest (and most visited) tourist attractions. It is home to over 500,000 visitors every year.
It is a place where fun is the main focus visitors can discover the origins of chocolate and the production process by visiting a range of fascinating interactive exhibits. In the process, visitors discover the story of the Cadbury company, one of the largest confectioneries, and enjoy themed park-style attractions suitable for families.
The highlight is visiting Bull Street. Bull Street attraction with its replica shops that are reminiscent of the 1820s. Try your attempt at making the confection you want to make or make a purchase at the largest Cadbury’s candy shop in the world. After that, make sure you explore the picturesque village of Bournville, which the Cadbury family constructed in 1860 to house their vast workforce.
Black Country Living Museum, Dudley
Black Country Living Museum, Dudley is one of the best places to visit in Birmingham. The town is Dudley, situated just nine miles west of Birmingham. The Black Country Living Museum occupies an area of 26 acres and gives visitors a fascinating insight into the mining history (hence”black,” as in “black”).
A mine shaft from the past and a restored industrial town of the turn of the century comprised fifty authentic buildings that were mostly removed and fixed on the site -and are available for exploration.
It’s also enjoyable to walk the nearby canals, which are a component of the fun that takes place on a traditional narrow boat used in the past for coal transportation. The other highlights of this fantastic open-air museum are the opportunity to engage with costumed guides with a deep understanding of the past of the local population.
There are plenty of unique shopping options, antique trams, buses, commercial vehicles, and an old-fashioned English fun fair dating back to the 19th century.
The museum is situated between Birmingham and Coventry. Sarehole Mill Museum is an ancient water mill dating from the 1500s. It’s located along the River Cole in Hall Green and is a great place to visit if you can go there. It has exciting exhibits about its past as well as one on J.R.R. Tolkien, who was a kid just a few hundred yards away.
Official site: www.bclm.co.uk
The Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Another fantastic tourist destination to include in the West Midlands travel itinerary is The Birmingham Botanical Gardens. It covers 15 acres in the wealthy suburbs of Edgbaston. These 19th century gardens are easily accessible from the city’s center and host a variety of species.
A visit to the gardens is like being transported back to the past due to the well-preserved Victorian-era glasshouses and other park features from the Victorian era.
It’s renowned for its bonsai trees. One of them is that she’s more than 25 years of age. In addition to over 7,000 species of plants worldwide, you’ll also be able to observe various animals, such as rare birds of the tropical region and a butterfly house. There’s also a gift shop, a tearoom, and playgrounds for kids.
Shakespeare Express
Shakespeare Express is one of the best places to visit in Birmingham. Steam trains are among the most prestigious British institutions, and only a few steam railways operate in England. This is among the most famous and has awed visitors with its splendor.
The route runs from Birmingham up to Stratford Upon Avon. It offers the opportunity to take in the best of both. From the fascinating past of industrialization in Birmingham to the gorgeous countryside of Warwickshire in which large areas of land remain unexplored.
It is possible to sit back and unwind while passing beautiful villages, working farms, stations, and the waterways that form Shakespeare’s county. Depending on the time of day, you’ll also be an excellent meal along the journey, from a hearty English breakfast to a freshly prepared Roast dinner with all the trimmings.
While traveling during the afternoon, you can enjoy another popular British tradition, High Tea. A wide range of wines, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages are also available. If you’re searching for an enjoyable day to lay back and unwind, take a look!
Conclusion
All destinations are awesome! According to my opinion, National Sea Life Centre is the best to start. I hope you have enjoyed our list of Best Places to Visit in Birmingham.
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