Discover the top things to do in Birmingham, England’s second city and a thriving, diverse destination for a city break.
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Birmingham is a vibrant, multicultural destination and the second-largest city in England.
I have to confess that I’m a little biased about Birmingham. Although I’m from Shropshire, my family is from Birmingham, and I’ve been visiting it regularly throughout my whole life.
It has everything you need for a great day trip, city break or longer break. There are fantastic places to eat and drink, accommodation to suit every budget and enough museums, cultural sites and tourist attractions to keep everyone entertained.
Birmingham is also a fantastic base for exploring further afield. Its central location and great transport links mean that you can cover a lot of England in a day trip from Birmingham.
The city has a lot to offer, and I’m keen to help you have the best possible experience when you visit Birmingham. So, here’s my selection of 25+ top things to do in Birmingham, England.
Birmingham Museums and Art Galleries
If you’re planning your first visit to Birmingham, these museums and art galleries are a great addition to your itinerary. Many are free to visit, which is ideal if you’re visiting Birmingham on a budget.
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (BMAG)
The Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (BMAG) is a must-visit landmark in Birmingham. It’s located in Chamberlain Square, just around the corner from the Council House and Victoria Square.
Inside this beautiful Grade II* listed Victorian building, you’ll find an amazing collection of fine art, archaeology, local history and much more.
Popular exhibits include the world’s largest public collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, artefacts from Ancient Egypt, Classical Greece and Rome and an extensive local history collection.
You can also see treasures from the Staffordshire Hoard, the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver ever found.
You can also check out the Tearoom for brunch, light bites, afternoon tea and ‘sandos’ made on soft Hokkaido milk bread.
The Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (BMAG) is generally open Wednesday-Sunday from 10am to 5pm. It opens daily throughout local school holidays:
- 28th March – 12th April, 2026
- 23th – 31th May, 2026
- 18th July – 30th August, 2026
- 24th October – 1st November, 2026
There’s no need to prebook, and general admission is free of charge. Donations towards the museum’s upkeep are always welcome, and pecific exhibitions or events may have a separate admission fee.
Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum
Thinktank is a fantastic science museum that features over 200 interactive exhibits exploring topics from steam engines and space to the human body and prehistoric life.
There’s also a 4K Planetarium, an outdoor Science Garden and a child-sized MiniBrum city, and the museum also hosts temporary exhibitions like the Space Vault, a large private collection of space artefacts.
Although some exhibits and holiday events are designed for young children, Thinktank is excellent for adults and older kids too.
Lapworth Museum of Geology
The Lapworth Museum of Geology is one of the UK’s oldest geological museums. It was founded in 1880 and showcases rocks, fossils, historical geological maps and scientific instruments. The most eye-catching specimen is probably the Jurassic-era dinosaur skeleton known as Roary.
The museum also hosts special events, family fun days and temporary exhibitions.
The Lapworth Museum of Geology is located in the beautiful Aston Webb building at the University of Birmingham campus in Edgbaston. Car parking can be tricky, but luckily, the Aston Webb building is just a few minutes’ walk from the University train station.
The museum is open 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, and 12pm to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free of charge and there’s no need to prebook before visiting.
Museum of the Jewellery Quarter
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Birmingham was a major centre of trade and manufacturing, known as ‘the workshop of the world’. The Jewellery Quarter produced vast quantities of jewellery, enamelware and silver, and 40-50% of British jewellery is still created there each year.
The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter is a unique opportunity to step back in time and explore the Smith & Pepper jewellery factory.
Everything in the museum has been preserved exactly as it was when the factory’s owners retired in 1981. Guided tours take you through the workshops, and you can also watch live jewellery-making demonstrations. There’s also a self-guided gallery that explores ‘The Story of the Jewellery Quarter’.
You’ll find the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter at 75-79 Vyse Street, just a few minutes from the Jewellery Quarter station. The museum is open 10.30am to 4pm, Thursday to Saturday, and entry is by guided tour only. Tickets are available on arrival, but prebooking is advised, especially during the high season.
Ikon Gallery
There’s a beautiful Victorian school building in Oozells Square that has a surprisingly modern interior. It’s the home of Ikon Gallery, a contemporary art gallery showcasing works from artists around the world.
Ikon Gallery hosts a range of exhibitions and educational programmes, featuring modern artworks, sculptures and photographs. There’s also a ‘singing lift’ created by Turner Prize winner, Martin Creed.
The gallery is close to Brindley Place and the SEA LIFE Centre. Admission to Ikon Gallery is free of charge, but donations are welcome. The gallery is a registered educational charity, and all shop profits support its programmes.
By the way, Oozells Square is a must-see in the Spring when the cherry trees are in full bloom!
Birmingham Landmarks
Check out these much-loved Brummie landmarks to get a sense of the city’s character and history.
Ozzy the Bull
Ozzy the Bull is a 10m-tall, steampunk bull sculpture that stands guard on the concourse of Birmingham New Street Station.
The sculpture was originally created for the opening ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The public reaction was so positive that a public campaign saved him from being scrapped after the event.
Renamed after Black Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne, he was moved to Birmingham New Street Station, where his hourly performances include roaring sounds and glowing eyes.
The Bullring Bull
You’ll find a slightly older Bull standing in Rotunda Square, just outside the Bullring shopping centre.
The iconic bronze bull sculpture was installed there when the centre reopened in 2003. It weighs around 6.5 tonnes, making it one of the largest bronze animal statues in the UK.
The Bullring Bull is a popular spot for selfies, and an enduring symbol of Birmingham’s industrial history.
Victoria Square
Head up New Street from Rotunda Square, and you’ll arrive in Victoria Square. The square is surrounded by a mix of modern architecture and grand Victorian buildings like the Council House and the Town Hall.
Statues and sculptures are dotted around the square. Some of the most famous include Anthony Gormley’s 20-foot-tall ‘Iron: Man’ and a statue of Queen Victoria that was unveiled just 12 days before the Queen’s death.
Victoria Square is a popular meeting point and often hosts public events. In the weeks before Christmas, it’s one of the locations for the Frankfurt Christmas Market.
The Floozie in the Jacuzzi
While you’re in Victoria Square, you can’t help but notice the stunning water feature known as the ‘Floozie in the Jacuzzi’. Its official name is The River, and the fountain was unveiled by Princess Diana in 1993 after Victoria Square had been remodelled and pedestrianised.
The voluptuous central figure is The Goddess, and she’s surrounded by smaller figures of Youth and Sphinx-like Guardians.
The River’s water isn’t always turned on, but when it is, a massive 3,000 gallons per minute flows through the fountain every minute.
Centenary Square
Leaving the historical Victoria Square, a short walk down Paradise Street will take you to the more modern Centenary Square. This area was named for the centenary of Birmingham’s city status and was revitalised for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Centenary Square is a key cultural hub in the city, with landmark buildings like the Symphony Hall, Birmingham Rep theatre and the Library Birmingham located around a large granite plaza and water feature.
You’ll also find the Hall of Memory here, a memorial to the 12,320 Birmingham citizens who died in World War I.
Public events often take place in this area, and it also hosts popular Birmingham Christmas events like the Christmas Ice Rink and Big Wheel.
The Golden Boys
‘The Golden Boys’ is the nickname given to the gilded bronze statue of Matthew Boulton, James Watt, and William Murdoch that stands in Centenary Square. It represents the importance of Birmingham in technological advancements.
The three men were based in the West Midlands and were highly influential in the Industrial Revolution. James Watt’s innovations made steam engines more efficient, assisted by the Scottish engineer and inventor William Murdoch. Matthew Boulton was a wealthy industrialist and Watts’ business partner.
The statue was originally unveiled in 1956 and moved to its current spot in Centenary Square in 2022.
Library of Birmingham
You can’t miss the Library of Birmingham – it rises from Centenary Square like a giant wedding cake.
The ultra-modern architecture has been dividing opinions since the ‘new’ library was opened by Malala Yousafzai in 2013.
I have to admit that I miss the old Central Library with its Brutalist lines, but I’ve grown to love this new library too.
Inside, the Library has vast treasures, including the world’s second-largest Shakespeare collection and excellent local archives.
It’s worth popping inside to see the beautiful book displays and enjoy views of the city from the rooftop garden. The Shakespeare Memorial Room at the top of the building is also worth a visit.
The Library of Birmingham is open 11am to 7pm, Monday-Tuesday, and from 11am to 5pm on Wednesday-Saturday.
St. Philip’s Cathedral
Once you’ve finished exploring the area around Victoria Square and Centenary Square, head down Colemore Row to pay a visit to St Philip’s Cathedral.
St Philip’s was consecrated as a church in 1715 and became a cathedral in 1905. It’s now a Grade I listed building.
Also known as Birmingham Cathedral, it’s set in Cathedral Square, a small park known locally as Pigeon Park.
If you visit Birmingham at Christmas, you may find a local creators’ market held in the Square.
The Baroque architecture of St Philip’s is stunning. Inside you can see the cathedral’s beautiful stained glass windows, including the vibrant ‘Ascension’ window.
The building was bombed and gutted by fire during World War 2, but luckily, the windows had already been removed and were in safe storage. They were restored to their usual positions when the cathedral was restored after the war.
St. Philip’s Cathedral is a lovely place for visitors of all faiths or none to take a peaceful moment and reflect. You may also be lucky enough to enjoy a performance on the cathedral’s organ.
There’s no charge to enter the cathedral, but donations are welcome.
Get Outdoors in Birmingham
If the weather is fine, Birmingham has plenty of places to stretch your legs.
Brindleyplace and Gas Street Basin
Did you know that Birmingham has more miles of canals than Venice?
There are around 100 miles of canals running through the city, including the Grand Union Canal and the Birmingham Fazeley Canal.
The Worcester & Birmingham Canal and Birmingham Canal Network (BCN) Main Line wend their way through the heart of the city and meet at Gas Street Basin.
This area is named after Gas Street, which was famously the first Birmingham street fitted with gas lighting. The canal basin is lined with bars, restaurants and cafes, and the moored narrowboats add unique character to the area.
If you’d like to explore the canals, you can take a stroll along the canal towpath or hop on a canal boat tour. Other suggested canal walk routes are available from AllTrails and Walk Midlands.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
The beautiful Birmingham Botanical Gardens is a 15-acre historic garden in Edgbaston, around 1.5 miles from the city centre.
The gardens were established in 1829 and opened to the public in 1832. Today, the site features a diverse range of plant collections, Alpine gardens, the National Bonsai Collection and four Victorian glasshouses, each focusing on a different climate.
There’s also a large lawn, bandstand and a Treetops Adventure Playground.
When you need a break from exploring the site, call into Medicine Bakery at the Garden for sandwiches, salads, cakes and other light bites.
The Birmingham Botanical Gardens is open daily with seasonal hours. Opening times are currently 11am – 3.30pm until 22nd May, 2026. The Gardens may also close earlier for evening events, so check before you visit. Admission starts at £10 for adults.
Things to do on a Rainy Day in Birmingham
It’s likely that you’ll see some rain when you visit Birmingham, so it’s good to have some indoor activities planned. These attractions are also great ideas for visiting Birmingham with kids.
National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham
The National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham is a large aquarium with over 60 aquatic displays. It’s located in Brindleyplace, near Symphony Hall and a short walk from the Gas Street canal basin.
The SEA LIFE centre is home to over 2,000 marine creatures, including the UK’s first (and so far only) Sea Otters, Ozzy and Ola. Other popular features include a Gentoo penguin colony and the UK’s only 360° Ocean Tunnel, where you can walk through a transparent tunnel surrounded by 1 million litres of water containing sharks, rays and giant turtles.
The National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham is generally open daily. Opening hours vary, and the attraction is generally open later at weekends and in the school holidays, so check before you travel.
On-the-day admission for adults starts at £28, but you can save money by booking National SEA LIFE Centre tickets online in advance.
Cadbury World
The Cadbury factory in Bournville opened in the late 1800s, and in 1990, it became the home of Cadbury World. Visitors can enjoy a self-guided tour that takes them through the history of chocolate from the Aztec Jungle to Bull Street, Birmingham.
You can watch demonstrations by skilled chocolatiers, have a go at piping chocolate and stock up on sweet treats in the world’s biggest Cadbury shop. It’s no wonder we added Cadbury World to our pick of the best day trips from Birmingham!
Cadbury World is a short drive from the city centre, or you can take a quick cross-city train ride to Bournville Station.
Cadbury World is open daily, but opening times vary. Generally, it’s open 10am-3pm on weekdays, 10am-5.30pm on weekends and 9am-6pm during school holidays. On the day, admission starts at £28 for adults, but you can save money and guarantee your preferred entry time by booking Cadbury World tickets in advance.
Booking combined Cadbury World and SEA LIFE centre tickets is even better value. You have 90 days to visit both venues, making it ideal for the school holidays or a longer stay in Birmingham.
Explore History in Birmingham
As well as visiting Birmingham’s museums, these attractions are a great opportunity to step back in time and explore the city’s history.
Birmingham Back to Backs
A visit to the Birmingham Back to Backs is a chance to experience the life of Birmingham’s working class in the industrial era. They’re the last remaining courtyard of 19th-century back-to-back houses in the UK.
This type of cheap accommodation was built to accommodate industrial workers from the 1840s onwards. The cramped houses were just one room deep and had no internal running water. They were built back-to-back and surrounded a courtyard with communal toilets and washing facilities.
Most back-to-back houses were demolished by the 1960s, but a few survived into the 1970s and 80s.
The Birmingham Back to Backs have been carefully restored by the National Trust. They’re located on Hurst Street, near the Birmingham Hippodrome, offering a stark contrast with the city’s modern architecture.
Visits are by prebooked guided tour only, with tours available on Tuesday-Sunday. Admission starts at £12 for adults, and National Trust members enjoy free entry.
Aston Hall
At the other end of the social scale, Aston Hall is a red-brick mansion dating back to 1635. It’s a Grade I listed Jacobean house complete with period furnishings and artworks.
Architectural features inside the house include the magnificent Great Hall, the Long Gallery with its ornate wood panelling and ceiling, and the Great Oak Staircase. If you look carefully, you can see signs of cannonball damage from the English Civil War.
Outside, Lady Holte’s Garden is a formal walled garden designed to impress guests. It’s perfect for a gentle stroll and you can also play garden games or picnic on the lawn in the Stables Courtyard.
Normal opening hours at Aston Hall are 11am to 4pm, Friday to Sunday, and prebooking is recommended. However, Aston Hall sometimes closes due to football matches at nearby Villa Park, so check the website before you visit.
The gardens are free to visit, and admission to the hall starts at £10 for adults. National Trust members receive a 50% discount.
JW Evans Silver Factory
JW Evans Silver Factory is a well-preserved jewellery factory, hidden behind a row of terraced houses in the Jewellery Quarter. The shelves and tables are filled with antique tools and equipment, creating the impression that the workers have just stepped away for a few minutes.
J.W. Evans Silver Factory is only open for guided tours, and prebooking is essential. Tours are available every Friday until 27th March, 2026. Admission starts at £11.50 for adults, and English Heritage members can visit for free.
Arts, Music and Culture
Birmingham is a diverse city with a thriving arts scene. Check out these venues to see what’s on when you visit Birmingham.
Symphony Hall
Symphony Hall is a concert hall located in Centenary Square, next to the Town Hall and the Library of Birmingham.
The venue opened in 1991, and its stunning 2,262-seat auditorium is famous for having exceptionally good acoustics.
I’ve visited Symphony Hall several times, sitting everywhere from the front row of the stalls to high up ‘in the gods’. The sound is absolutely amazing on every level.
Symphony Hall hosts a variety of performances, from classical music and comedy events to classic and contemporary rock bands.
Town Hall
Birmingham Town Hall’s graceful neoclassical columns stand guard at the side of Victoria Square, next to the Council House. It’s a major music venue, hosting everything from classical music to rock concerts. B:Music current manage both the Town Hall and the Symphony Hall.
The Town Hall is also famous for its 70-foot high pipe organ, featuring 6000 elaborately decorated pipes. The venue hosts a series of very affordable lunchtime organ concerts, which are a relaxing way to recover from a morning’s sightseeing.
Birmingham Rep
The Birmingham Repertory Theatre, better known as ‘The Rep’, evolved from an amateur theatre group, the Pilgrim Players. The group opened the doors to its own theatre in 1913, which now carries the name of The Old Rep.
In 1971, the Birmingham Rep moved to its current location in Centenary Square, between the Library of Birmingham and Symphony Hall.
The Rep hosts a wide range of productions, including musicals, dramas, dance performances and family-friendly shows. Backstage tours are also available.
Birmingham Hippodrome
The Birmingham Hippodrome opened in 1899. It’s one of the UK’s top presenting theatres, located on Hurst Street in the Chinese Quarter.
The Hippodrome is one of Birmingham’s most important cultural venues, hosting a wide variety of performances including dramas, opera, and West End shows. It’s also home to the Birmingham Royal Ballet and an investor in local arts and community projects.
The annual Christmas pantomime is also a must-see, attracting well-known stars each year!
Shopping
If your perfect city break isn’t complete without some retail therapy, you’ll find plenty of places to indulge in Birmingham!
The Bull Ring Shopping Centre
The Bull Ring is Birmingham’s iconic shopping centre, located right in the heart of the city. There are over 160 shops and restaurants across three levels, plus even more eateries outside the main centre.
A market first stood on this spot in the 12th century. A major shopping centre opened in the 1960s and then closed for redevelopment in the late 1990s. Thankfully, the much-loved Rotunda tower that was also built in the 1960s still stands, despite many threats to demolish it.
The latest version of the Bullring opened in 2003 with an eye-catching blend of modern design, bold architecture and high-end brands. The silver disc-covered Selfridges building and six-tonne bronze Bull statue are popular spots for snapping photos of your visit to Birmingham.
Grand Central
The Grand Central shopping centre is pretty modern by Birmingham standards. It opened in 2015 on the same day as New Street Station, and is linked to the Bull Ring via the ‘Link Street’ footbridge.
The landmark John Lewis store closed a few years ago, but you’ll still find a good mix of high-street names and premium brands at Grand Central. There’s also a great selection of places to eat, whether you want a grab-and-go snack or a sit-down meal.
Fun fact: Grand Central doubles for Abu Dhabi airport in ‘Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning’. If you watch the scene where Tom Cruise is evading capture in the airport, you can spot the illuminated ‘FIZZ’ sign!
The Mailbox
The Mailbox is a great spot to find high-end brands like Harvey Nichols alongside a selection of canalside bars and restaurants. It stands on the site of the original Royal Mail sorting office, hence the name!
The Mailbox is just a 10-minute walk from New Street station, and is also within easy reach of Centenary Square and Victoria Square.
There are plenty of hotel options nearby, including a Malmaison and the Cube Hotel, which has a Marco Pierre White Steakhouse on the 25th floor. There’s also a luxury Everyman Cinema in the Cube.
The Jewellery Quarter
The Jewellery Quarter is a vibrant and historic area filled with jewellery shops, art galleries and great places to eat.
There are over 700 businesses in the area, including more than 100 jewellery retailers. Whether you’re looking for a classic antique, a contemporary design or a bespoke piece designed to your own requirements, this is the place to come.
The JQ is a designated conservation area, so you’ll find plenty of historic architecture. And, of course, this is where you’ll find the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter. You can download a free self-guided tour on the JQ app.
It only takes around 20 minutes to walk from the city centre to the Jewellery Quarter. Alternatively, you can catch the metro or take a train from Birmingham Moor Street.
Great Western Arcade
The Great Western Arcade is a bit of a hidden gem and one of my favourite spots in Birmingham city centre.
This beautiful Grade II-listed Victorian shopping arcade is near Snow Hill Station and bears the name of the railway line that it spans. It dates back to 1870, and the Temple Row end still has its original Victorian entrance.
Inside the arcade, you’ll find beautiful Victorian architecture and a small selection of independent shops and eateries. It’s especially stunning in the weeks before Christmas, when the decorations and fairy lights make the arcade look even more magical.
That’s my pick of 25+ the best things to do in Birmingham, England. This fantastic city has so much to explore, and I’ve only mentioned some of the highlights here. Which will be top of your Birmingham to-do list?