A trip to the UK’s second city doesn’t have to cost you the earth. In fact, you can explore the sites that inspired Middle Earth for free! JRR Tolkien’s hometown offers nature in abundance, contemporary art, unplugged live music and much more besides – all on a shoestring budget.
Jungle Rumble
Tickets from £5
An indoor, adventure-filled mini golf experience, Jungle Rumble features two 18-hole courses and a fully stocked bar right in the centre of the city. Perfect for beginners, the Jungle Course invites you to absorb the sounds of the rainforest as you pick up your putters and walk through its volcano cave. The Mayan course is where you can really put your skills to the test. Brave its marshes if you dare, but don’t forget to look out for the crocodiles!
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Visit the secret garden at Birmingham Library
Free
Amid the hustle and bustle of the UK’s second city lies a hidden slice of tranquillity. With a variety of plant species to provide colour throughout the year, the secret garden on the seventh floor of Birmingham Library is an oasis of calm. It’s the perfect place to visit with a good book, and there’s no shortage of them of course. Laid end-to-end, the books within the UK’s largest public library would stretch all the way to Edinburgh. Within this striking architectural gem, you will also find a photography archive, live performances and a programme of year-round events.
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Birmingham Wildlife and Conservation Park
£7.65 adult ticket
You wouldn’t normally expect to come face-to-face with a wallaby in the centre of the city, but Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park is host to an array of exotic creatures. Based in Cannon Hill Park, you can enjoy a day of rides, games, arts, entertainment and amazing outdoor fun before visiting the animals. Farmyard favourites such as goats, pigs and sheep call this sanctuary in the city home, alongside many species from far-flung lands. Get up close with adorable red pandas, monkeys, tamarins and lemurs, as well as European lynx, otters, antelope, reptiles and more.
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Ikon Gallery
Free
Cutting-edge contemporary art can be found within the Grade II listed neo-Gothic walls of a former boarding school. Established in 1964 as an alternative artist-led space, Ikon Gallery has established itself as a European cultural landmark hosting established and emerging artists alike. With a year-round programme of exhibitions, events, workshops and seminars, education is at the heart of this gallery, offering plenty of opportunities to get hands-on. Turner Prize-winner Martin Creed is responsible for the gallery’s famous singing lift. Take a ride in it before visiting the city’s only independent arts bookshop and cafe – housed within this inspiring space.
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National Motorcycle Museum
£35 family ticket (2 adults 3 children)
With over 1,000 machines fully restored to the manufacturer’s original specifications, it’s no wonder this is recognised as the finest and largest motorcycle museum in the world. The museum aims to preserve these pieces of history for future generations, as a reminder of our nation’s industry and engineering prowess. This ethos is visible in the impressive examples on display. The 1912 848cc Wilkinson TMC Series V is thought to be one of only six remaining. And the stunning 1932 Brough Superior Austin-Engineered Four is one of only 10 ever made.
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Karaoke at Lane 7 Bullring
£7 pp
Whether you Wannabe a Spice Girl, Party in the USA with Miley, or you’re Livin’ On A Prayer like Bon Jovi, Lane 7 Bullring can make your popstar dreams come true. There’s not a hint of the trad social club about this place – a hipster haven of activities like ping pong, bowling and curling within neon-lit, graffiti-clad walls. Karaoke is just £7 per person for a 55-minute session. You get a private room to belt your heart out – pure, unadulterated musical fun!
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The Donkey Sanctuary
Free
One of the largest urban parks in Europe, Sutton Park is a 2,400-acre National Nature Reserve and a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest. Don’t miss the opportunity for a free visit to the Donkey Sanctuary while you’re there. A haven for these gentle creatures to escape from a life of hard toil, this charity cares for over 4,300 animals nationally. Donkeys have been human companions for centuries and won’t be afraid to interact with visitors. You’ll find them enjoying their freedom to roam, grazing in their paddocks, relaxing in a barn, or taking part in enrichment activities.
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Live music at The Jam House
Tickets £5-£10
Located in the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, it’s musicians who now shine in The Jam House. Established by Jools Holland in 1999, this real music venue offers the perfect opportunity to unplug from the city. Inside a historical Georgian building that looks out onto the picturesque St Paul’s Square, it won’t break the bank to see top-tier talent in this award-winning space. Offering live music and good food over three floors, whether you’re into jazz, blues or rock this is the place to find real musicians having a proper jam.
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Birmingham Botanical Gardens
£8.25
Since 1892 Birmingham Botanical Gardens has been the green heart of the city. Some 7,000 plant species are housed across four beautifully preserved Victorian glasshouses. Outdoors there are alpine gardens as well as a Japanese Garden showcasing the National Bonsai Collection. An enchanting pinetum (pine grove) offers the perfect opportunity to get lost in nature, and rolling lawns overlook an authentic bandstand and aviaries. Finish off this peaceful day by letting the kids burn off any leftover energy in the adventure playground before seeking refreshment in the traditional tearooms.
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Walk the Tolkien Trail
Free
Birmingham lays claim to the fact it inspired the most popular book of the 20th century – The Lord of the Rings, as well as the equally famous children’s story The Hobbit. JRR Tolkien lived in nine homes in the south of Birmingham during his formative years and this 10-point trail leads you to some of them. You’ll also take in Sarehole Mill, Moseley Bog and Joy’s Wood – sites of Tolkien’s childhood adventures. After walking through the Shire Country Park and Cole Valley, you’ll be led to landmarks that played a significant role in the young author’s life.
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*all prices correct at the time of writing
