Whether it’s family entertainment or high-end culture you’re seeking, Birmingham has it in spades. From internationally-acclaimed theatre to the ultimate shopping destination and the best chocolate in the world, you’ll find attractions worthy of any capital city here!
Cadbury World
You don’t have to win a golden ticket to take part in this real-life Willy Wonka experience. At Cadbury World, you can ride the crunchie rollercoaster and dive head first into liquid dairy milk in a 4D adventure. You’ll learn all about the manufacturing process and travel through 200 years of Cadbury’s history. Families can discover the origins of cocoa in the Aztec Zone before journeying to Europe to learn about its arrival there. Take a stroll down Advertising Avenue before placing yourself in an ad on the green screen. Don’t leave before having a go at traditional chocolate-making techniques and of course, sampling the goods!
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National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham
The closest you’ll get to being submerged in the ocean on dry land is stepping into the 360- degree ocean tunnel with sharks, turtles and jellyfish surrounding you. It’s one of many marvels at the National Sea Life Centre. You can adventure into the Antarctic landscape and watch penguins dive beneath freezing waters and get up close to a magical array of creatures on the Reef Edge. There’s also a tropical ocean with the UK’s only breeding pair of Blackchin Guitarfish and a rockpool area where you can reach in and touch starfish, urchins and anemones. Activities in Birmingham don’t get much better than this!
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Bullring & Grand Central
The ultimate shopping and dining experience awaits in this landmark mall – the largest in Birmingham. A market has been held at the Bullring since the Middle Ages and now the area houses two shopping centres connected by an overpass. At the heart of this complex is the iconic bronze bull statue where you can snap a selfie before visiting equally iconic stores like Selfridges. Shopping makes for hungry work and there’s a world of exciting cuisine to sample here. Chaophraya Thai offers a beautiful terrace for alfresco dining and Comptoir Libanais is hard to beat for authentic Lebanese.
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Birmingham Botanical Gardens
A year-round programme of cultural events including theatre, gigs and exhibitions unfolds in this most inspiring of settings. Opened in 1832, the Grade II listed gardens consist of 15 acres of glorious landscaped gardens with over 7,000 plants. The glass houses are a sight to behold and house many exotic and unusual plants not found anywhere else in the UK. The Butterfly House is home to colourful tropical butterflies from the Philippines, Central America and tropical parts of Africa. There are, of course, seasonal highlights and walks so no two trips to this oasis in the city are ever the same.
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Villa Park
Match days are the best time to visit Villa Park, of course, but the stadium tours of one of England’s most historic football stadiums are one of a kind. Walk in the footsteps of star players and feel the anticipation of players within the home dressing room. Imagine the roar of the crowd as you emerge from the players' tunnel into the 42,640-capacity stadium. You’ll be accompanied by an expert guide or a Villa legend, depending on the package you book. This incredible experience will be finished off with photo opportunities with the jewel in the stadium’s crown – the trophy cabinet holding the European and FA Cup.
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Symphony Hall
Alongside the REP theatre and the Library of Birmingham, this 2,262-seat concert venue is the gleaming centrepiece in the cultural heart of the city – Centenary Square. Built in 1991, the venue was groundbreaking in its approach to architecture prioritising acoustics over design. Hosting around 270 events a year, this striking modern venue is widely considered one of the finest concert halls in the world. It’s a must-play venue for international artists from the worlds of rock, pop, folk, country and jazz while the classical music programme is world renowned. Watching the resident City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra perform here is a must for culture seekers.
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Birmingham Hippodrome
This historic building is best known as the home of Birmingham Royal Ballet but also hosts a wide variety of popular musicals, pantomime, drama and opera. Located in the Chinese Quarter of the city, it is one of the busiest theatres outside of London, welcoming over 600,000 visitors a year. Forthcoming hit musicals include Six, The Lion King, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Wicked, Jesus Christ Superstar, 42nd Street and Hamilton. But the theatre also commissions bold new work, telling fresh and engaging stories that reflect the youth and diversity of the city.
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StarCity Birmingham
Home to one of Europe’s largest cinemas, England’s largest indoor adventure golf complex and a 22-lane ten pin bowling alley, StarCity offers endless hours of family entertainment. A fun zone includes soft play, creative arts and a tin can alley where you can aim BB guns and bows and arrows in a safe environment. Arcade machines and carnival games collide in the Fun Station while Houdini’s is a unique escape room experience. There’s a state-of-the-art multi-level laser quest arena, an indoor play area and, brand new for 2023, Gravity features wall-to-wall trampolines, a ninja course and inflatables. Round out a day of adventure in one of the many on-site restaurants.
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St Philip’s Cathedral
An Italianate Grade I listed building, the Birmingham Cathedral was designed in the Baroque style by Thomas Archer and constructed between 1711 and 1715. Before it was heavily bombed during the Second World War, the cathedral’s stained glass windows, considered some of the finest in the world, were removed for safe keeping. Designed by Pre-Raphaelite artists, Birmingham-born Edward Burne-Jones, and William Morris, they depict the ascension, the nativity, the crucifixion and the last judgement. The windows are currently being painstakingly restored as part of the Divine Beauty project – a process visitors can watch from a viewing platform.
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