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Top things to do in Birmingham

Attractions, tours and activities in Birmingham

Birmingham: the city's best neighbourhoods

Find a great area to stay in Birmingham

About Birmingham

Including tips for the best time to visit Birmingham

Renowned for its network of canals and constantly changing skyline, Birmingham blends heritage with modernity. From historical museums to contemporary architecture, the city is burgeoning with things to do.

The cultural highlights of Birmingham are on full display at its museums. Stroll through the city centre to visit Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, where you’ll find pre-Raphaelite artworks, original Leonardo Da Vinci drawings and ancient artefacts from around the world. A tour of the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter and the Coffin Works museum will provide insights into the city's industrial past. On a trip to Cadbury World, you can snack on chocolate bars while wandering the premises and even buy chocolate-themed souvenirs to take home.

On your Birmingham holiday, you’ll find a plethora of activities to keep you engaged and entertained. A leisurely walk around the canal quarter – dotted with lively pubs and restaurants – is a great way to spend the evening. Pack up a picnic and head to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens or drive to the National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham nearby, which is well-known for its 360-degree oceanic tunnel offering views of sharks, jellyfish and other marine life.

It's quite easy to indulge in retail therapy at Birmingham. Bullring & Grand Central, with its iconic structure, is a giant of a mall that offers a range of clothing, dining and entertainment options. For an upscale shopping experience, head to Mailbox Birmingham or the Great Western Arcade, which is housed in a Victorian building.

Tonight

From £55 per night

This weekend

From £161 per night

Next weekend

From £140 per night

Most popular time to visit October–December
Cheapest time to visit January–March
Local currency GBP
Language English
Average weekend price £96 per night
Average weekday price £89 per night
Typical stay 1 night

Points of interest in Birmingham

Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Birmingham

Birmingham reviews

What other travellers say about Birmingham

10

Fantastic compact City, with everything you would need for a...

25 March 2024

Fantastic compact City, with everything you would need for a short stay. It was so easy to navigate and the bars, restaurants and hotel we experienced were top notch. The canal area with it's lively restaurants is a real buzz, if you like that! We came from Ireland and it really was a hop and a skip to get right to the centre of the City from our own doorstep. I would highly recommend Birmingham for a visit if you like shopping, restaurants and very friendly people. We will be back!

Karl
Karl
10

Extremely impressed by Birmingham and ideal for a short...

24 March 2024

Extremely impressed by Birmingham and ideal for a short break. The canal, Westside area has been completely redeveloped. There are many restaurants, theatres, a concert hall and arena all around the canal area. It’s all beautifully clean, modern with lots to see and do. It’s only a short walk to the Bull Ring offering a great selection of shops and places to eat. Central Birmingham has been reinvented over the last decade! Well worth a visit.

Stephanie
Stephanie United Kingdom
10

Great city centre with world class art gallery and museum...

24 March 2024

Great city centre with world class art gallery and museum (though currently being refurbished) and marvellous rep. theatre, well thought-out pedestrianisation and landscaping, shopping and many other attractions

Linda
Linda United Kingdom
10

Was at a show in the NEC so didn't see much of...

19 March 2024

Was at a show in the NEC so didn't see much of Birmingham. Ate in the Pushkar Cocktail bar and some drinks in Qavali whisky bar and they were first class. Walked from hotel to train station (10mins) and the part of the city we walked through had some amazing buildings/featuers and would go back to explore.

Sean
Sean United Kingdom
10

Went for a long weekend.

18 March 2024

Went for a long weekend. I’ve travelled to the uk many times. My first time in Birmingham and it was by far my favourite trip over. There is so much to do there that we didn’t even get to do it all in one weekend, we were so busy the whole time we were there doing activities and the bars and restaurants are another level compared to any of the other cities I’ve been to in the uk.

Adam
Adam Ireland
10

I've never spent time in Birmingham before, and found...

18 March 2024

I've never spent time in Birmingham before, and found everyone friendly and helpful. Id travelled from my home in Ireland to see bands on Friday night and Saturday night. I stayed in Kings Heath, a fabulous place for music lovers, with three great venues very close to each other... "Fletcher's", "The Hare & Hounds"" and "The Station" - I was at them all. As a vegetarian, I had no problem getting food, and breakfast in "Gregg's" was excellent and very reasonable. (No Gregg's in Ireland, more's the pity!). I had an excellent takeaway spicy vegetarian pizza which I ate in my apartment in York Road - next door to the pizza place and opposite the venue we'd been to. I'd bought drinks in all venues I attended - "The Hare and Hounds", "Fletcher's" and "The Station" - and I was surprised that their prices were so reasonable. The management of "The Station"were only too happy to let people bring food into the pub (they don't do food) and directed me to a nearby shop/off licence a few doors away, where I bought delicious samosas and vegetarian pasties. I found King's Heath to be easily accessible by bus from Birmingham airport..... I'll be back!

John
John Ireland

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