10 Best Things to Do for Kids in Birmingham
Top Things to Do with Kids in Birmingham
If you’re looking for a fun trip with the kids, Birmingham is a delightful city that’s a popular destination for family travelers. It boasts a rich history that dates back to the Industrial Revolution, but it’s now a hub of creativity and innovation with its many kid-friendly museums and entertainment venues.
If you’re planning a family trip, you can give the kids a memorable, exciting, and educational experience in Birmingham. Take a look at the best family things to do in Birmingham and prepare for a fun-filled vacation.
1. Cadbury World
Sample your way through this chocolate-themed tour
Good for: Families
If you’re looking for a fun trip to satisfy a sweet tooth, Cadbury World offers an enchanting chocolate-themed tour that illuminates chocolate’s history and the origins of the Cadbury brand. You can take the kids on the Factory Tour, which explores different areas of the operational factory, complete with chocolate samples along the way, and a tour of the crumb storage silo and its famous chocolate waterfall.
You might also enjoy the Shortened Tours and the Center Tour, which is a self-guided tour through the Visitors’ Center. Cadbury World has a retail outlet with chocolate treats and novelty gifts to top off your experience. Read more
Location: Linden Rd, Birmingham B30 1JR, United Kingdom
Open: Sunday–Saturday from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm
Phone: +44 (0)121 393 6004
Cadbury World
2. National SEA LIFE Center Birmingham
Explore life under the sea
Good for: Families
The National SEA LIFE Center Birmingham is one of the city’s top attractions and a great destination for kids and adults of all ages. Kids can experience an array of sea life and aquatic creatures, such as Gentoo penguins, jellyfish, octopus, sharks, rays and sea turtles.
The aquarium features 4 themed zones: Penguin Ice Adventure, Reef Edge, Rockpool and Bay of Rays. You can even get up close and personal with creatures like starfish, crabs and sea anemones in the interactive rock pool touch tank. You can attend expert talks and feeding times to learn more about the aquarium’s residents and see a live feeding demonstration. Read more
Location: The Water’s Edge, Brindley Pl, Birmingham B1 2HL, United Kingdom
Open: Monday–Friday from 10 am to 4 pm. Saturday from 9.30 am to 6 pm. Sunday and peak dates from 10 am to 5 pm. Legal holidays and super peak dates from 10 am to 6 pm
Phone: +44 (0)871 226 5999
National SEA LIFE Center Birmingham
3. Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park
Get up close to wild animals
Good for: Families
The Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park is a diverse zoo with a variety of animal species. Located in Cannon Hill Park, the zoo is a gem of wildlife and includes a vast collection of rare and fascinating animals, such as the mouse lemur, meerkats, lynxes, ocelots, capybara, red squirrels and a herd of Bagot goats. It’s also home to several heritage-breed farm animals native to the United Kingdom.
In addition to its animal exhibits, the zoo is active in EEP captive-breeding programs for endangered species and educational seminars and campaigns to raise awareness to world biodiversity. Kids will enjoy the feeding demonstrations with animals like Asian short-clawed otters, European lynx and emperor tamarins. Read more
Location: Pershore Rd, Birmingham B5 7RL, United Kingdom
Open: Monday–Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm from the first week of April. Monday–Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm from the last weekend of October
Phone: +44 (0)121 472 7775
Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park
4. Legoland Discovery Center
Full of incredible LEGO sculptures
Good for: Adventure, Families, Unusual
The Legoland Discovery Center is a spectacular indoor attraction that’s fun for all ages. It’s filled with models and attractions based on the popular LEGO® toys, such as small-scale recreations of landmarks and interactive cityscapes. The center also offers building classes taught by a Master Model Builder so you can learn tips on LEGO® construction, and educational exhibits on how LEGO® bricks are made.
Some highlights include Kingdom Quest, a fun chariot ride to rescue a captured princess from beastly trolls, the DUPLO farm for little ones to play with soft bricks, and the 4D movie theater, which showcases LEGO® movies and other features.
Location: LEGOLAND Discovery Center, Arena, King Edwards Rd, Birmingham B1 2AA, United Kingdom
Open: Varies by season
Phone: +44 121 794 2386
Legoland Discovery Center
5. Black Country Living Museum
The local history of Birmingham
Good for: Families, History
The Black Country Living Museum is a fascinating open-air museum that tells the unique story of Birmingham’s industrial history. Spanning more than 10 hectares, the Black Country Living Museum features reconstructed shops, houses, and industrial sites that celebrate steam power and manufacturing in the city’s past.
During your trip, you can take a ride on heritage vehicles, play historic street games, and see live industrial demonstrations like nail making and chain making. You can also see a short film in a 1920s-era movie theater, test your knowledge with a 1912 school lesson, or have an old-fashioned drink in the Bottle & Glass Inn. Read more
Location: Discovery Wy, Dudley DY1 4AL, United Kingdom
Open: Daily from 10 am to 5 pm
Phone: +44 121 557 9643
Black Country Living Museum
6. Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum
A range of hands-on learning activities
Good for: Adventure, Families, History
Thinktank, Birmingham’s intriguing science museum, is a great day out for the whole family. Located within the Millenium Point building, Thinktank features 4 floors of interactive exhibits and historic artifacts that celebrate the world of science. There are over 200 hands-on displays teaching kids about everything from steam power and robotics to assembly automation.
If you have young children, Thinktank features MiniBrum, an interactive gallery for children under 8 years, a Science Garden, a 4K planetarium, and plenty of unique educational activities and events. The museum hosts sleepovers for children as well, which is a fun way to create memories on your trip. Read more
Location: Millenium Point, Curzon St, Birmingham B4 7XG, United Kingdom
Open: Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm
Phone: +44 121 348 8000
Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum
7. Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Beautiful and exotic gardens
Good for: Couples, Photo
The Birmingham Botanical Gardens is a historic garden space designed by J.C. Loudon in 1832. The garden retains its Victorian aesthetic and features 4 glasshouses with different horticultural themes: Tropical, Subtropical, Mediterranean, and Arid, all featuring a wide range of plants and flowers native to the respective climates. The collection includes several notable plants, including the British National Bonsai Collection, Himalayan cedars, and a sensory garden, which houses plants that enhance the senses.
For children, the garden has 2 playground areas with slides, swings, and an interactive plant discovery garden. Several birds are residents of the garden, including azure-winged magpies, quaker parakeets, and several species of ducks roaming wild. Read more
Location: Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Westbourne Rd, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3TR, United Kingdom
Open: Daily from 10 am to 5 pm
Phone: +44 121 454 1860
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
8. Birmingham Back to Backs
A peek at what life was like in the past
Good for: Families, History
The Birmingham Back to Backs is the last surviving court of back-to-back houses in the city. They are preserved as a historic house museum to represent the way houses were once constructed around shared courtyards. The houses were constructed in 1821 and used to home workers in industries like glasswork, woodworking, button making, tailoring, and leatherwork until 1966.
On a tour of the back-to-back houses, you can experience life in the past, with each of the 4 houses decorated in a style of the 1840s, 1870s, 1930s, and 1970s. The museum hosts educational events, such as demonstrations of rag rugging, candlelit tours, and historic anecdotes. After your tour, visit the Candies Sweet Shop, an old-fashioned 1930s candy store. Read more
Location: 50-54, 55-63 Inge St, Hurst St, Birmingham B5 4TE, United Kingdom
Open: Tuesday and Wednesday from 1 pm to 3 pm, Thursday to Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm, closed Monday
Phone: +44 121 666 7671
Birmingham Back to Backs
9. Inflata Nation Inflatable Theme Park
A bouncy, boingy indoor play area
Good for: Adventure, Families, Unusual
Inflata Nation Inflatable Theme Park in Birmingham is one of the most exciting places for kids in the city. The massive inflatable theme park features an array of indoor activities for all ages, such as the Inflata Wall climbing wall, Inflata Duel gladiator duel, Inflata Race assault course, Inflata Bubbles giant play pillows, and Inflata Drop, a giant slide into a ball pit.
One of the most popular activities is Inflata Grab, a fun game based on the ‘Hungry Hungry Hippos’ game. One of the Birmingham park’s exclusive activities is the Inflata Wreck, which allows kids to balance on a wobbly platform and try to push each other off with an inflatable wrecking ball.
Location: Unit E, Stechford Retail Park, Flaxley Pkwy, Birmingham B33 9AN, United Kingdom
Open: Monday to Wednesday and Friday from 1 pm to 6 pm, Thursday from midday to 7 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm, Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm
Phone: +44 161 710 2360
Inflata Nation Inflatable Theme Park
10. Ash End House Children’s Farm
Visit adorable animals at Ash End House Children’s Farm
Good for: Families
Ash End House Children’s Farm is an ideal attraction for animal lovers. A beloved attraction for over 35 years, the farm park has a friendly atmosphere and an array of animal- and farm-themed activities for all ages, such as egg collecting, pony rides, tractor-trailer rides, bottle feedings of young animals and feeding demonstrations. Kids will love the variety of animals at the farm, including goats, sheep, rabbits, pigs, cattle, deer, chicks, ducks and horses.
The farm also has a Creepy Critter Barn with reptiles and amphibians and a Birds of Prey Center, which features a collection of raptors. Kids can also enjoy outdoor play areas and the Big Play Barn, an indoor play area with slides and obstacles.
Location: Middleton Lane, Tamworth B78 2BL, United Kingdom
Open: Monday–Sunday from 9.30 am to 4 pm
Phone: +44 (0)121 329 3240
Ash End House Children’s Farm
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