Fun family days out in Birmingham

We love a day out whether it’s just a weekend day popping out somewhere, or a day out while on holiday.  I’m reliving my childhood visiting around the UK, near home and further away, and love sharing it with N. So if you’re looking for days out in Birmingham, you’re in the right place.

This series of days out posts are based on round ups of places we’ve loved on our travels.  Hopefully it’ll make them easier for you to find, especially if you’re looking for recommendations for places to visit. I’ll also be including recommendations from other bloggers, because if you’re looking for guidance on where to go you want to hear from local people as well as visitors to an area.

Museums, culture and history

Think Tank – fab interactive science based museum set over several floors, plus an outdoor science garden. Not as busy as London’s Science Museum, but buy tickets in advance or get there very early to avoid mad queues during rainy school holidays.

Lapworth Museum of Geology, University of Birmingham – dinosaur skeletons and more, good for an hour’s stop in. Parking outside at weekends.

Black Country Living Museum, Dudley –  find out what it was like living, working and shopping with people dressed up from the era. Mainly outdoor based, some houses’ accessibility is tight for buggies and wheelchairs.

Akamba Heritage and garden centre, Solihull – free to enter, you just pay for any extras like the bird walk. There’s also a tropical house, and café. Good for younger children.

National Trust

Just outside Birmingham, there’s some gorgeous National Trust properties

Packwood House, near Solihull – check it out for the gardens and play hide and seek in the yew trees

Baddesley Clinton – beautiful house with moat and large area for picnicking

Coughton Court, Alcester – beautiful gardens and walks, house and nice café.

Wildlife and nature

Dudley Zoo – lovely zoo, easily walkable although there’s also a land train. All the usual animals, and plenty of places to eat. Good parking (although you do need to pay for it)

Sea life centre – part of the sea life group, central location. Note there is no café and the picnic area is basically for schools during there week.

Oak Tree Farm, Stonnall – small farm where you can feed most of the animals. Small play area for young children.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens  – beautiful gardens and play area for children

Other

Cadbury World, Bournville – find out about the history of the Cadbury brand and chocolate, and try out the chocolate. Interactive in places, and don’t forget to check out the gift shop.

Drayton Manor theme park – great theme park with something for everyone. Less queues than Alton Towers, but still popular. Good offer for younger children with Thomas Land.

Kingfisher shopping centre, Redditch – soft play, real role play area and more for children

Cannon Hill Park – lots to do, pay for parking then individual activities like the boating lake, fun park with rides and the land train.

Inflatable zone – giant soft play inflatables venue. Quite pricy, but worth the cost for an hour.  Prices vary for over/under 5s.

Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham – new opening, worth 2-3 hours for a visit, and you can combine your ticket with one for the sea life centre.

Here’s just a few snapshot of places to visit. Where else would you recommend for fun family days out in Birmingham?

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