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Ciaran Connolly
Ciaran Connolly
Birmingham is the second city in the UK, once called the city of 1000 trades. Even now, there are so many fun things to do in Birmingham. Whether you are looking for fun with all the family, a great hen or stag do, or a romantic date night, there are things to do in Birmingham.
Read on to find out what fun things to do in Birmingham you should try next!
What fun things to do in Birmingham are right for you?
This article will tell you all about:
- Fun Things To Do in Birmingham for Adults
- Fun Things To Do in Birmingham for Kids & Families
- Fun Things To Do in Birmingham for a Date Night
Fun Things To Do in Birmingham for Adults
Visit a Theatre
Birmingham is packed with great theatre and performances, so next time you plan a night out, you should check to see what’s on in Birmingham’s many theatres.
One of the easiest ways to check out the shows and events in Birmingham’s theatres is to visit the What’s On Stage website, which is linked here. From The Rep to The Glee, you will always find something unique on stage in Birmingham.
Explore One of Birmingham’s Museums
From music to industrial work, Birmingham has a varied and exciting history. There is no better way to experience and learn about this past than to visit one of Birmingham’s many museums. Here are a few of the interesting ones you can find in the city:
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
One of the leading museums in Birmingham is the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. This fantastic institution has exhibits on many topics, from The Staffordshire Hoard to Birmingham’s music history.
Note: The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery will be closed from 2023 to 2024 for essential maintenance. For information on its re-opening, visit its website. While the museum is closed, you can explore its fantastic collections by taking a virtual tour of its many rooms and exhibits online, which is linked here.
Location: Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3DH (at the City Council buildings).
Museum Collection Centre
Museums often have a vast collection of objects beyond just what they have on display, but where do these objects stay? The Museum Collection Centre in Birmingham is home to all the collections of Birmingham museums that aren’t on display or loaned to other museums.
When you visit the Museum Collection Centre, you have the unique opportunity to see objects that aren’t usually seen by the public. By visiting a collection centre, you can learn more about the history of Birmingham and how museums work to conserve that history for future generations. If you have questions about how museums do their work or what goes on behind the scenes at museums, this is the perfect day out in Birmingham for you.
Museum of the Jewellery Quarter
One of the thousand trades Birmingham is best known for is jewellery creation. The city has a global reputation for the beautiful craftsmanship that takes place there. A great way to learn about this craft and its history in Birmingham is to visit the Jewellery Quarter and its museum.
The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter is closed except for special events (2023). To find out what events are available, check out the ‘What’s On’ page of their website. The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter also offers fun things to do in Birmingham for kids, such as interactive making sessions.
If you want to look around while the museum is closed, check out their 360-degree tour of the museum, which is linked here.
Bars & Restaurants
Sometimes, it’s nice to unwind with a pint, a cocktail, or an excellently made meal at the end of a long week. If you are looking for great food and drink, you are lucky to be in Birmingham. In every quarter of the city, hidden gems serve everything from burgers to balti.
If you want a brilliant Balti, check out the Balti Triangle, an area of the city just South of the centre. This area is the birthplace of the balti and is the ideal spot to grab a curry.
Location: Centered around Storey Lane, Stratford Road, and Ladypool Road.
Looking for good burgers? Check out places such as The Meat Shack in the Chinese Quarter. (It’s also an excellent spot for local craft beer.) Check out Bonehead on Lower Severn Street for a superb fried chicken burger. Birmingham is bursting with delicious burgers; these two are just a small selection of the great places you can discover.
There are countless interesting, themed, or traditional pubs and bars scattered throughout the city centre, and there is one for everyone. Some bars even have something different on each floor. This is true for 1000 Trades, a bar known for its craft beer selection. Their second floor (a bar called Ikigai) has a different vibe, offering artisan cocktails featuring Japanese ingredients.
For more bar inspiration and fun things to do in Birmingham, check out our guides to:
Areas To Explore
When exploring Birmingham, you should ensure you see much more than just the city centre, as the city has countless hidden gems and areas to explore. Why not check out:
- The Chinese Quarter – Birmingham’s Chinatown district has pagodas and many Asian restaurants & Bakeries.
- The Gay Village – A lively place filled with bars, cafes, and lounges. Located on and around Hurst Street.
- The Balti Triangle -Three streets packed full of restaurants serving excellent curries.
- Gas Street Basin – Canalside bars, restaurants, and venues. You will feel like you have been transported to another place in this cosy area. Check out the Canalside Bar for pints in an inviting space.
- The Jewellery Quarter—This area is known for bars and restaurants. You can spend a whole day here.
Shopping
When you look up Birmingham shopping, you will undoubtedly hear about The Bullring. This genuinely massive shopping hub is ideal for shopping until you drop. There are over 200 retailers offering everything from Selfridges Gift Baskets to Lego sets. There is also a wide variety of restaurants and food vendors to choose from after a long day’s shop. If you get bored of shopping, there’s always the Treetop Mini Golf, also located within this vast shopping centre.
If you are looking for more independent retailers in Birmingham, why not check out the Great Western Arcade? You can find your way in on Colmore Row or Temple Row in the city centre. The GWA offers bakeries, barber shops, and more, in addition to independent shops. It is a lesser-known gem in the Birmingham shopping trip.
Fun Things To Do in Birmingham for Kids & Families
Getting the kids out and about and keeping them busy is strenuous. Birmingham, luckily, has plenty of fun things to do for kids and families. Here are a few ideas for fun things to do in Birmingham with kids:
Live Events for Kids
Theatre in Birmingham isn’t only for grown-ups! Theatres such as The Rep, The Alexandra Theatre and The Crescent have lots on offer that your kids will love. Check out the Birmingham Theatre website for details about live performances you can take the whole family to.
Even the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra puts on children’s performances, which can introduce your little ones to a new type of performance. CBSO also provides crafting activities to keep kids busy until the performance starts. Check out their website for more information.
Visit Museums such as ThinkTank Birmingham
A trip to ThinkTank Birmingham is a great educational and fun day out for all the family. This museum isn’t about exhibits in glass cases; instead, it allows kids to interact and roam through exhibitions. Kids visiting can participate in a vast range of scientific experiments and demonstrations. ThinkTank helps kids understand science and the world around them in a fun and engaging way. It’s an excellent way to help them learn, grow, and be tired by the end of the day.
Find Bugs & Plants at the Botanical Garden
A beautiful Victorian garden contains four glass houses with various biomes which contain fascinating plants and bugs. You can also let the kids run wild at the playpark and enjoy a sweet treat in the tea rooms.
Try Out Some Chocolate Treats at Cadbury World
Who doesn’t want to learn a bit more about chocolate? A trip to Cadbury World allows your whole family to experience the history of one of Britain’s favourite chocolates. There are VR experiences, fun rides, and plenty of chocolate during your visit.
Watch Fish, Penguins, and Otters at play at the Sealife Centre
The Sealife Center is a great attraction for kids who want to learn more about the life that lives in our oceans. Birmingham’s Sealife Centre has an extraordinary attraction that no other one does: Sea otters!
These two sea otters came from Alaska to live in Birmingham, where they are taken care of and can be seen on a trip to Sea Life.
If your little ones love animals, you can also have a great day out at Birmingham’s Wildlife Conservation Park. That way, you can experience both land and sea.
Other Fun Things to Do in Birmingham for Kids & Families:
- Rush UK Trampoline Park
- Bear Grylls Adventure Park
- Drayton Manor
Fun Things To Do in Birmingham for a Date Night
What makes a great date spot? Do you sit in a cinema and not talk for 2 hours? Do you have dinner at a new restaurant? It can be hard to find something interesting to do that doesn’t end up awkward, even if the match is correct. It’s a good thing there are so many fun things to do in Birmingham for a date night. These recommendations ensure enough to talk about and a fun atmosphere to help you foster that spark, even if it is your first date.
Comedy at Cherry Reds
A sense of humour is a critical point in attraction, and even if your date can’t bring the laughs, this date idea will.
Cherry Reds is a cafe bar specialising in craft beer and local produce. You will surely be comfortable in their homey atmosphere and have great laughs with those on stage. (and hopefully not your date).
Ghetto Golf
It is a fun and funky mini-golf experience with a difference. This venue is covered in graffiti and offers cocktails and street food while you’re there. This vibe-filled course is the perfect place to grab some exciting pictures together while competing for the title of mini-golf champion. Plus, if it is a first date, you can determine if they are competitive early on.
Check out their website for more information.
Activity Bars
Some of Birmingham’s most exciting bars also have an activity they specialise in. Plus, having something to do while chatting and enjoying a drink is an ideal way to get to know someone. Here are two great options for activity bars in Birmingham:
Tilt
This cafe bar is also an arcade with over 20 pinball machines to play while you enjoy something from their drink menu. Tilt promotes local craft beer on tap and in cans and offers artisan coffee for those who want a non-alcoholic buzz.
Flight Club
Decorated to resemble a fairground, Flight Club specialises in darts. These are no ordinary darts; however, these digitally assisted darts take all the complicated maths out of the game. Sit back, enjoy a cocktail, and try to hit a bullseye.
Roller Skating
Roller Jam in Digbeth is a great place to get a little active while spending time with your date. Even if you struggle to stay up, your skating will have great musical accompaniment. There is even an arcade for fun and games after your skating session.
Check out their social media to find out if there are special DJ events, such as ABBA-themed nights.
Conclusion
There are so many fun things to do in Birmingham, but this list only scratches the surface of some of the fantastic venues in the city.
Why not check out our other Birmingham articles on cocktails and craft beer you can find on your trip to Birmingham?
