Last Updated on January 27, 2022 by Suzy McCullough
Birmingham isn’t really somewhere people often think of when it comes to a day trip with the kids or even a weekend away. You’d be surprised! There are lots of family-friendly things to do in Birmingham. Every attraction has an admission fee unless stated otherwise. The best family-friendly things to do in Birmingham are as follows.
Places to Visit in the Centre of Birmingham
National Sea Life Centre
Average time of visit – 1-2.5 hours.
This is one of the biggest aquariums in the UK with – Penguin Ice Adventure – Come and meet the colony! Adventure into the Antarctic and marvel at the cheeky antics of our colony of Gentoo penguins. UK’s only 360 Ocean TunnelCome nose to nose with black-tip reef sharks, giant rays and our Giant Green Sea Turtle, Molokai. Over 2,000 Magical CreaturesWhich sea creatures do you love the most? Magnificent sharks, colourful clownfish, snapping piranhas or majestic jellyfish? Get closer than ever before
Legoland Discovery Centre
Average time of visit – Up to 3.5 hours.
The Ultimate Lego playground. There is a Lego Miniland, 4D cinema, Dragon quest ride and Lego City soft play. Plus creative workshops, city builder, Merlin’s Apprentice ride, character meet and greets and more.
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Average time of visit – up to 2 hours. FREE Entry
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG) first opened in 1885. It is housed in a Grade II* listed city centre landmark building. There are over 40 galleries to explore that display art, applied art, social history, archaeology and ethnography. From Renaissance masterpieces and cutting-edge contemporary art to Egyptian mummies and the iconic HP factory sign.
Think Tank Birmingham Science Museum
Average time of visit – up to 3.5 hours.
Thinktank, Birmingham’s award-winning science museum, offers an enlightening and fun-packed day out for the family. From steam engines and talking robots to gurgling guts and a chocolate wrapping machine, Thinktank has over 200 hands-on displays on science and technology.
Housed inside the impressive Millennium Point building at Thinktank you will find four floors of hands-on exhibits and historical collections that will amaze and inspire you, showing you the science of the world all around us. Including MiniBrum, a new interactive gallery for under 8s, a new 4k Planetarium, a Science Garden, plus an exciting programme of events and activities.
Mr Mulligans
Average time of visit – 1 hour.
Mr Mulligan’s Birmingham is spaced-themed with three indoor ‘intergalactic’ golf courses and cosmic cocktails. Each course has 12 crazy golf holes.
Rock Up Birmingham
Average time of visit – 1 hour.
26 incredible fun climbing walls towering over 8m with multiple routes to their peaks. Walk up Stairway to Heaven, take on the Twister or run up the Speed Wall and more. Fun for the whole family, novice to expert. Plus a fantastic soft play centre for the little ones and a lovely on-site cafe. We are a great venue for parties, special events and community groups.
Hollywood Bowl
Average time of visit – 1 hour.
With 20 lanes to bowl along, a grand VIP area, an American-themed diner, a relaxing bar and a thrilling amusements area; what are you waiting for? Head down to our Birmingham Broadway Plaza centre today!
Escape rooms
There is a rather large choice of Escape rooms in the centre of Birmingham. You have the following to choose from:
Clue HQ The Live Escape Game
Escape Room
Grand Escape
Escape Hunt Birmingham Central
Escape Now
Escape Live
Exciting game Birmingham
Cineworld Cinema
Average time of visit – 2-3 hours.
Cineworld Birmingham – Broad Street is a 12-screen cinema with a licensed bar, situated in the heart of the city with a large car park and a range of restaurants and other leisure activities nearby.
Odeon Broadway Plaza
Average time of visit – 2-3 hours.
Every seat on every row in your cinema has been expertly designed so you can relax and recline during your film. With fewer seats and extra space, you’ll have a more personal, immersive experience with every visit. Our selection of fine wines and beers sits perfectly alongside our irresistible new menu of hot and chilled food. Plus with your own table built into your seat, you can enjoy your delicious cinema snacks in maximum comfort.
Places to Visit on the Outskirts Birmingham
Cannon Hill Park
Average time of visit – 1.5 hours.
Cannon Hill Park is a park located in south Birmingham, England. It is the most popular park in the city, covering 250 acres consisting of formal, conservation, woodland and sports areas. Recreational activities at the park include boating, fishing, bowls, tennis, putting and picnic areas. There are two playgrounds and it is free to visit, although you may have to pay to park.
Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park
Average time of visit – 2 hours.
Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park is home to a unique collection of animals from across the world, including Red Pandas, lemurs, reptiles, meerkats, otters, birds, wallabies and a large collection of monkeys. Some of our animals are endangered in the wild and we play an important role in their species’ conservation.
Lapworth Museum of Geology
Average time of visit – 2.5 hours.
Enabling visitors to explore life over the past 3.5 billion years, the Lapworth Museum showcases exceptional objects from one of the UK’s most outstanding geological collections, with state-of-the-art galleries and a range of innovative and interactive exhibits – all completely free of charge. From rocks and fossils to volcanoes, earthquakes, and even dinosaurs, the Museum captures the imagination of all ages.
Winterbourne House & Gardens
Average time of visit – 2 hours.
Edwardian Era Arts and Crafts botanical garden and house in Birmingham with family-friendly activity trails and a children’s garden.
Cadbury World
Average time of visit – 3 hours.
There’s an African adventure soft play plus a green screen for fun family photos. 4D chocolate adventure, museum, making of chocolate story and Cadabra ride. Plus interactive exhibits, chocolate making, Bourneville experience, Cadbury cafe and more.
Sarehole Mill
Average time of visit – 1 hour.
Sarehole Mill is a 250-year-old working watermill in Birmingham that is famous for its association with author J.R.R Tolkien.
Blakesley Hall Museum
Average time of visit – 1 hour.
Discover a fine Tudor house and beautiful gardens just a few miles from the heart of the city. Blakesley Hall is a Tudor house in Yardley, Birmingham. Over 400 years old, it brings the history of the house and the period alive for visitors and school children.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Glasshouses
Average time of visit – Up to 4 hours.
There is a butterfly house that is only open from the end of May to the beginning of September. The Birmingham Botanical Gardens offers something for everyone, be it one of our four stunning glasshouses showing tropical rainforest to arid desert, playground, tearoom and garden gift shop all surrounded by some of the most beautiful gardens in the UK.
There are four glasshouses which range from our exotic Tropical House to our Subtropical, Mediterranean and Arid Houses. There is a large lawn in front of the glasshouses with a range of beds and shrubbery around its perimeter.
Aston Hall
Average time of visit – 2.5 hours.
Explore the splendour of one of the last great houses built in the Jacobean style. Entry into Aston Hall is by timed guided tours usually three times a day. Tours last approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
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