15 Birmingham Day Trips You Can Take
Birmingham day trips are the best. Find out what the most fun Birmingham day trips are and where you should go.
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
This is one of the best Birmingham day trips. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is a world-class museum, located in Chamberlain Square, Birmingham. There is free General Admission, and the museum is always open until 5pm. Inside, there is a range of beautiful and interesting exhibits, from the Pre-Raphaelites, to Ancient Egypt, and to the history of Birmingham – its people, its history. The museum also contains the Birmingham School of Art, which offers the opportunity to view work produced in the city, including tempera painter Joseph Southall, metalworker Arthur Gaskin, and artist Kate Bunce.
There is also a delightful Mini Museum, in which younger visitors came dress-up in historical-like clothing, read storybooks, and play games. Events change throughout the year. The Museum has recently opened an exhibition on sexuality, gender and identity, as well as an exhibition on the faces of peace and war. Finally, there is also a gift-shop located near the beginning of the museum, so you can buy gifts for your family, friends or yourself to remember your time spent at the museum.
The Butterfly Farm
The Stratford-Upon-Avon Butterfly Farm is a short train-ride away from Birmingham City Centre. For just £7.25 for an Adult ticket, you’ll be able to explore the entirety of farm, which includes a Flight Area, a Discovery Zone, a Minibeast Metropolis, and more. The Flight Area is a unique experience, where you can stroll through a beautiful tropical greenhouse, containing over 250 species of butterfly from over 20 different countries.
There are approximately 1,500 butterflies roaming free around you, and some may even land on you! The Discovery Zone introduces you to the life-cycle of the butterfly, where you can watch the process of egg to butterfly form. There is an Emerging Case, where you can witness chrysalis emerge and prepare for their wings for their first flight. Minibeast Metropolis houses one of the largest insect collections in the UK at the moment. It showcases a variety of creatures, from snakes to spiders, frogs to millipedes, and beetles to ants. This is the one of the most beautiful Birmingham day trips you could take.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses
Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses is located in Edgbaston, and features some of the most amazing plants and greenhouses Birmingham has to offer.Once inside the gardens, you’ll be able to explore a wonderful collection of greenhouses, various enterprises, the Pleasure Gardens (which includes the Pavillion Tea Room), the wildlife and Japanese gardens, alongside the Historic Gardens in the Past to Present section.
There are also opportunities for Educational Visits, Courses, and Workshops for both children and adults. Moreover, the website contains a Gardener’s Blog to keep up to date with all the plants that are blooming in the gardens. It is open every day, excluding Christmas and Boxing Day.
The Bullring & Grand Central
Located in the heart of Birmingham City Centre are two wonderful shopping centres: The Bullring Shopping Centre and Grand Central. The Bullring holds approximately two hundred stylish and quirky shops, including Debenhams, Selfridges and a Disney Store. Grand Central is located outside of the Bullring area. It is a brand new endeavour, full of shops and dining areas. It also contains a brand new train station, which allows visitors to take an easy and quick trip in and out of Birmingham. This is a common one among Birmingham day trips.
The Lickey Hills Country Park
The Lickey Hills Country Park covers over 520 acres and is located a few miles to the south of Birmingham. It is a perfect place for a sunny, family day-trip out, as well as a location for spotting wildlife, dog-walking, sport or photography. There is a Visitors Centre where you can find maps, book, and postcards, or to just have a discussion with one of the Park Rangers who work there. There is also a cafe with indoor and outdoor seating, depending on the weather. It is open daily from 10.00 am until 5.50 pm in Summer, or 4.20pm in Winter. Birmingham day trips can be so scenic.
Coughton Court
Coughton Court is one of many National Trust places that the whole family can enjoy. It is a Tudor home, situated in Alcester, Warwickshire. Twenty generations of the Throckmorton family have lived at Coughton Court since 1409, and there is plenty to explore both within the home and the surrounding gardens. Nearby are local pubs and churches, for those interested in seeing the entirety of what the surrounding area has to offer.
Stratford-Upon-Avon
Stratford-Upon-Avon is a market town in Warwickshire, and maybe best known as being the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Alongside historical views and the River Avon, Stratford is brimming with lots of events. This includes the Stratford Town Ghost Walk, a mixture of performances at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the chance to venture down the River Avon using boat-hire services nearby. There are plenty of local shops, cafes and pubs, and the Maybird Shopping Centre isn’t too far away either.
The Birmingham Tolkien Trail
The Birmingham Tolkein Trail celebrates one of the most famous and influential writers in the world: J.R.R Tolkien. Tolkien lived in nine Birmingham homes between 1895 and 1911, and it is said he drew inspiration from the landscape of the city and countryside in the area. The trail takes you around areas, such as Edgbaston, Ladywood, Hall Green and Moseley, where you can sight-see some of the buildings that inspired some of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. This is one of the most well know Birmingham day trips.
Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle is a spectacular sight, with 64 acres of landscaped gardens, grand interiors, including the Great Hall and the Earl’s private Chapel, and towers to explore! The history of the castle reaches back 11 centuries and over £6,000,000 has been spent on its complete restoration.
Coventry Transport Museum
Coventry Transport Museum is home to one of the largest collections of road transport in the world, consisting of 300 cycles, 120 motorcycles, 250 cars and commercial vehicles, and over a million archive items.This spectacular museum offers a day out of fun for all ages – and it is completely free. It is situated right in the centre of city, and includes a gift-shop and award-winning coffee shop.
Baddesley Clinton
With over 500 years of stories and adventure, Baddesley Clinton is a secluded estate in Warwickshire. Similar to Coughton Court, it is another National Trust endeavour, providing a closer look at the story of the Tudors and Catholic priests. At this estate, you can learn about the people who shaped Baddesly Clinton, from those who lived there to those who restored such an incredible building. As well as stunning grounds you can explore, there is also the Baddesley Bookshop where you can browse a collection of second-hand books at low prices.
Black Country Living Museum
Black Country Living Museum is a short train-ride away from Birmingham City Centre. The Black Country emerged in 1830, an industrial location (the first industrial landscape in the world, in fact), which now contains a multi-award winning open-air museum, full of stories and exploration. The museum has now been open to the public for 34 years and welcomes more than 300,000 visitors each year. And for ll those Peaky Blinders fans, scenes from each season have been filmed inside the Black Country, and there is an option to look around there too.
West Midlands Safari Park
West Midlands Safari Park is a brilliant safari drive-through in Bewdley, Worcestershire. Venturing through, you get to see the wonderful wildlife in the African Plains, Wild Asia and Elephant Valley. This includes zebras, deer, rhinos, and the king of the beasts: the African lion. There is a walk-through section, known as the Discovery Trail. You can visit Penguin Cove, the Sea Lion Theatre, Twilight Cave, and many other fascinating exhibitions. The park also features the UK’s largest animatronic dinosaur attraction, where you can see the story of dinosaurs unfold over millions of years.
Earlswood Lakes
Earlswood Lakes is located in Solihull, Warwickshire. It is best known for its spectacular views, and is a favourite place for locals who love to fish. Earlswood Lakes, itself, is made up of three reservoirs. A pleasant walk around the 8 km foot-path will find you greeted by nature, wildlife and tranquillity.
The Library of Birmingham
The Library of Birmingham is located in Centenary Square, near Broad Street. It provides an opportunity to look through various collections, archives, and photography pieces. It also contains a cafe, a studio theatre, and outside garden on one of the floors. In 2015, the library received nearly two-million visitors, making it the most visited attraction outside of London.
Let us know what you think about Birmingham day trips in the comments below!
Featured Image Source: weheartit.com
