Birmingham Tourist Attractions: A Family Guide to Brum
Birmingham has always been more than a stop between London and the north. Once the engine room of Britain’s Industrial Revolution, it is now a lively and family-friendly destination packed with museums, restaurants, shopping, parks, and canal-side corners. As the UK’s second largest city, Brum, as it's colloquially known, has plenty to offer whether you are visiting for a weekend, a school holiday break or a quick city escape.
If you are looking for the best places to visit in Birmingham, you will find a wide range of tourist attractions and easy-going days out. From chocolate and science to sea creatures, football grounds and green spaces, these are the places to visit in Birmingham for families when you want a trip that keeps everyone happy.
Places to Visit in Birmingham: Our Top Picks
1. Meander the Birmingham Canals
Birmingham’s canals are part of the city’s industrial soul, once carrying coal, iron and goods through the heart of the Midlands. Today, they offer one of the loveliest ways to see Brum at a slower pace. It is often said that Birmingham has more miles of canals than Venice, and whether you explore them by strolling, cycling or joining a boat tour, they give you a real sense of the city’s past and present.
Start around Gas Street Basin, where old brick warehouses, waterside restaurants and narrowboats create a wonderfully atmospheric family walk. It is also a lovely choice if you are planning romantic things to do in Birmingham.
2. Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum
Located within five minutes of walk from Clayton Hotel Birmingham, Thinktank science museum is one of the best places to visit in Birmingham with curious children. Set across several floors, it brings science, technology and local history to life through interactive exhibits, a planetarium and hands-on displays. Highlights include Spitfire Gallery, the Smethwick Engine, and the 4K planetarium exploring the outer reaches of space.
3. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Of all the cultural places in the city, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is a great choice for a slower morning. You can explore art, history and collections linked to the city’s story, making it a thoughtful stop for older children and adults. Housed in a grand old Victorian building, the museum is one of the free things to do in Birmingham with key highlights being the Pre-Raphaelite art collection and Staffordshire Hoard, the largest Anglo-Saxon gold ever found.
4. Cadbury World
Cadbury World is one of the most popular places to visit in Birmingham, especially if your family has a sweet tooth. Based in Bournville, it tells the story of Cadbury chocolate through exhibits, characters, rides and plenty of tempting treats along the way. It also features a 4D interactive cinema experience, complete with motion seats. This self-guided tour must be booked online before visiting the attraction.
5. National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham
The National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham is a top choice when you want an easy indoor activity that works for all ages. Children can spot sharks, rays, turtles, penguins and colourful marine life, while the ocean tunnel adds that little moment of wonder every family day out needs. Its location near Brindleyplace also makes it simple to combine with a canal walk or meal nearby.
6. LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Birmingham
For younger children, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Birmingham is full of colour, creativity and hands-on play. There are LEGO build zones, rides and interactive areas where little builders can let their imaginations run wild. Since it sits close to the National SEA LIFE Centre, you can easily pair the two for a relaxed family afternoon.
7. Birmingham Botanical Gardens
When the pace of the city starts to feel busy, Birmingham Botanical Gardens offers a calm and leafy change of scene. Wander through Victorian glasshouses, landscaped gardens and peaceful paths while children have space to explore. It is a lovely option for families who want fresh air without straying too far from the city centre. The Gardens also offers outdoor spaces, including two Alpine gardens, a Japanese garden featuring the National Bonsai collection, the Pinetum, and an adventure playground.
8. Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park
For animal lovers, Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park is a gentle, family-friendly stop. You can see red pandas, lemurs, meerkats, reptiles, otters and monkeys in a compact setting that feels manageable with younger children. It also pairs nicely with Cannon Hill Park, so you can turn it into a longer outdoor day.
9. Cannon Hill Park
Cannon Hill Park is another solid choice when you want space to slow down. Pack a picnic, follow the walking paths, visit the playgrounds or simply let the children run around for a while. It is a great balance to Birmingham’s busier museums, shops and indoor attractions, especially on a dry day.
10. F1 Arcade Birmingham
For families with teens, F1 Arcade Birmingham brings a bit of friendly competition into your trip. The Formula 1 simulators make it feel exciting and social, whether you are racing against the kids or challenging your partner. It is also worth considering for things to do in Birmingham for couples, particularly if you prefer something livelier than dinner and drinks.
11. Bullring & Grand Central
Bullring & Grand Central is the place to go when you want shopping, food and that big-city buzz. From well-known brands to quick family dining stops, it is a handy place to break up a day of sightseeing. For anyone planning shopping in Birmingham, this is the obvious starting point, and its central location makes it easy to fit around museums, canals or nearby restaurants.
12. Edgbaston Stadium and Villa Park
Sports fans can add a proper local flavour to the trip with Edgbaston Stadium or Villa Park, home of Aston Villa. Whether your family follows cricket, football or simply enjoys seeing famous sporting venues up close, these stops show another proud side of Birmingham’s identity.
13. Black Country Living Museum
For places to visit near Birmingham, the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley is well worth the short journey. This open-air museum brings industrial history to life with recreated streets, shops, characters and stories from the Black Country’s past. Peaky Blinders fans will also enjoy its links to the series, while children get the fun of stepping into a world that feels completely different from modern Birmingham.
Where to Stay in Birmingham
To stay close to many Birmingham tourist attractions, Clayton Hotel Birmingham makes a smart and comfortable base. Its central location puts you within easy reach of shops, restaurants, transport links and major family attractions, which is exactly what you want when travelling with children.
After a busy day exploring museums, parks, and canals, you can return to a modern hotel that keeps the city simple. For families planning a weekend itinerary, staying centrally saves time, energy and unnecessary travel. You can also explore places to eat in Birmingham before you travel, especially if you want to book somewhere close to your chosen attractions. The canal-side area around Brindleyplace is great for relaxed family meals, while the city centre has everything from casual cafes to special occasion restaurants.
FAQs: Places to Visit in Birmingham
You can start with the canals, visit Thinktank or Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, stop at Bullring, then finish with SEA LIFE, LEGOLAND or a canal-side meal.
You can visit the Black Country Living Museum, one of the best places to visit near Birmingham for families, history lovers and Peaky Blinders fans.
You will find plenty of fun things to do in Birmingham, from Cadbury World and F1 Arcade to SEA LIFE, LEGOLAND, Cannon Hill Park and canal boat tours.
Birmingham is famous for its industrial heritage, canals, chocolate, sport and brilliant places to visit in Birmingham for families.
