Things to do in Birmingham & the West Midlands: Amazing nightlife, Family Days Out and More!

Looking for things to do in Birmingham and the West Midlands? From family attractions and countryside walks to shopping, restaurants and nights out, there is plenty to keep your weekends interesting.

Explore the city centre’s shops, spend an afternoon in Edgbaston’s gardens or get competitive at one of Digbeth’s activity bars. Further afield, historic towns, country pubs and the Cotswolds offer even more reasons to get out and explore.

Whether you already live locally or are thinking of moving here, this guide brings together ideas for different interests, ages and occasions.

Family days out

For school holidays, weekend plans or visiting relatives, these attractions give families plenty to choose from.

• National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham: Discover an underwater world in the heart of Birmingham. Its location near Brindleyplace makes it easy to combine your visit with lunch and a walk around the canals.
• Cadbury World, Bournville: Explore the story of Cadbury through interactive attractions, chocolate-themed zones and demonstrations. A good choice for families with a sweet tooth and anyone interested in one of Birmingham’s most recognisable brands.
• Ackers Adventure, Sparkbrook: Try something active, with activities including dry-slope skiing, climbing, archery and canoeing. Choose your activity before visiting and check the age requirements for everyone taking part.
• Black Country Living Museum, Dudley: Explore reconstructed shops, homes and workshops, with historic characters and demonstrations bringing the region’s past to life. It is a day out with plenty for different generations to discover together.

Eight National Trust places to explore

If your ideal family day involves outdoor space, history and a picnic, there are plenty of National Trust places across the region. These eight suggestions span Birmingham’s surrounding counties, giving you a starting list for future weekends.

• Packwood House, Lapworth: A Tudor house with gardens, parkland and distinctive topiary.
• Baddesley Clinton, near Solihull: A moated manor house surrounded by gardens and countryside.
• Charlecote Park, near Stratford-upon-Avon: Historic parkland, a Victorian house and a deer park.
• Hanbury Hall, Worcestershire: Formal gardens and rolling parkland for a relaxed day outdoors.
• Croome, Worcestershire: An expansive landscape with walking routes and historic buildings to discover.
• Wightwick Manor and Gardens, Wolverhampton: A characterful house known for its art, interiors and gardens.
• Moseley Old Hall, near Wolverhampton: An atmospheric farmhouse with a fascinating royal connection.
• Clent Hills, Worcestershire: Countryside walks and far-reaching views for families who enjoy exploring on foot.

Check individual property calendars for seasonal trails and family activities.

Shopping in Birmingham city centre

Birmingham makes it easy to combine shopping, lunch and sightseeing without planning separate trips.

• Bullring and Grand Central: Start here for major brands, fashion, beauty and gifts. Grand Central sits above Birmingham New Street, making it particularly convenient when travelling by train.
• The Mailbox: Explore premium shopping, including Harvey Nichols, before stopping for a meal or drinks near the canals.
• The city’s historic arcades: Add the arcades and surrounding streets to your route for smaller shops and a different shopping atmosphere beyond the main centres.

Eating and drinking

From lively city centre restaurants to country pubs, there are plenty of places worth building your day around.

City centre restaurants

• La Bellezza, Chamberlain Square: Italian cooking in a characterful setting with chandeliers and trailing greenery. Think pasta, Neapolitan pizza and a meal that feels like an occasion.
• Pasture, Colmore Row: A choice for steak lovers, with cooking over fire at the heart of the restaurant’s approach. Its central location makes it easy to follow dinner with drinks nearby.
• Fogo de Chão, formerly Fazenda, Colmore Row: Brazilian rodizio dining with grilled cuts served at your table and a Market Table to explore. Consider it for a leisurely group meal or celebration.
• Tattu, Barwick Street: Modern Asian dishes, cocktails and a striking blossom-filled interior. An option for date nights, birthdays and evenings when the setting is part of the experience.

Country pubs

• The Barnt Green Inn: A country pub with a courtyard and garden, worth pairing with a walk around the nearby Lickey Hills.
• The Farm, Shirley, Solihull: Set in a listed farmhouse and historic barn, with wood-fired pizzas, seasonal dishes and Sunday roasts. A relaxed choice for catching up over lunch.
• The Boot Inn, Mappleborough Green, near Studley: Country pub dining with a courtyard and garden, well placed for an outing around Studley and Redditch.
• The Four Alls, Welford-on-Avon: Further afield, this riverside pub combines a Mediterranean-inspired menu with an outdoor terrace. Pair it with a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon.

Special occasion dining

Grace & Savour at Hampton Manor, Hampton-in-Arden, offers a Michelin-starred tasting menu experience within a Victorian walled garden. Seasonal ingredients and sustainable British farming and fishing shape the food, making it one to plan ahead for when celebrating something special.

Nightlife & experiences

Birmingham’s nightlife covers everything from cocktails and clubs to board games, crazy golf and arcade competitions.

Get competitive with friends

• Golf Fang, Digbeth: An adults-only crazy golf experience with 18 themed holes, graffiti-covered surroundings and drinks. A lively option for birthdays, date nights or getting the group together.
• Roxy Ball Room, Victoria Square: Choose from activities including American pool, shuffleboard, ping pong, duck pin bowling and Crazy Pool, which combines elements of pool and crazy golf. Ideal when your group wants an activity alongside drinks.
• NQ64, Digbeth: Retro arcade machines, consoles and game-themed cocktails in a neon-filled bar. Challenge your friends, revisit old favourites and see who gets competitive first.
• Chance & Counters, Digbeth: A board game café where you can settle in with food, drinks and a game from the library. A good option for a more relaxed catch-up or an evening away from screens.
• Go Rage, Birmingham: For something unconventional, book a rage room session and smash a selection of items in a designated space. An energetic activity to try with friends or as a different kind of date.

Choose your area for a night out

Broad Street suits a lively evening of bars and clubs, while Brindleyplace and the canals offer places to start with dinner and drinks.

Digbeth brings together independent venues, creative surroundings and activity bars. Southside and the Gay Villageoffer restaurants, nightlife, theatre and comedy, with Birmingham Hippodrome and The Glee Club among the options for evening entertainment.

Green spaces and gardens

For a quieter weekend, explore Birmingham’s parks and gardens, from north Birmingham’s open landscapes to leafy spaces in Edgbaston and the south.

• Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield: This 2,400-acre National Nature Reserve sits north of Birmingham city centre. Give yourself time for a longer walk, bring a picnic and enjoy a substantial outdoor escape.
• Cannon Hill Park, between Moseley and Edgbaston: A convenient choice for a family afternoon or relaxed stroll, with formal parkland, conservation areas and woodland.
• Lickey Hills Country Park, south-west of Birmingham: Head here for varied scenery and a countryside walk, perhaps followed by lunch around Barnt Green.
• Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston: Explore landscaped gardens, Victorian glasshouses and plants from around the world. The adventure playground gives families another reason to visit.
• Winterbourne House and Garden, Edgbaston: An Arts and Crafts house and botanical garden on the University of Birmingham campus. Winding paths and peaceful corners make it an appealing place to slow down for an afternoon.

Fancy learning something?

For curious children and adults alike, these museums offer an opportunity to discover something new.

• Lapworth Museum of Geology, Edgbaston: Explore fossils, minerals and prehistoric creatures at the University of Birmingham. The collections cover billions of years of Earth’s history, and general admission is free.
• Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum: Get hands-on with science and explore subjects including engineering, prehistoric life and space. A good choice for children who enjoy testing ideas and finding out how things work.

Something a little different

Discover another side of the region through unusual museums, creative workshops and underground adventures.

• The Coffin Works, Jewellery Quarter: Explore the preserved Newman Brothers factory and discover the tools, machinery and working lives behind Birmingham’s coffin-fittings industry.
• The Quarterworkshop, Jewellery Quarter: Book a jewellery-making class and try working with traditional tools and precious materials. There are also dedicated wedding ring workshops for couples.
• Dudley Canal and Caverns: Take a boat trip through tunnels and limestone caverns while discovering the area’s industrial history. A different way to explore the Black Country.
• Birmingham Back to Backs: Step inside preserved courtyard houses and learn about the generations of people who lived and worked here. A personal perspective on the city’s history.

Further afield

When you fancy a change of scenery, these destinations give you more reasons to explore beyond Birmingham.

• Stratford-upon-Avon: Spend the day wandering historic streets, exploring the town’s Shakespeare connections and enjoying the riverside. Leave time for shopping and lunch between attractions.
• The Cotswolds: Start with Broadway or Chipping Campden for honey-coloured buildings, independent shops and countryside walks. Choose one or two places and enjoy a slower day rather than trying to cover too much.

Find an area that fits your lifestyle

Having places you enjoy nearby can make a real difference to everyday life, whether that means family attractions, restaurants, nightlife or somewhere for a Sunday walk. Find out more here.

Thinking of moving? Explore properties for sale with Oakmans and discover your next home in Birmingham or the West Midlands.

Check opening times, booking requirements and age restrictions directly with each venue before visiting.