Birmingham Attractions

Most people's mental image of Birmingham is probably of hundreds of factories and industrial estates. True, Birmingham has partly been built around the manufacturing industry, but you will find that there is much more to Birmingham. It may come as a surprise but Birmingham is actually one of the greenest cities in the UK. There are over 8,000 acres of parks and public spaces, including Sutton Park which is Europe's largest urban nature reserve.

Art Galleries | Museums | Tourist Attractions

Art Galleries

Barber Institute of Fine Arts

University of Birmingham, Park Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham
+44 (0)121 414 7333
barber.org.uk

This is a small collection housed in the beautiful grounds of The University of Birmingham. The collection includes pieces by Rubens, Degas, Monet and Sickert. It is a bit out of town, but it's only a 5 minute walk from University train station, which is just two stops from New Street.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

Chamberlain Square, Birmingham
+44 (0)121 303 2834



This is the main art collection in Birmingham. Housed in this dramatic Victorian Building, is the largest collection of Pre-Raphaelite works in the world. Containing more than just art, you will also be able to view Egyptian Mummies, natural history artifacts and a wonderful Buddha statue. 5 minute walk from New Street.

Ikon Gallery

1 Oozels Square, Brindley Place, Birmingham
+44 (0)121 248 0780
Ikon-Gallery.co.uk



The Ikon Gallery leans towards the modern and contemporary. There are two galleries to have a muse around, which will undoubtedly leave you pondering about life. There is also an excellent shop, which sells prints, books and also art and design magazines, and just in case you get peckish there is a superb cafe.

Number Nine The Gallery

Cumberland Street, Brindley Place, Birmingham
+44 (0)121 643 9099
NumberNineTheGallery.com



Again this gallery has a modern focus. However, not only can you stand back and admire the various paintings, sculptures and ceramics, you can also acquire pieces as well.

Back to top

Museums

Birmingham Back to Backs

50-54 Inge Street/55-63 Hurst Street, Birmingham, B5 4TE
+44 (0)121 666 7671
backtobacks@nationaltrust.org.uk
NationalTrust.org.uk

The Birmingham Back to Backs are a row of four houses on Hurst Street, Birmingham, that are now owned by the Natinal Trust. The houses are typical of the kind that dominated this area of Birmingham throughout the 19th and 20th century. As such each house has been restored to reflect a different date in history, 1840's, 1870's, 1930's and the 1970's. The later of which is quite thought provoking when you see how some people still lived in Birmingham only 40 years ago. There is an interacticve exhibition and also a 1930's traditional sweet shop. For National Trust members and children under 5 entry is free, else adults £4.50 and children £2.20

Birmingham and Midland Museum of Transport

Chapel Lane, Wythall
+44 (0)1564 826 471

This is a collection of over 100 buses and historical vehicles.

Broadfield House Glass Museum

Compton Drive, Kingswinford, Dudley
+44 (0)1384 312 745

If you go all the way out to Dudley, you can see some expert glass blowing, and what a fine art it is.

National Motorcycle Museum

Coventry Road, Solihull
+44 (0)1675 443 311

This place was in the news for all the wrong reasons a couple of years ago when it was virtually torched to the ground. It reopened at the end of 2004 with around a third of the original collection, however more machines are being restored and put on display. This is easy to find as it's right off J6 of the M42.

Museum of the Jewellery Quarter

75-79 Vyse Street, Hockley, Birmingham
+44 (0)121 554 3598

The design and manufacture of jewellery is one of Birmingham's biggest commercial sectors. Birmingham is the largest producer of Jewellery in Europe, this museum doesn't let that fact escape you!

Back to top

Tourist Attractions

Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses

Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham
+44 (0)121 454 1860

Tucked away in leafy Edgbaston, these gardens only add to this surprisingly green city. Come down and relax in this tranquil heaven and you will feel like you're sitting in the cities lungs.

Cadbury World

Linden Road, Bournville, Birmingham
+44 (0)121 451 4159
CadburyWorld.co.uk

Yep. This is actually where they make Cadbury's Bournville chocolate. However if you think a tour around this chocolate factory is going to be like something out of Willie Wonka, then you may be leaving a little disappointed, if not laden with goodies.

Thinktank:The Birmingham Museum of Science and Discovery

Millennium Point, Curzon Street
+44 (0)121 202 222
Thinktank.ac

"Hands up kids, who knows why hot air rises?" Not too sure, well Thinktank is a hands on science experience that provides a great day of learning, even though it does sound like some Tory initiative. A great place to bring your kids and let them learn about practical science outside the class room.

National Sea Life Centre

The Waters Edge, Brindley Place, Birmingham
+44 (0)121 633 4700
SeaLifeEurope.com

Considering that Birmingham must be one of the furthest cities from the sea, this is an important attraction for the locals, who are not witness to much more than a stickleback in the canal networks. However the Sea Life Centre is definitely worth a visit as it has a unique 360 degree viewing tunnel where you can stand looking in awe at two ancient and massive turtles.

Sarehole Mill

Cole Bank Road, Hall Green, Birmingham
+44 (0)121 777 6612
bmag.org.uk

Sarehole Mill will offer a glimps of the Industrila Birmingham from about the 18th Centurary. This is one of two working mills left within Birmingham. Sarehole Mill has an added attraction in that JRR Tolkein lived near here as a young boy. The Mills building are said to have inspired a number of settings in The Lord of the Rings.