For many years Birmingham was either undiscovered or underrated, but not any more. This former industrial powerhouse in the West Midlands has long been one of Britain’s most culturally influential hubs, and after hosting England’s most successful Commonwealth Games to date in 2022, it’s only getting better. From Gas Street Basin to Bournville and back, Birmingham has recreational canals, unrivalled chocolate, Lord of the Rings landscapes, world-class sporting venues, more green space than any other major European city and a dish that’s been done the world over, but never better than here.
Overlooked region? Not any more. Accent jokes? Not here, bab. Welcome to the UK’s proud second city. Here are the best things to do in Birmingham.
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1. Kayak the canals
Speak to any Brummie and they’ll gush about Birmingham having more miles of canals than Venice, so why not kayak its once-bustling industrial waterways? Thanks to a partnership between the National Trust and the Canal & River Trust, one of the city’s most well-known buildings has been brought back to life as a discovery centre for locals and visitors, and as a starting point for tours by foot, bike and on water. A number of regular kayak tours depart from the Roundhouse, taking in the city centre’s most prominent sights, including Gas Street Basin, and its tranquil wildlife on the outskirts.
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2. Gorge on chocolate at Bournville
A lot can be said for a stereotypical chocolate box village, but Bournville really is one — in every sense of the word. Built for the workers of the Cadbury factory in 1895, Bournville Village is a picture-perfect suburb home to quaint shops, a tranquil park and, of course, the factory itself. Tours of Cadbury World include chocolate samples and a walk through some of the chocolatier’s most famous television adverts, gorilla included.
3. Go wild with Bear Grylls…
Bear Grylls is renowned for his outdoor survival practices, and thanks to his adventure centre in Birmingham you too can now learn the ins and outs. Unleash your competitive side in the survival-themed escape rooms; release your inner child on the outdoor high ropes or beat your fears by snorkelling with sharks — yes, in Birmingham. The choice is yours, but remember, in the words of Bear himself: “If you risk nothing, you gain nothing.”
4. …or spot wildlife in Sutton Coldfield
Proudly one of Europe’s largest urban parks, Sutton Park sprawls over 2,400 acres of woodland, wetland and rare lowland heathland. It’s officially designated as both a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and houses wildlife rare to the region, such as muntjac deer and wild ponies. Several walking trails take you around its lakes and ponds — and a handful of pubs and restaurants also make Sutton Park worth going out of your way for.
5. Catch the next big thing live
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It’s a mystery why Brum’s music scene is often slept on. Bands such as Black Sabbath, Duran Duran, ELO, UB40, Dexys Midnight Runners and the Moody Blues all paved the way for the likes of The Streets, Editors and Ocean Colour Scene to follow. In more recent times, young bands such as Peace, Swim Deep and Jaws inspired other local bands like Overpass, The Clause and Big Image, with independent venues such as the Sunflower Lounge and Hare & Hounds acting as a springboard for acts going on to headline larger venues and perform at festivals across the country.
6. Sink pints (responsibly) on the Stirchley Beer Mile
Dubbed one of Britain’s best places to live by The Sunday Times, Stirchley just oozes cool. Its beer mile brings together the best taprooms, bars and pubs on and around the bustling Pershore Road for an unofficial crawl (of sorts) including the Attic Brew Co, Birmingham Brewing Co and GlassHouse taprooms, and the grand Grade II listed British Oak pub. The route is even bookended by two train stations — Kings Norton and Bournville — to aid your journey to and from the city centre.
7. Visit Birmingham’s museums
The UK’s second city has a penchant for quirky museums. Try the West Midlands Police Museum, opened off the back of Peaky Blinders’ success, or the Pen Museum, which celebrates Birmingham’s long-standing status as the capital of the world’s pen trade. Then there’s The Coffin Works, where famous local firm Newman Brothers manufactured coffin furniture, including the fittings for the funerals of none other than Winston Churchill, Princess Diana and the Queen Mother.
birminghammuseums.org.uk
8. Explore Birmingham’s favourite park
With an arts centre, café, cinema, swan boating lake, mini golf, grade II listed bandstand, and an adjoining nature centre home to adorable wallabies and red pandas, it’s no surprise that Cannon Hill Park is Brum’s most popular green space. A couple of miles outside Birmingham city centre and a short walk away from Edgbaston cricket ground, this family-friendly park is a Brummie staple and well worth a day out.
cannonhillpark.co.uk
9. Jog around the sights
Juggling a career as cabin crew and an enthusiasm for fitness isn’t easy. Run of a Kind founder Lucy Canham’s quest for keeping fit on her travels has seen her jogging around the likes of Las Vegas, Cape Town and Shanghai. Having always wondered why there was nothing similar back home, Canham decided to set up running tours of her beloved Brum with options for all abilities; think local street art, chocolate and leafy routes, all of which are fairly priced.
runofakindbirmingham.com
10. Join a quirky walking tour
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Most cities have walking tours, but few can rival those in Birmingham. On Kevin Thomas’s Heritage Walking Tours you’ll learn about the history of the city and the people that made it, and delve into Birmingham’s oddball (and often gruesome) quirks such as its letterboxes, lost pubs, hidden catacombs and even its plague pits. Yes, really. Sure, you could plod around on a generic tour of the major city sights, but why do that when you could tag along with a character like Kevin?
birminghamwalkingtours.co.uk
11. Go back in time at Aston Hall… if you dare
This 17th-century Jacobean mansion house on the city’s edge is one of the West Midlands’ finest — and most haunted — buildings. Built for local landowner Sir Thomas Holte, Aston Hall was constructed between 1618 and 1635 and would later house the son of famous engineer James Watt. Several spooky spirits are supposedly spotted at Aston Hall, making it one of the UK’s most haunted historic sites. Tours are available during the summer, but visit at Halloween for a fright.
birminghammuseums.org.uk/aston
12. Tuck into a Brummie balti
It would be sacrilege to visit Birmingham and not enjoy its most famous dish: the balti. The dish is only authentic if it’s cooked and served up sizzling hot using the same steel pan throughout. Thankfully, many balti houses in the city keep up this practice; head to Shababs or Shahi Nan Kabab House in the Balti Triangle, or Royal Watan in Selly Park.
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13. Soak up England’s best cricket atmosphere
No sporting fan should visit Birmingham without soaking in the unbeatable atmosphere in the Eric Hollies Stand at Edgbaston. Dubbed “The Fortress”, 25,000-capacity Edgbaston Stadium has played host to many a memorable England victory, but is predominantly the home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club and T20 team the Birmingham Bears, whose regular matches attract fans in their thousands. Don’t forget to join the conga.
edgbaston.com
14. Experience 1800s Brum
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Step back into the 19th century at this unassuming local history bolt hole. Located on Hurst Street in the city centre, the Birmingham Back to Backs is the city’s last remaining example of back-to-back houses: a series of terraced, multi-storied houses centred around a communal courtyard for its residents to enjoy. On your visit, a local tour guide will help you retrace the footsteps of those who endured cramped conditions in these small houses — original artefacts are still in place — from the mid-19th century until as recent as the 1970s. Don’t miss the second-hand bookshop as you leave.
nationaltrust.org.uk/birmingham-back-to-backs
15. Trace Tolkien’s footsteps
Few outside of Brum know that JRR Tolkien grew up in these parts, but even fewer know that the characters and locations of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit were inspired there. Living in the then-Worcestershire hamlet of Sarehole between the ages of four and eight, a young Tolkien would play in the land surrounding the mill and roam the expansive forest-like wetland of Moseley Bog, the latter being the inspiration for the Shire region of Tolkien’s fictional Middle-earth. Tours of Sarehole Mill and LOTR-themed walking tours run regularly.
birminghammuseums.org.uk/sarehole
16. Sample the West Midlands’ best street food
Birmingham may have several Michelin stars but it’s the street food that’s enjoyed a revolution over the last decade, with Digbeth Dining Club firmly at the forefront. Having left Digbeth to branch out across the city, DDC now has two permanent street food hubs in Herbert’s Yard (Longbridge) and Hockley Social Club (Jewellery Quarter). Each week, resident and guest vendors sling everything from fried chicken to bao buns, and loaded dogs to handmade cheesecakes into starving mouths. Not literally.
digbethdiningclub.com
17. Search for gold in the Jewellery Quarter
Whether you’re after a gold ring or a pint of golden ale, the Jewellery Quarter has it all. Housing Europe’s largest concentration of jewellers, this relatively small district produces 40 per cent of the UK’s jewellery and is your one-stop shop for that wedding ring or anniversary present. All shopped out? It’s also home to a fairly large concentration of bars, pubs and restaurants. Handy, that.
jewelleryquarter.net
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