10 things to do in and around Birmingham
The eyes of the world are currently on Birmingham as it hosts the 2022 Commonwealth Games. But there's more to this super city than slick sporting venues and Spaghetti Junction.
Over 12 days, hundreds of athletes will be competing in 286 events across 19 different sports at 15 venues for the upcoming 2022 Commonwealth Games. And apart from the track cycling (in London), the rest of the venues are all in the West Midlands area – Birmingham, Cannock Chase, Coventry, Royal Leamington Spa, Sandwell, Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, Warwick and Wolverhampton.
Long regarded as a drab city of grey architecture, famous for its factories, intertwined roads and a unique accent, Birmingham wasn't previously an obvious choice to spend a trip away.
However, thanks in no small part to BBC drama series Peaky Blinders, the city has become cool, and in many ways, the show represents what Birmingham is about – a fusion of old and new, embracing its pioneering past, prosperous present and fruitful future.
When the Commonwealth Games were announced, the organisers promised ‘A Games for Everyone’, and with the Birmingham 2022 Festival also giving the Second City another shot in the tourism arm, there is no better time to visit.
Here are 10 things to see and do in this underrated weekend destination – before, during and after the Games.
1. Visit the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
Just as impressive on the inside as it is on the outside, the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is the most obvious choice for soaking up some Second City culture. First opened in 1885, it is housed in a Grade II*-listed building and includes 40 galleries covering fine art, archaeology, costume and jewellery, antique earthenware, social history and ethnography. Its permanent collections feature Pre-Raphaelite and Italian Baroque art, alongside modern British art and digital photography.
©Birmingham Museums Trust
The museum currently features a series of pop-up displays and live events with a ‘This is Birmingham’ theme to tie in with the Games and Festival. You can also enjoy a treat in the Edwardian tea rooms, and best of all, the museum is free for all visitors.
READ MORE: 65 top British tourist attractions
2. Tackle The Bear Grylls Adventure
If you’re stuck for ways to keep the kids entertained in the holidays, then ditch the smart phones and video games, and get the family moving with an adrenaline-packed day out. Exclusive to the West Midlands, The Bear Grylls Adventure at Resorts World will test your limits as you take on some of the world's most incredible mental and physical challenges inspired by Bear himself. Get geared up and ready to climb, dive, fly, zip, leap and scramble during a Royal Marines-inspired assault course that involves high ropes, indoor flying, shooting and shark diving. New for 2022 is the awesome axe-throwing activity where you can test your aim and discover your inner lumberjack.
3. Explore Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Glasshouses
Located in Edgbaston on the edge of the city centre, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens make for a great day out, especially during the spring and summer. The 15-acre botanical garden features four large glasshouses, each showcasing different climates – tropical, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid. There is also a playground, gift shop, tearoom and garden centre, in case you feel inspired to do a bit of gardening of your own. The gardens also host family-specific activities, like special children's trails through the plants. While tickets can be booked online in advance, you can also turn up on the day.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens/Facebook
READ MORE: The UK's most stunning natural wonders
4. Sample some top cuisine
Other than its industrial history, Birmingham is probably best known for its thriving food and drink scene. The city is home to a smörgåsbord of different cuisines, and if you’re out to impress, make a reservation at one of Birmingham’s five – or the wider West Midlands’ 11 – Michelin-star restaurants.
From Purnell’s to Peel’s, Carters of Moseley to Opheem, each offers its own take on fine dining. Hockley Social Club (the team behind popular Digbeth Dining Club) is Brum’s sensory-overloading answer to London’s street food scene. Housed in a former printing factory and consisting of a relaxed dining hall, bar, event space, late-night hangout and even a record store, you could easily spend a whole evening here. The loaded jerk chicken and rice dish is the stuff of dreams, while pizzas and fried chicken are also winners.
Hockley Social Club/Facebook
Finally, did you know the balti was invented in the 1970s by a Pakistani Brummie restaurateur? If you’re after a cracking curry, there is no better place in the UK than Birmingham’s famous Balti Triangle.
5. See some live sport
Edgbaston Stadium is home to the Birmingham Bears and Warwickshire County Cricket Club and will also be the setting for the women’s T20 matches at the Commonwealth Games. England’s cricketers are sure to be in action here again in 2023. The Rugby Sevens will take place at the Coventry Stadium, while at Villa Park, Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa will face Everton in their second Premier League game of the new football campaign on 13 August. And finally, the enhanced and refurbished Alexander Stadium will strengthen Birmingham’s reputation as the ‘City of Running’. Watch out for world-class meetings here in forthcoming summers.
UAV 4/Shutterstock
6. Watch a show at Birmingham Hippodrome
Built in 1895, the Birmingham Hippodrome is the single busiest theatre in the UK, and home to the Birmingham Royal Ballet, the only large-scale ballet company outside of London. It also hosts performances from visiting opera companies, as well as some of the best travelling West End musicals, pantomimes and dramas.
Central to Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games bid were three indoor arenas: the NEC, Resorts World Arena and the Utilita Arena Birmingham (formerly the NIA). In the autumn, the NEC is hosting the National Wedding Show and Grand Designs Live, while the Resorts World Arena will see shows by James Taylor and Robbie Williams. The Utilita Arena Birmingham is staging performances by Machine Gun Kelly and Swedish House Mafia.
Courtesy of wmgrowth.com
7. Check out the Library of Birmingham
Celebrating its 10th birthday in 2023, Birmingham’s public library is the largest in the UK and one of the biggest in Europe. Situated on Centenary Square, beside the Birmingham Rep and Baskerville House, it has two outdoor garden terraces, children’s spaces and a panoramic viewing gallery at the summit, where visitors can enjoy stunning vistas from one of the highest points in the city.
Caron Badkin/Shutterstock
The outdoor amphitheatre, surrounded by wildflower planting, provides a performance space for music, drama, poetry reading and storytelling. Inside, there are 10 floors to explore, including The Shakespeare Memorial Room, which turns into a special setting for parties, exclusive dining and drinks receptions.
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8. Tuck into Cadbury World
England's most famous and much-loved chocolate comes from the Bournville factory in Birmingham. The Cadbury World visitor attraction details the history, making of, and legacy of the company which began life in the mid-19th century. It features a self-guided tour through several exhibitions, a 4D chocolate adventure and the opportunity to have afternoon tea. There are character dining opportunities with Cadbury mascots, plus there's virtual rain, and the opportunity for visitors to dip their favourite treat into a delicious pot of warm melted Dairy Milk. The factory also has the biggest Cadbury shop in the world.
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9. Wander through the Jewellery Quarter
Birmingham’s trendy ‘JQ’ is a national treasure. It contains Europe’s largest concentration of manufacturing jewellers – producing more than 40% of the UK’s output. Combining the very best of traditional craftmanship with innovative designs and high-quality materials, they create beautifully crafted custom jewellery.
As well as purchasing a precious array of metals and gems, you can also visit the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, which offers a unique glimpse of working life here. New bars and restaurants pop up weekly in this vibrant area, as visitors get the chance to share healthy brunches, or cool off in the beer gardens and outdoor rooftops hidden among the listed buildings.
Museum of the Jewellery Quarter/Facebook
10. Step back in time at the Black Country Living Museum, Dudley
Meet the historic characters who’ll show you what it was like to live and work in one of the first industrialised landscapes in Britain, as you explore 26 acres of reconstructed shops, pubs and houses. The museum, about 10 miles (16km) west of central Birmingham, features 40 carefully reconstructed shops, houses and industrial areas that represent the Black Country's story, and visitors get a tangible experience with the smoke, smells and noises of the time.
The Black Country Living Museum/Facebook
The Black Country Living Museum also provided the backdrop for Peaky Blinders, and now hosts special Shelby-themed nights, where visitors can explore the dark streets and alleys and encounter some of the city’s most notorious gangs.
Where to stay
Europe’s first Park Regis hotel opened in 2016 in Birmingham. An elegant and upscale 4-star hotel situated on Broad Street in the city centre, it houses a spa, fine dining and event venues. One of the tallest buildings in the city, it has 253 guest rooms and suites, but they all have a surprisingly boutique feel. Standard twins and doubles start from £139 per night, including breakfast.
For more information on breaks in Birmingham and the West Midlands, see: visitbirmingham.com and makeitwm.com
READ MORE: 48 hours in Birmingham
Lead image: trabantos/Shutterstock
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