It’s easy to spend a day exploring the city of Birmingham. The city has some dramatic architecture such as the iconic Selfridge’s building and the Library of Birmingham, plus there’s some superb art galleries and museums you can visit all for free. Here’s our selection of free things to do on a visit to Birmingham:
BBC Birmingham Public Space
Bring the family here where there’s a range of exciting activities for the children to try including having a go at presenting Newsround or getting their photo taken with Dr Who’s TARDIS and an old Dalek. Parents can take a touch-screen-tour of the radio drama studio and look through the windows into radio studios used by the Asian Network and BBC WM.
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Woodgate Valley Country Park
Woodgate Valley Country Park is an ideal place to go for a leisurely walk, observe wildlife, walk the dog or it can simply be a great place to get away from the noise and traffic of the city. The park has 450 acres with many different habitats. There are many mixed, mature hedgerows, rich meadows, woodland, small ponds and the Bourn Brook running through the centre.
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Ikon Gallery
The Ikon Gallery has two floors and features contemporary work by artists from around the world using media including sound, film and painting. The galley’s aim is to educate the public about the contemporary visual art by way of talks, workshops and tours. Throughout the year they have a number of family events planned so make sure you check their website for the latest.
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Lapworth Museum of Geology
This museum is located inside the Aston Webb Building in the University of Birmingham. As one of the oldest geological museums in the UK, Lapworth is home to some fascinating fossils including beautifully preserved fish, dragonflies, crabs and more. The collections provide an intriguing insight to the development of the Earth over time.
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Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is home to a collection of over 500,000 objects spanning 200,000 years worth of history for all across the world. You’ll see work ranging from Pre-Raphaelite art and other fine art, to social history and archaeology. Perfect for family visits, the gallery appeals to the senses, giving you a chance to experience art through touch, sound and light. You can actually step inside a painting and even eavesdrop on Albert Einstein!
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Library of Birmingham
This ultra modern library is located in Centenary Square and is a major cultural destination in Birmingham and has 400,000 books for the public to read, a studio theatre and gardens. In the gardens there’s an outdoor amphitheatre, two outdoor terraces, children’s spaces and a panoramic viewing gallery. There are 10 floors for you to explore, with plenty to see!
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The Pen Museum
Discover the history of Steel Pen making at The Pen Museum. This fascinating museum tells the story of the steel pen trade using a collection of around 5,000 items. The collection includes hands-on objects, plus there are activities available for the family including museum trials, interactive machines and various workshops.
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Birmingham Canals
The centre of Birmingham used to be a hive of industry and the many canals criss crossed the area. Now the areas surrounding the canals have been modernised with waterside bars, cafes, bridges and landscaped areas. Take the family for a walk around the many paths and watch canal boats pass by in all their colourful glory. The Canal & River Trust have made an excellent map that you can find below to help you explore the canals!
Click here for a map by the Canal & River Trust
Let us know of any places we haven’t mentioned in Birmingham by commenting below!
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