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Things to do in Birmingham

Birmingham is a metropolitan city based in the West Midlands and is a popular shopping location, especially at Christmas.

There are plenty of things to do in Birmingham during your visit. Birmingham is the second largest city in the UK and home to five Universities, making its culture truly metropolitan. Birmingham has a network of canals lined with trendy cafés and bars. In fact, it actually has more canals than Venice.

Out of all the things to do in Birmingham, the city is probably most famous for its shopping. Birmingham has been the place to shop since the Middle Ages, which is no different to today with its range of places to shop.

Heavy metal music has a strong link to Birmingham with it being the birthplace to bands like Led Zeppelin. It also has its fair share of museums, including our favourites such as the National Motorcycle Museum, Lapworth Museum of Geology, and the Barber Institute of Fine Arts.

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Things to do in Birmingham

Shopping in Birmingham One of the most popular things to do in Birmingham is shopping and you won’t be disappointed with loads of shopping centres available for you to enjoy. The Bullring in Birmingham is the biggest shopping centre with over 200 stores and impressive, spaceship-style architecture. Or you can go upmarket with the Mailbox, a luxury shopping centre in the heart of Birmingham which is full of high-end designer stores, restaurants, and a spa. Other shopping centres include St Andrew’s Shopping Park, Newtown Shopping Centre, and Central Square Shopping Centre.

National Sea Life Centre

When visiting Birmingham we would recommend that you visit the National Sea Life Centre which has over 2,000 species for you to see. Also, they have a 360 tunnel you can walk through, so you can really feel submersed into life under the sea. If you want to find out more about the amazing creatures there are a range of talks scheduled throughout the day.

Cadbury World

Did you know that Cadbury Chocolate was first made in Birmingham? Out of all the things to do in Birmingham, if you have a sweet tooth then discovering the history of Cadbury Chocolate could be just the thing for you. As well as looking around the main attraction, you can also take some time to enjoy the Bourneville Experience.

Christmas Markets

Birmingham is home to the largest outdoor Christmas market in the UK, attracting more than 5.5 million visitors every year. First held in 1997, this German Market has gone from strength to strength. Including bars, shops, craft stalls, and an ice rink, it’s the perfect day out to get you in the Christmas spirit.

When visiting Birmingham we would recommend that you visit the National Sea Life Centre which has over 2,000 species for you to see.

Activities in Birmingham

Barber Institute of Fine Art

Chamonix . France

The Barber Institute of Fine Art is a free to visit art Gallery based in a Grade 1 listed building owned by the University of Birmingham. You can see key pieces of works from artists such as Monet, Turner and Van Gogh.

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Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

Birmingham . Great Britain

Based in the Centre of Birmingham, the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery has been open since 1885. There are over 40 galleries to explore art, applied art, social history, archaeology and ethnography. They also have a range of exhibitions programmes throughout the year for you to enjoy.

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Museum of the Jewellery Quarter

Chamonix . France

This unique museum gives you a glimpse into what working in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham would have been like. The museum is built around a preserved Jewellery workshop. You can either choose to do a guided tour around the museum or a self-led tour.

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Lapworth museum of Geology

Birmingham . Great Britain

The Lapworth Museum of Geology is a part of the University of Birmingham and allows its visitors to explore life over 3.5 billion years. It showcases exceptional items from one of the UK’s most outstanding geological collections. This free of charge museum is full of plenty of interactive exhibits for you and your family to enjoy.

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National Motorcycle Museum

Chamonix . France

The National Motorcycle Museum is based just outside Birmingham in Solihull. Easily assessable via train/car or perhaps even a motorcycle! The museum is the largest collection British motorcycles with it being home to over a 1,000 motorcycles. All of the motorcycles are fully restored to the manufacturers’ original specifications.

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