Taking a Birmingham city break is a great experience, and the kids will love the diverse activities the city has to offer. Birmingham is home to over 570 parks, beautiful canals, fun attractions, interactive museums, wildlife parks and even a chocolate factory! Whatever season you visit, you will find many family-friendly attractions and a perfect location for a UK city break with the kids. If you’re asking ‘What’s there to do in Birmingham’, look no further, here are the very best fun things to do in Brum with kids.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through a link. Please see the full disclosurefor further information.
Top 10 Things to do in Birmingham with Kids
There are many fun things to do in Birmingham with kids. If you are visiting on a day trip or a weekend break with the family, there is plenty to explore and enjoy for toddlers up to teenagers. Here are the top 10 family things to do on a Birmingham, UK city break.
#1 Birmingham Back to Backs
A unique day out in Birmingham for families is visiting the Back to Backs museum. A truly great Birmingham museum for kids that takes you back to life in the 1840s through to the 1970s via a guided tour of back-to-back houses. Pre-booking is essential for the tour, and check for any upcoming craft events held across the year.
This hidden gem is located just a few minutes from Birmingham city centre and was one of our favourite days out in Birmingham. Winterbourne is a Grade II listed Edwardian house with seven acres of beautiful botanical gardens.
Take a tour of the house, which has lots of interactive exhibits for the kids, and learn about the families that have lived there. The gardens are stunning, with woodland areas, tunnels, a Japanese Bridge, a play area and plenty of open spaces. There is also a tearoom and gift shop on site.
This award-winning museum is one of the best things to do in Birmingham city centre. There are four floors with over 200 interactive and fun displays, including steam engines, vintage machines, dinosaurs, marine life and talking robots! The 4K planetarium hosts daily shows about space (extra £2.50 per person), and there is also an outdoor Science Garden play area.
If you are looking for a place to take toddlers in Birmingham, the MiniBrum area is ideal, with a transport zone, shops, homes, parks, construction sites, and baby sensory areas.
#4 The Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park
Located in the Edgbaston area, this conservation park is home to many unique animals worldwide and an interesting Birmingham day out. You can see red pandas, spider monkeys, lynx, gentle lemurs, meerkats and otters, as well as snakes and iguanas.
The park has a great playground area for the kids, and check out the daily feeding times on arrival.
The Legoland Discovery Centre is one of the great family attractions in Birmingham, especially on a rainy day. There are six zones to enjoy, including a 4D cinema, Lego Duplo farm, mini version of Birmingham, fun rides, soft play and racetrack where the kids can build their own Lego cars.
You can book free STEAM workshops for the kids to enjoy (aimed at children aged from 5 to 11 years), which run daily, and the Lego shop is well worth a visit. Legoland is arguably the best thing to do in Birmingham with kids.
If you’re looking for fun things to do in Birmingham, Cannon Hill Park is agreat place for kid’s activities in Birmingham on a nice day, with beautiful gardens, lakes and playgrounds, as well as plenty of ducks, geese and squirrels to see. There is a crazy golf course, a fun park area with rides for smaller children and swan boats on the lake.
The MAC Birmingham is a great cultural centre located in the park, offering shows, films, exhibitions and art courses/workshops, as well as a lovely café to visit.
This unique ten-level library with stunning architecture and great views over Birmingham is well worth visiting. The kids enjoyed the fountains outside the library, outdoor garden terraces (particularly the Secret Garden), and a viewing gallery at the top of the building. The young reader’s section is lovely, with many activities and events held across the year. Birmingham library is one of the best things to do in central Birmingham with kids.
#8 Cadbury World
Learn how chocolate is made in the Aztec Jungle themed area, take the Cadabra ride, visit the 4D chocolate adventure zone and cinema and enjoy fun chocolate making activities. We visited the Bournville Museum, which you can look around before or after the Cadbury World tour, as well as the world’s biggest Cadbury shop to stock up on chocolate treats.
#9 The Bear Grylls Experience
Adventurous kids will love a visit to this indoor/outdoor activity centre (suitable from 8 years). These include archery, high ropes, climbing, iFly, escape rooms, shooting, snorkelling and shark diving!
The Royal Marines inspired assault course is included with the entry ticket with unlimited access, including monkey bars, climbing nets, traverse beams and a-frames. The other activities you need to book, pay a small charge and check the age suitability.
The kids loved the Sea Life Centre, particularly the 360° Ocean Tunnel where sharks and rays were swimming around us and seeing the Gentoo penguins.
The centre has 15 zones and 60 displays of freshwater and marine life to enjoy, with the opportunity to stroke a starfish, find crab shells in the rock pool and visit the 4D cinema.
Check out the daily talk and feeding times, and you can also book a behind the scenes tour in advance.
Birmingham city centre is a great place to stay with kids as there are great amenities, attractions and cultural highlights, and transport links if you wish to explore further afield. The East Side and Jewellery Quarter areas have great hotel options and are close to the city centre.
Budget: Novotel Birmingham Centre
The Novotel is a perfect family hotel located in Birmingham and a short walk from local amenities and attractions. This hotel is modern and comfortable with an indoor play area, books and board games, and a child-friendly buffet. Cots and extra beds are available on request.
Located in the Eastside area of Birmingham, about 10 minutes from the city centre, this stylish hotel has large-sized family guest rooms, so there is plenty of space for the kids to play. The hotel has a great snack bar, a restaurant with kids’ meals, live music, and various evening entertainment options. Cots are available on request.
This stunning five-star hotel, centrally located near Birmingham Cathedral, with fabulous large rooms, super comfortable beds, and the ballroom, is a must-see! There are two restaurants on-site serving French and American cuisine, including child-friendly options. The rooms have excellent facilities, and cots are available on request.
There are many restaurants in Birmingham serving traditional British food and lots of different cuisines from across the world to try. Birmingham has a wide range of kid-friendly spots to enjoy great food in a relaxed environment. Here are some family-friendly options.
The Plough, Harborneis a lovely gastropub with excellent food, a relaxed atmosphere and a great garden area. They have a three-course kids’ menu at a very reasonable price and serve homemade, stone-baked pizzas that the family can share.
Loco Lounge, Kings Heathis a family-friendly café serving all-day menus with lots of options for the adults and a great kid’s menu (including a free healthy snack pot). There are also plenty of toys, books and colouring activities to keep the kids entertained.
The Barn at Berryfields is located just 20 minutes outside of Birmingham near the market town of Solihull. This family-run, award-winning restaurant is set in beautiful countryside, serves fresh and locally sourced food and has a great kid’s menu so well worth a visit.
2 Days in Birmingham UK Itinerary
If you are visiting Birmingham for a short city break, it’s important to balance what you want to see as adults with lots of fun activities for the kids.
Day 1: 1 Day in Birmingham UK
Take the kids for some fun at Legoland, which is just a five-minute walk from the Library of Birmingham via Cambridge Street. You will cross the canal here, so there is an opportunity to see the canal barges, walk along the towpaths, take a boat ride or stop off for a break at one of the many restaurants. Round the day off relaxing with marine life at The Sea Life Centre, which is located a two-minute walk from Legoland.
Day 2: 48 Hours in Birmingham with Kids
Take a tour of Winterbourne House and Gardens to see this stunning Grade II listed house and huge botanical gardens.
The Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park is close by (five minutes via car), so worth a visit to see the unique animals, and the park is ideal for smaller children as not too big. The wildlife park is in Cannon Hill Park, so lots of play opportunities and the Loco Lounge is five minutes from the park for lunch.
