Visit Birmingham's favourite garden - just a 15 minutes stroll from the hotel. Open 7 days a week. Beautiful gardens with bandstand set in 15 acres, 4 Glasshouses, a Butterfly House, playground, Tea Rooms and gift shop.
This 250 year old working watermill is definitely worth a visit. Free admission lets you take in the history of the site and the association with author JRR Tolkien as well as enjoy the picturesque location, pizza in the courtyard or relax in the charming tea room. Sarehole wholemeal flour is sold from the mill shop. Guided Tours are available for a small fee.
Just 2 minutes walk turning right outside. Admission is free however, donations are most welcome. Open weekdays from 7am to 4pm (Other times/days please ring 0121 454 0808 in advance for a guided tour of the Church and Shrine of John Henry Cardinal Newman
Does Birmingham have more canals than Venice? The 100miles of canals were the life blood of Victorian Birmingham and the Black Country. Enjoy a relaxing boat journey through the canals to get a unique and different view of Birmingham or maybe you are feeling more energetic to walk or cycle the canals. Gas Street in the centre is a good place to start journeying through Galton and finishing at Dudley or Wolverhampton.
Soak up the atmosphere at one of English Football's most historic stadiums. The Stadium tours are an All-access Park Experience.
Check out the dressing rooms...Step out on the turf...Villa Branded Lanyard Keepsake...Photo Opportunities...10% off Merchandise...Open 7 days a week from £15 per adult.
Calling all you chocoholics!
Not just for the children - Cadbury World is just a short drive from the hotel in Bournville. A self guided exhibition and tour with many zones for all ages. Learn about the history, Go down memory lane listening and seeing the famous marketing advertisements, Have a Go! Plenty of photo opportunities, a play area, cafe and Cadbury Store. Booking is essential - click the link below.
Looking for that piece of something special to treasure? Did you know Birmingham's jewellery quarter makes and manufactures an estimated 40% of UK jewellery and it has one of Europe's largest School of Jewellery. It hosts over 800 Business with 100 specialist retailers, many having their own workshops.
Have a "Behind the scenes" tour at the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter along with an illustrated and entertaining presentation which unveils the quirkier side to the Quarter.
Put your survival skills to the test with Adrenaline Pumping Activities here in Birmingham.
Fun for all ages 10years up
Climbing, Archery, High Ropes, Skydiving and much much more
By visiting Jaguar Manufacturing and taking a tour at their Castle Bromwich location you will have the opportunity to witness the entire production process from sheet metal to the inspirational Jaguar car.
The tour is in a state of the art factory where robots by the hundreds work in perfect harmony with talented and skilled craftsmen.
If you are thinking of a purchase, you can explore the many bespoke elements to make your car simply unique.
Less than 1 mile away Edgbaston Cricket Ground, one of Birmingham's great sporting venues which hosted their First England Match in 1902 can be found. It has been the home to Warwickshire County Cricket Club since 1885.
You can visit to experience a 'behind the scenes' Stadium Tour or attend one of their many events (tribute bands to exhibitions) throughout the year. Booking is essential.
Home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, located in the heart of the city within the International Convention Centre (ICC) just a 15 minute walk from the hotel.
This 2262 seat acoustic marvel venue is one of the finest concert halls in the world. Top international performers from all walks of musical life have stepped out onto its stage and all the political parties have broadcasted from here.
Check out the calendar of events or just visit for a drink/meal in the delightful cafe open throughout the day.
Europe's largest Public Library is located in Centenary Square beside the Repetory Theatre just a 15 minute walk from the hotel.
With it's modern facade and ten floors rambling over 31 thousand square meters it is a fine building to lose your head in modern and antique literature, relax in the cafe, browse the gift shop - Shakespeare's memorial room is a must see!
Closed until 2022 for essential upgrading
Discover some amazing collections...
West Midland Safari & Leisure Park is a short drive away in Bewdley offering a full day out for children and adults alike! Opened in 1973 and is set in beautiful well kept grounds with 4 miles of Safari land where over 165 exotic animals can be seen (you can self drive or take the tour bus). Another 500 animals and reptiles can be viewed in a separate area and there is the opportunity to have fun at the fare on the rides. Also included in the price is a discovery trail and a full day of demonstrations, talks and shows.
A unique heritage attraction nestled a few minutes from the hotel in a leafy corner of Edgbaston. An Edwardian historic house set in acres of gardens. Botanical Gardens, Arts & Crafts Gardens, Japanese Bridge over beautiful pon and tea rooms.
Open 7 days a week - Ticket gives access to both the house and gardens.
Opened in 1984 and is now recognised as the finest and largest British Motorcycle Museum in the World boasting over 1000 machines.
Open daily from 8:30am to 5:30pm (except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & Boxing Day) Ticket entry from just £7.95. Guided Tours should be pre-booked. Cafe for lunches and drinks. Junction 6 of the M42 (opposite NEC)
Discover the Past - Find the Future in this impressive Award winning Science Museum in the Millennium Point Building with 4 floors full of interactive science and a Science Garden with another 30 hands-on exhibits.
Steam Machines, Medical Technology, Talking Robots, Music Boxes, Computing...
The Museum is open Wednesday - Sunday from 10am to 5pm and the Science Garden has free entry from 3pm each day.
Step back in time at Birmingham's last surviving courtyard of back to back houses. Fascinating restored atmospheric museum of the courtyards and small houses of the working peoples homes from 1840 to 1970. Discover their lives and how they were crammed into to live and work. Experience the smells and sounds!
Guided tours only
The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Gallery is an Artist led charity runs this exhibition Venue which is located in Birmingham's Jewellery quarter.
A calendar of changing Exhibits along with many workshops for the public.
FREE admission. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30am to 5pm
Formerly known as the National Indoor Arena, The Barclaycard Arena, Arena Birmingham and now Utilita Arena Birmingham. Home to anything outstanding. A purpose built (1991) centre for Sport, Comedy, Music etc. with a capacity of 16,000. Fantastic setting along the canal in the heart of the city.
Located in the heart of the city within walking distance from the hotel lies the modern Glee Theatre, the starting base to many comedians. So many have stepped out onto the stage ensuring the audience go home with tears in their ears and aches from laughter. Jo Brand, Jimmy Carr, Michael McIntyre, Johnny Vegas, Jack Dee, Lee Evans, Ramesh Ranganathan and Peter Kay are amongst those that frequent the Glee.
Check out the full list of events - also included are music, cabaret, drag, talks, burlesque and family events
An English Medieval Market Town in Warwickshire, just 30 - 40 minutes from Birmingham. Famously know as the birthplace of William Shakespeare, England's 16th century most famous Writer.
Visit his birthplace, The Royal Shakespeare Theatres, Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Gardens, The Teddy Bear Museum, walk along the canals and River Avon or shop til you drop in the meandering cobbled and narrow shopping streets.
A medieval castle developed from a wooden fort by William the Conqueror in 1068 situated on the River Avon in Warwick a short drive from Stratford-upon-Avon.
It is free to walk around the grounds and up Castle Lane to the 'Merlin' entrance viewing the old stables and castle courtyard and entering the cafe and public conveniences but there is an admission charge to enter the castle. Times and prices are detailed on the link below.
30 - 40 minutes away is Royal Leamington Spa set on the winding River Leam. A delightful town full of Regency Architecture and Broad Boulevards. A shoppers paradise!
Visit the Royal Pump Rooms and Baths or stroll the Jephson Gardens which are a large park with gardens and a glasshouse. Combine Leamington Spa with a trip to Warwick Castle for a full day out!
Be wowed by many strange yet beautiful and fascinating creatures as you dive deep on your underwater journey.
The Birmingham Aquarium has over 60 displays of fresh water and marine life.
Open daily - pre-booking is required
This spectacular Elizabethan Tudor House set in beautiful Gardens was built in 1590.
A calendar of activities events year round for the whole family.
The 400 year history of the house and the period is bought alive!
Pre-booking is recommended
The former Georgian home of the Birmingham Industrialist, Matthew Boulton who lived in Soho House from 1766 - 1809.
Known to be the first house in England to have a central heating system installed.
Also features: Lunar Globe, Soho Sphinxes and Anne Boulton's writing desk.
Fascinating ruins, over 750 years old. The remains of a fortified Manor House built as a Hunting Lodge. Weoley has been called a castle because it had a Moat, Towers and a Great Hall.
There are activities and events throughout the year; however, the ruins can be viewed for FREE from a platform.
Opened in 1873, Cannon Park boasts over 80 acres of Parkland and 120 acres of conservation. Home to Birmingham's Wildlife Conservation Centre and Mac Arts Centre. The park has a bandstand, playgrounds, fishing, golf, cinema, pedalo hire and tennis and has FREE access.
Many events and activities throughout the year
Tours (18+ yrs), Beer School, Tap Room and Shop...
Enjoy Brummie Beer at its freshest overlooking the kit it was brewed in (Wine, cider, spirits and soft drinks also available) - All ages welcome to drink and reserving a table is not essential.
A majestic redevelopment of the former Royal Mail sorting offices in Birmingham City. Now a well catered for hub for all which includes plentiful car parking, state of the art offices, modern residential units, an array of food and drinking outlets, leisure and retail shops such as Harvey Nicks!
A Victorian Coffin Fittings factory restored by Birmingham Conservation Trust and opened as a Museum in 2014. The Shelves and work benches of the Newman Brothers are full of the original stock and much of the old machinery is as it was in its heyday in the 1960s
Famous for the fittings of funerals for the famous; including the Queen Mother and Winston Churchill.
Guided or Self Guided Tours available - Maximum of 6 persons at any time.
Embark on an hour and a half quest solving clues, unlocking stories and discovering the most haunted streets in the city.
You will need a mobile device but you do not need internet connection.
Departs anytime from Birmingham New Street B2 4QA
£4 - £5pp // Product code: 107194P42 // Telephone 0122 492 8241 to book
Go back over 300 years in this wonderful open-air museum in Dudley. Historic characters will show you what it was like to live and work on one of the first industrialised landscapes in Britain. 26 Acres of reconstructed houses, shops, pubs and workplaces to explore.
The ultimate indoor playground for the whole family (from small children to Big Kids!) Get hands on with the Master Model Builder. There are Build & Test Zones, DUPLO, Soft Play, Workshops, Kingdom Quest Laser Ride, Merlin's Apprentice Ride and a 4D Cinema.
Booking is highly recommended
It doesn't have to cost the earth, there are plenty of free things to do in the city and surrounding areas. We suggest, BBC Birmingham, Street Art, St Philip's Cathedral, The Tolkien Trail, Magnificent Library, Parks, Canals and Gardens, free music at Symphony Hall and a whole lot more. The link below will help give you some ideas