Often overshadowed by other English cities like London, Manchester, Bath, and Bristol, Birmingham is commonly left by the wayside. However, the fact that J.R.R. Tolkien based The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings on a Birmingham suburb, several famed heavy metal bands have roots in the city, and the first-ever working steam engine was created there says a lot about its importance and cultural significance. Birmingham, just two hours south of Manchester and three north of London, has a unique charm characterised by industrial sites, canals, and a jewellery-making history.
The city has a community feel, with a friendly atmosphere and comfortable surroundings. You’ll find historic locations, the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK outside of London, more than 50 festivals to attend every year, natural beauty, historic waterways, and living museums. With such a rich variety of things to see and do, you might want to wind down at the end of the day by accessing one of the great UK casinos listed on casinos.com.
If you’ve already exhausted your travel budget in more expensive cities around the country, we’ve got the perfect list of budget attractions in Birmingham.
Cannon Hill Park
Cannon Hill Park is a staple for a day out for Birmingham residents and visitors to the city. Across 250 acres of land, you’ll find a mixture of woodland and conservation areas, spaces for recreational activities, the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park, the Midlands Arts Centre, and stunning historic gardens that feature exotic plants brought to the UK from all over the world. While entrance to the park for picnics and walks is entirely free, you can go swan lake boating, play mini golf, catch up with the animals at the conservation park, or just enjoy the atmosphere and eat at the old-fashioned Garden Tea Room.
Brindleyplace
Brindleyplace was once at the core of Birmingham’s industrial centre, teeming with factories, warehouses, and wharves. Once Britain’s manufacturing industry went into decline, however, it became an abandoned area until the city decided to breathe new life into the space by constructing a variety of new buildings. Today, addresses 1–8 and 10 Brindleyplace are all large office spaces that accommodate a wide range of businesses. Brindleyplace is also home to a retail space by the canal called The Waters Edge with restaurants, cafes, and shops, as well as three public squares with sculptures, natural features, and performance spaces.
The Library of Birmingham
On the west side of the city, you might spot a tiered, transparent postmodern building towering over the rest of Birmingham’s structures. That’s the Library of Birmingham—a £188.8-million project that became the largest public library in the UK, and the largest regional library and largest public cultural space in Europe. From its innovative design alone, visitors flock to the library to experience the ins and outs of the structure up close. But what encourages some to stay are the many nationally and internationally significant collections that can be found inside. Along with that of the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., the Library of Birmingham has one of the most important Shakespeare collections in the world.
Malvern Hills
The Malvern Hills are dramatically beautiful, spanning the counties of Herefordshire, northern Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire. Birmingham has ample access to the hills, letting you explore one of the 46 ‘Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales. It features the 425-metre Worcestershire Beacon, a beautiful hill with a toposcope on the summit, providing hikers with sweeping panoramic views of several famous mountains, valleys, and cathedrals. The Malvern Hills lets you choose your own adventure, whether you want to simply stroll through the countryside, walk by the river, or conquer a trek on the ridge.
Winterbourne House & Garden
Heritage sites are worth seeing just about anywhere in the world, and Birmingham is chock full of them. One of them is the Winterbourne House & Garden, an Edwardian historic house and garden that preserves a piece of the past. Compared to other sites in the city, Winterbourne has a much lower entry price of £8.80 for a single ticket (£7.60 for children, students, and seniors). With so much to explore at Winterbourne, it’s an absolute bargain. Whether you want to tour the interactive displays and learn through the hands-on learning exhibits, discover the 6,000 plant species, take an embroidery workshop, play garden games, or learn how to garden through an accredited RHS course, you can do it all at Winterbourne.
The Coffin Works
Interested in something a little more morbid? After touring the rest of the sights in the Jewellery Quarter conservation area, why not head over to the Newman Brothers Coffin Furniture Factory for a tour? This Victorian coffin fittings factory has been known to produce some of the highest-quality coffin furniture in the world for famous figures like Churchill and the Queen. It’s considered one of the most special and important attractions in Birmingham, with guided tours costing just £10 per person or £4.50–£8.50 for self-guided entry. The manufactory operated from that exact location for over a century, where you can view original machinery, tools, and some of the coffin furniture, almost like it’s a time capsule.
If you’re starting your adventure at the Coffin Works, don’t forget to check out the other attractions in the Quarter, including the historic Warstone Lane Cemetery, the Pen Museum, and St. Paul’s Church.
