Family Friendly Attractions in Birmingham

Birmingham may be a big city, but with so much to explore it’s great for little people, too. Whether it’s button-mashing interactive museums, appetite-annihilating restaurants, or boredom-busting attractions, Birmingham has all the ingredients needed for a great family holiday.

 

Indoor entertainment

 

Smiles will be shining on even the rainiest of days, thanks to Birmingham’s vast array of indoor attractions. You can take in a jolting blockbuster at the local IMAX cinema, watch mesmerising neon fish swirl harmoniously in the Sea Life Centre, or visit one of these hot destinations…

 

 

What kid wouldn't be over the moon about a visit to a world devoted to chocolate? The various themed zones will transport you and your family through its sweet history, from the rainforests of the Mayans to the creation of the first Cadbury's chocolate factory. You'll also see how chocolate is made, take a 4D cinema ride into molten chocolate, and of course there's plenty to taste as well.

 

Linden Road, Birmingham B30 2LU.  

 

TeamSport Go Karting

 

Older kids - especially those with a taste for speed - will love pressing the pedal down at the region’s largest go karting track. Battle for family bragging rights, and live out Formula One fantasies on this winding track, as you jostle for the fluttering chequered flag.

 

Unit 7-10, Park Lane Industrial Estate, Birmingham B69 4JX .  

 

Museums

 

Birmingham’s museums bring the stories of the past to life, with exhibitions on everything from mummification to motorbikes, sprinkled across the city. Nothing gets young imaginations whirring quite as well as the Science Museum, however. ThinkTank Science Museum

 

Chatting with real-life robots, getting close to dinosaurs, and using the latest forensic equipment to solve crimes - it’s all in a day’s work at the science museum. Round off your visit by buckling into the planetarium for an interstellar expedition, exploring the plumes of color at the heart of the galaxy, and the constellations that pattern the night sky.

 

Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG.  

 

Parks

 

With over 600 parks, Birmingham is a great place to let the kids and play while grown-ups relax. Cannon Hill Park is full of outdoor fun, and it hums with the sounds of bees, plodding joggers, and tennis rackets thwacking balls. Or you can try exploring Lickey Hills, an inspiration for Tolkien's Shire.

 

 

Fluffy squirrels and rabbits bound between this stunning park’s carefully chiselled sculptures, which have transformed tree trunks into organic works of art. Park rangers can teach you how to accurately identify wild mushrooms - which add splashes of orange and red to the forest floor - or you can adventure off on long walks, rustling through the foliage.

 

Warren Lane, Birmingham B45 8ER.  

 

Family food

 

Trying to pick a restaurant that everyone’s happy with can really put a dampener on a day out. Fortunately, Birmingham’s child-friendly restaurants serve food so delicious that everyone will be too busy tucking in to argue.

 

 

Everyone loves a burger, and the juicy Aberdeen Angus-filled buns, and spicy veggie options cooked up here are divine. Kids will demolish what's on their plates, and adults can choose from an array of exotic toppings too. Enjoy your meal with a view of pea-green barges floating by on the canal outside.

 

Unit 14T, Waters Edge, Birmingham B1 2JB.  

 

Restaurant VMF

 

Football fans and foodies alike will love this unique restaurant, which sits high in the stands of Aston Villa's stadium with views of the pitch. It may look super-refined, but don’t worry – children are very welcome here, and there's a special kids' menu offers everything from braised beef and oxtail bon bons to chicken and chips.

 

Trinity Road, Birmingham B6 6HE.