It’s that time of year again – school’s out for summer! Luckily for parents, enjoying the summer holidays in Birmingham and the West Midlands doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank. If you are looking for ideas to keep the kids entertained on a budget, we’ve compiled 12 great affordable ideas to keep the whole family entertained, come rain or shine.
From adrenaline-fuelled activities to interactive crafting sessions at unique museums, there will never be a dull moment for the little ones this summer holiday. Let’s get into it!
Go Ape, Coombe Abbey, Coventry
Pick a sunny day to walk around the park and take part in one of these exciting Go Ape adventures!
- The Plummet (£10): Climb 12 metres above the forest floor, take a deep breath and step off a wooden platform whilst holding a slack line
- Mini Land Rover (£9): Children will love the twists and turns of the Mini Land Rover experience, speeding around three laps of the course
- Stumped (£10): Ten puzzles are located around the grounds of Coombe Abbey, and your challenge is to navigate around and solve them all
Roundhouse Birmingham, Birmingham
- ‘Workers of the Roundhouse’ building tour: Get your steps in with a 40-minute free interactive tour where you’ll explore how the Victorian people (and horses) transformed the Roundhouse into a bustling hub for Birmingham. You can also get to know a lesser known yet remarkable architect and answer the intriguing question: why it is round?
Lapworth Museum of Geology, Birmingham
Enjoy tours and family fun days at the museum throughout the summer, all free of charge!
- Family Fun Day - Mad Science, Thursday 25th July 2024 (10:00-16:30): Dive into the fascinating world of science as the Mad Scientist takes you on a thrilling journey through time. The show last approximately 45 minutes, and you can also get involved with self-led arts and crafts as well as a museum trail
- Museum Tours, Monday 5th August 2024 (12:00-13:00) or Monday 2nd September 2024 (12:00-13:00): Join one of the museum’s experts on this tour to discover fascinating fossils, dinosaurs and more!
- Family Fun Day: Wonders of the Ice Age, Wednesday 7th August 2024 (10:00-16:30): Learn about Ice Age animals and how they adapted to live in the cold climate, before getting stuck in to Ice Age-themed crafts
The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham
- Barber Family Festival, 3rd – 10th August: This August, families will take over the Barber Institute of Fine Arts for their second Family Festival! A huge variety of activities have been planned over these days for children, all of which are free of charge
- Family Saturdays: Collaborate with artists and get creative as a family. Perfect for 6–12-year-olds, these activities are designed so that attendees can dive deeper into current exhibitions, learn new skills and have a space to make their own amazing artwork.
The New Art Gallery, Walsall
- Wednesday for all, 24th July, 31st July, 7th August, 14th August (11:00 – 15:00): Children over the age of four will love The New Art Gallery’s fun and creative themed workshops during the summer holidays
- Mini Makers - Crafty Caterpillars and sensory play, Tuesday 6th August (11:00 – 13:00): For only £3, children between the ages of two and four can get creative, explore art materials and develop their fine motor skills
- Thursday Skills - House Head Sculptures with plasticine, wood and paper, 25th July (11:00 – 15:00): This Thursday Skills session is divided in two groups, the morning being for children aged 4+ and afternoon for children aged 7+. Attendees will learn new techniques in a mix of mediums and take home a masterpiece!
Red House Glass Cone, Dudley
- Families at the Cone - Every Saturday: Families are invited to the Red House Glass Cone to have a go at being messy and getting sticky! Enjoy making your creation free of charge and take it away with you at the end of the day - to be put pride of place on the mantlepiece, of course!
Fairy Tree Trail, RSPB Sandwell Valley
When? 27th July - 1st September (10:00 - 16:30)
Can you find all the fairies that live on the reserve? The trail is designed for children up to 13 years old, where visitors will become detectives to find the fairy houses by looking for clues, solving puzzles and enjoying fairy-themed crafts!
Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Wolverhampton
Get involved with these free activities the Gallery team has planned for families during the summer holidays!
- Family Friendly Explorer Tours, Monday and Saturday from 22nd July – 31st August (11:00 – 13:00): Explore this world-class exhibition comes straight from the FIFA Museum in Zurich - it is certainly not one to miss! Visitors will experience over 200 objects including items used by the likes of Pelé, Lionel Messi, and Maradona, along with selected items from the Wolves Museum which reflect the rich history of football in the city.
@visitbirmingham Dive into the world of Victorian Radicals at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery! 🎨🏺✨ In this extraordinary award-winning exhibition, visitors can experience the groundbreaking work of the Pre-Raphaelites, William Morris, and the Arts and Crafts movement. Get up close and personal with a large selection of vibrant paintings and exquisite drawings alongside jewellery, glass, textiles and metalwork. It’s on display until 31 October 2024, so make sure you give it a visit! 🤩 💯 Part of #100DaysofCreativity, an extensive programme of artistic events and activities in Birmingham this summer. #victorianradicals #artexhibition #thingstodobirmingham #whatsonbirmingham #birminghamonabudget #birmingham ♬ Pink and White. - ❔
- Creative Coding for Kids, Tuesdays from 23rd July – 27th August (11:00 – 14:30): Try making your own Beat the Goalie game while learning some coding skills along the way!
- Reflexions Craft and Chat, Wednesdays from 31st July – 28th August (10:30 – 14:30): A more relaxing day with drop-in arts and craft activities for all the family
Street Theatre Festival, Victoria Street and Bell Square, Wolverhampton
When? 10th August (11:00 - 16:00)
- Covent Garden on Tour: During this awesome event, expect hula hoop performances, a speed painter street show, stilt-walkers and a pirate themed walkabout act. You will also have the chance to get your face painted and enjoy ice creams while shopping from local businesses!
The Monster Inflatable Course at Coventry Building Society Arena
When? 1st August - 1st September
The Monster Inflatable Course at Coventry Building Society Arena is back, and it’s bigger, better, bouncier, and more bonkers than ever! Enjoy 300 metres of mayhem on the world’s largest inflatable obstacle course, along with street food and drinks, live DJs, and special sessions for kids and families. Under 7s go free, for 7-16 year olds it costs £10, and for a family bundle (2 Adult + 2 Child tickets) it’s only £11.25!
- Daytime sessions: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Evening sessions (18+): Thursdays and Sundays, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. (there will be a DJ)
- Themed evening sessions (18+): Fridays and Saturdays, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. (Theme: Drag Queen Karaoke)
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Art Trail, Central Birmingham
When? 3rd July - 6th September
Wander through ‘Bear-mingham’ and discover ten beautifully designed bear sculptures on display for FREE across the city centre. It's the perfect way for families to explore the city this summer, take photographs and support Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity at the same time.
Inspired by the beloved book ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury, visitors can find the bears at Piccadilly Arcade, Great Western Arcade, Bullring, Mailbox, Corporation Street and lots of other city centre spots.
Discover more things to see and do during the summer holidays in Birmingham and the West Midlands.
