Each week our digital team pick the one thing they would do or are doing in Birmingham and the region this weekend. Here are their selections for the weekend of 14-16 April - hopefully you'll see something that inspires you, and if not, well there's always next week...


Martin - Dudley Zoo and Castle

This weekend, I’ll be making a short trip out of Birmingham to visit the incredibly fascinating and historic, Dudley Zoo and Castle.

What’s not to love about a zoo with hundreds of animals, set around an 11th century castle?! From Chinchilla to Tiger, you can learn all about the large variety animals who live at Dudley Zoo, all sited on a 40-acre wooded hillside with a rich geological history!

Much of the animal collection at Dudley Zoo is linked to international conservation and breeding programmes. The endangered species include Asiatic lions, Sumatran tigers, Tibetan red pandas, Rothschild giraffes, Madagascan lemurs and Humboldt penguins.

And to top it all off, it’s also home to the country’s only vintage chairlift!

Make sure you come to visit one of the 1300 animals (200 species). You’ll find me next to the Orangutan!


Dionne - TMRW Bar

This weekend, I will be visiting the formerly Persian restaurant – Persia, located in Arcadian/ The Chinese Quarter which recently rebranded as a Pan Asian restaurant/bar called Tmrw.

Pan Asian food is definitely in my top three cuisines, so with more options popping up throughout Birmingham, there’s no complaints from me!

Tmrw collaborated with Brum based Chef Kano, also known as Joints Tv to create their new menu and train resident chefs so my expectations for this place are nothing short of amazing. The food looks very aesthetically pleasing with options including Pan Asian classics like bao buns and tempura prawns to the unconventional honey pumpkin coconut shrimps and Caribbean pineapple shrimp rice - served In a real pineapple! The descriptions alone have me salivating so I really hope the flavours and service of the staff come through!

Tmrw also transforms into a late lounge/bar with a rotation of DJs across the weekend. So even if dining isn’t what you’re looking for, you can go for a few cocktails and enjoy the vibe.


Sophie - Charlecote Park

Anyone who knows me knows I love a good attraction, a thrilling theme park, an epic safari park or a puzzling escape room, my inner 10-year-old has never left me…

This weekend, however, will be a little different, as I’m definitely in the market for a couple of slower paced days and hopefully some that will involve me spending a little less money than I did over the Easter weekend (sorry bank balance)!

This is where my trusty National Trust membership comes in, giving me access to over 180 registered parks and gardens across the UK, with some stunning locations right on our doorstep here in the West Midlands. Every Sunday, I have made it a mission of mine to get up off the sofa and explore some of the beautiful parks and houses nearby, and this weekend is no exception as I’ll be visiting Charlecote Park in Warwick, a Victorian home set in a landscaped deer park.

I’m not usually a huge fan of long walks, but there is something quite motivating knowing there is cake, coffee and usually a second-hand bookshop waiting for you at the end of it.