If this is your first ‘innings’ in Birmingham ‘take advantage’ of some of the sights and experiences that are unique to the city and region. Make sure that before you say ‘bye’ and ‘run out’ of town you tick a few of this list that make Birmingham and its neighbours the perfect all-rounder.
The Birmingham Canals
Visiting and leaving Birmingham without a trip to its famed canals would be ‘just not cricket!’ Brindleyplace is where the main hub of the city centre canal network is situated, and the area is populated by many fine eateries and drinking establishments for a post-match celebration / drowning of sorrows.
The bars continue under the bridge into the picturesque Gas Street Basin, and if you follow the towpath all the way to the end, you’ll arrive at the luxurious Mailbox and Cube complexes where you can bowl your maiden/man/ significant other over at a high-end restaurant.
Take a tour of Birmingham’s canals on board a Sherbourne Wharf Heritage Narrowboat to get the full on the water experience.
Good sports!
You are on hallowed ground sporting fan. Yes, we could easily be talking about Edgbaston Cricket Ground of course, but did you also know that both lawn tennis and the formation of the Football League were both invented in Birmingham!
Lawn tennis was invented just down the road from the Cricket Ground and the Football League at Aston Villa FC in, unsurprisingly, Aston. Aston is also the home town of Ozzy Osbourne and some might say (with the formation of Black Sabbath) the birthplace of Heavy Metal – Oh, there’s an exhibition about Black Sabbath running from 26 June – 29 September!
If you’re a fact fan see 50 ways the West Midlands made its mark here, if you’re not continue reading for a deluge of more wince inducing punnery…
Cadbury World
If you like chocolate (and hey, who doesn’t?) you’ll go bat crazy at Cadbury World. Travel through various chocolatey zones and learn all about the history, heritage and current day workings of the world-famous brand.
Play in chocolate rain, strap in to the 4D cinema experience and watch the Cadbury chocolatiers reveal their secrets – yes, yes, you get to taste it too. At the end you’ll find the largest Cadbury shop ever, where you can purchase supplies for the games ahead.
Step outside the Cadbury factory into the unique village of Bournville (which is also the name of Cadbury's dark chocolate bar). This self-contained quaker village was built at George Cadbury's own expense for his workforce and was his ideal of a model village. It certainly is a beautiful space and has the added bonus of smelling of chocolate!
Chocolate? I’m in!
The Library of Birmingham
Situated in the heart of the city in Centenary Square lies the unmistakable Library of Birmingham. Unique in design, it is the largest public cultural space in Europe, and, amongst many internationally significant collections it houses the Shakespeare Memorial room - the world-famous wordsmith was a local you see... more of that later. If you are new to the game of cricket you could probably find a rule book in here too!
Whilst at The Library of Birmingham don't miss the views atop the roof garden - if you look in a certain direction you'll be able to see the lights of Edgbaston Cricket Ground where the World Cup action is taking place!
Walk this way
Is there a better way to experience a new city and learn its history than by taking a guided tour?...
...No, I’m stumped. There isn’t one!
There’s plenty of guided city tours on offer and you can see those here.
The Coffin Works
Talk about ashes! Come and see boxes of a different kind at this unique museum which is a time capsule of a successful 60’s coffin furniture manufacturer. This is not as depressing as an experience as it sounds and is a unique retrospective into the inner workings of Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter. The firm made the world's finest coffin furniture, including the fittings for the funerals of Churchill, Chamberlain and the Queen Mother!
That sounds dead good, show me.
Food & Drink!
Birmingham loves food and you’re lucky to be here during the height of foodie season. Check out the below festivals, where you’ll be hard pressed to leave without some extra creases of your own.
During the Cricket World Cup you can enjoy (deep breath) - Foodies Festival (21-23 June), BBQ Fest (22 June), the DeadDrop Beer Chase (22 June), the Caribbean Summer Jam and the Birmingham Rum Festival both (29 & 30 June), the Colmore Food Festival (5 & 6 July) and stay for the end of the 2nd Semi Final and round off Birmingham’s tournament stint with a celebratory drink or more at Birmingham Cocktail Weekend (11-14 July).
Be a rum-dog millionaire this June and get your tickets for the 4th Birmingham Rum Festival! 20 plus rums, street food and live music for £15. VIP tickets and standard tickets available from link in bio #rum #rumlover #rumfestival #drinksfestival #Moseley #Birmingham #rumtastic
DEADTOWN
See a more exiting kind of draw and trade fast bowlers for sharp shooters at DEADTOWN - a Wild West show from the famous Forman Brothers’ Theatre. For the first time in the UK a spectacular cast of acrobats, dancers, singers and musicians will bring a tale of the Wild West to life using a mixture of film, live action and magic. Let’s just hope you don’t see a ‘cow shot’ (cricketing term laymen friends!)
DEADTOWN runs from 27 – 29 June at The Birmingham REP. To find out more about this rare opportunity click right…about… here!
Nature Valley Classic Tennis Tournament
Sporting fans have plenty to relish whilst in Birmingham. Between the 15-23 June we welcome the Nature Valley Classic which is a premier level woman’s tennis tournament.
Previous champions include Billie Jean King, Maria Sharapova, Angelique Kerber and Petra Kvitova.
The tournament runs 15-23 June at Edgbaston Priory Club which is just a cricket ball’s throw from Edgbaston Cricket Ground. Find out more here.
Birmingham Indian Film Festival
Europe’s largest South Asian film festival runs from 21-30 June. One of the most diverse film offerings in the UK film calendar gives a rare window into the sub-continent.
We are secretly hoping that the Indian cricket team spend as much time here as possible rather than training in the run up to their clash with England on the 30 June!
Show me the Birmingham Indian Film Festival
Birmingham’s Cricket World Cup Fanzone
You can catch Birmingham's Fanzone at Victoria Square, 28-30 June where you can enjoy big screens showing the match, cricket activities, a range of food stands, music, entertainment and many more surprises!
BE Festival
Despite being served an injustice in the Eurovision Song Contest we still welcome this festival which celebrates unique performances from the four corners of Europe - In case you haven’t clocked on BE is short for Birmingham European.
This is not conventional theatre, and every night ticket holders can enjoy a dinner that is served on the theatre’s main stage after the first half of the evening performances.
The programme is daring and innovative and pushes the boundary (ha) of theatre, dance, comedy, circus, visual and performing arts.
It takes place between 27 June – 6 July at the Birmingham REP – get your seats here.
And these are just some of the events you can enjoy during Birmingham’s time hosting the ICC World Cup. Now that you love Birmingham as much as you do, why not come back for some of these later in the year.
Going further afield here are some regional experiences over Birmingham’s boundary in the West Midlands…
The Black Country Living Museum
You’ll find ‘centuries’ (ba-dum-tish) of history at the celebrated Black Country Living Museum. Pretend you’re a Peaky Blinder (minus the violence naturally) and step back in time on the very site of the birth of the industrial revolution.
A truly immersive experience, you can wander around original shops and houses, ride on a tramcar or fairground swingboat, chat by the coal-fired kitchen ranges, go down the mine or just soak up the atmosphere. Whilst here, don’t forget to try the fish and chips from Hobbs and Sons – they are cooked in beef dripping for an authentic taste and are m m mmmm. If beef dripping and eating animals in general is not your thing, then the shop caters for you, the vegetarian, with vegetarian option chips; gluten free fish is another option on their oh so tasty and all inclusive menu.
Rugby
Another day, another world-renowned sport invented in the region! Take a short hop on the train to Rugby, which is the birthplace of… any guesses?
We recently took a little sojourn to Rugby where we visited the famous school where the sport was invented, the Rugby Hall of Fame and the William Webb Ellis Rugby Football Museum.
If you want to find out more about our time there, then read our blog here. Do come back though!
Shakespeare
Wasn’t it Shakespeare who said “If cricket be the food of love, play on”? I’m probably getting that confused, but whilst in the region you must pay a visit to the famous playwright’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon. The epitome of a picturesque English town, here you can see Shakespeare’s birthplace, his marital home, his mother’s house and even the house of his bride to be - Anne Hathaway (no, not that one).
Whilst here pay a visit to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre where you can see players from the world renowned RSC perform some of William Shakespeare’s biggest hits.
Let’s shake (speare) things up!
Waterways
We’ve already mentioned Birmingham’s canalside, but if you stay on board, there is an entire network of new routes that take you through the region. Travelling along the waterways is a unique way to experience the rich heritage, culture, attractions, cities and countryside of the West Midlands.
So, if you want to go ‘out with a duck’, find out more about the region’s waterways here.
Land Rover Experience
Go for a spin of a different kind at the Land Rover Experience in Solihull. This is the ultimate thrill-seeking adventure where you can test the full off-road capabilities of the vehicles on 14 miles of varied terrain. The on or off-road driving challenges include one hour taster drives and half day or a full day experience.
The Bear Grylls Adventure
Edgbaston Cricket Ground is home to the Birmingham Bears and one of the city’s newest attractions is from a different kind of bear... errm… a human one. Talk about a ‘corridor of uncertainty’, The Bear Grylls Adventure is where you can test your resolve by climbing, traversing outdoor high ropes, indoor skydiving and even diving with sharks! – Will you bail out at the last second?
I’m not scared, show me the Bear Gryll’s Adventure.
British Science Festival
This is not your typical science festival! The British Science Festival comprises of over 100 free events, performances and exhibitions with a scientific twist; previous years have included algorithmic raves, tree listening, aquarium takeovers and beat-boxing! Be sure to return to the region between 10-13 September for a unique and diverse range of subjects that encompass science in the broadest sense!
The British Science Festival will take place in Coventry and Warwickshire. Check here for the full programme when it is released at the end of June.
Wolverhampton
If you are a sporting fan there is plenty to enjoy in Wolverhampton. The city has one of the busiest all-weather horse racecourses in the UK with fixtures all year round; one of the West Midlands two professional Premier League football teams – the Wolverhampton Wanderers – another of the founding members of the Football League.
And if that’s not enough action, why not experience a night out at the fast, furiously noisy and unforgettable Speedway racing?
Well that all sounds lovely, but how am I going to get these places from Birmingham I hear you cry - use West Midlands Railway to get quickly and cheaply around the region say I. There are plenty of offers and discounts for kids and groups as well as Rangers & Rovers tickets which are perfect if you want to explore for a few days!
We hope you see something that piques your interest above, and hey, if not, at least you’ve got a new glossary of cricketing terms!
Remember this is just a snapshot of what you can do here, to see our full offering use our Birmingham and regional websites.
Locals, what have we missed that’s unique to the region? Comment below…
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Archibald Ferrera I love Birmingham, its wonderful :D
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