Explore family friendly attractions and cultural gems near the Utilita Arena Birmingham

Embark on a captivating two-day visit that explores family friendly attractions and the rich history and cultural gems near the Utilita Arena Birmingham and the heart of Birmingham’s canal network.

Birmingham and the West Midlands is the perfect destination to bring you and the family for fun-filled activities for people of all ages.

Recommended for: Mini-breakers / Families
Price: ££
 

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Day 1 - Fun for all the family

9am– 10am – Breakfast in Birmingham: Medicine Restaurant Bar is a beautiful artisan bakery and café found on Level 2 of the Mailbox shopping centre serving up breakfast, brunch and lunch with cakes and pastries available to takeaway.

10am – Travel to National SEA LIFE Centre by foot (10 - 15 minutes)

Take the escalator up to the top level of the Mailbox and exit the centre to the canalside. Walk alongside the canal and cross the bridge to Waterfront Walk. Continue walking past the colourful canal boats moored in Gas Street Basin, under Black Sabbath Bridge. When you reach Bridleyplace Bridge, turn left up the stairs, taking the right street past The Alchemist and Cosy Club to reach Central Square. Turn right and you will the National Sea Life Centre

10.30am – 12.30pm – Start your family adventure in Birmingham by exploring the National SEA LIFE Centre. Dive in and you will discover sharks, rays and hundreds of tropical fish through the UK’s only 360 degree Ocean Tunnel. You will also find sea creatures of furry and feathered kind in the sea otters, Ozzy and Ola, and the Penguin Ice Adventure. PRE-BOOKING ESSENTIAL. SAVE MONEY BY BOOKING TOGETHER WITH LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTRE.

2 minute walk to Cosy Club

12.30pm - 1.30pm – Cosy Club Brindleyplace: just around the corner from National SEA LIFE Centre, you can stop off at Cosy Club, serving brunch, lunch and dinner in relaxed surroundings by the waterside.

4 minute walk to LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

1.30pm – 3.30pm – LEGOLAND Discovery Centre: Explore the Ultimate Indoor LEGO Playground, including two magical rides, thousands of LEGO bricks to play with, a soft play area and a 4D cinema. Visit the Birmingham-themed MINILAND and see which local landmarks you can spot! PRE-BOOKING ESSENTIAL. SAVE MONEY BY BOOKING TOGETHER WITH NATIONAL SEA LIFE CENTRE.

4 minute walk along the canal to The Roundhouse Birmingham

3.30pm – 5.30pm – Roundhouse Birmingham: Pop in to the visitor centre of this iconic, doughnut-shaped building and learn about the fascinating history of Birmingham’s canals. Pick up a leaflet from the visitor centre or download the pdf for the self-guided Local Look Around Family Friendly Trail. Starting at the Roundhouse, take look around the local canals in search of all sorts of sights and stories (even the odd smell!) Keep an eye out for guided tours and kayak tours on weekends to see the city from a different perspective.

11 minute walk to Canal House

5.15pm – 7pm – Dinner at The Canal House: An award-winning pub and restaurant with extraordinary views of the canal basin from the large outdoor terrace. Serving salads, burgers, steak, fish and chips and their famous hanging kebabs.
 

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Day 2 – Arts, Culture & Heritage
 

9.30am – 10.45am – Brunch: Medicine Bakery on New Street is beautiful artisan bakery and café in the heart of Birmingham city centre serving up breakfast, brunch and lunch with cakes and pastries available to takeaway.

10 minute stroll past the magnificent civic buildings of Victoria Square and Centenary Square to Library of Birmingham

11.00am – 12.00pm – At the iconic Library of Birmingham, marvel at the breath-taking views of the city’s skyline from the Secret Garden on Level 7. Take the lift to the top floor and discover the exquisite, Victorian-style Shakespeare Memorial Room, home to the second largest Shakespeare collection in the world. Originally crafted for the city’s Victorian library, it was rehomed and restored in the current building in 2013. The room houses thousands of items of Shakespearean history including photographs, music scores, programmes and playbills.

10 minute walk through ICC Symphony Hall, over the canal bridge at Brindleyplace to Ikon Gallery.

12.15pm – 1.30pm – Ikon Gallery is Birmingham’s leading contemporary art gallery. Housed in a magnificent Grade II listed neo-gothic school building, the gallery features temporary exhibitions over two floors, alongside Birmingham’s only independent arts book shop and a café. OPEN WEDNESDAY – SUNDAY.

15 minute walk to The Coffin Works

1.45pm – 2.45pm – The Coffin Works: This unique museum provides a fascinating insight into the city's industrial heritage. Restored by Birmingham Conservation Trust in 2014, the Grade II listed Newman Brothers Coffin Fittings Manufactory is now open to the public. The factory is where the fittings of Winston Churchill and Diana, Princess of Wales were made. Visitors are invited to step back in time and experience the factory as a time capsule, with its original machinery, unusual products and stories of 100 years of operation. OPEN THURSDAY – SUNDAY.

7 minute walk to The Pen Museum

3.00pm – 4.00pm – The Pen Museum: Discover a wide range of fascinating objects and the heart-warming stories of the mainly female workers that made up  the Birmingham pen trade that exported to the world.Try your hand at writing with quill and ink make your own nib using the same machinery once operated by the workers of the 19th century.

OPEN THURSDAY – SUNDAY.

5 minute walk to St Paul’s Square

4.15pm – 5.00pm – Explore to St Paul’s Square: The only surviving Georgian square in Birmingham, St Paul’s was developed in the 1770s and 80s on land belonging to the Colmore family. Known as the ‘Jewellers’ Church’, two of the most famous pioneers of the Industrial Revolution, Matthew Boulton and James Watt, worshipped here.

6 minute walk to Indian Brewery Snow Hill

5.00pm – 7.00pm – Dinner at Indian Brewery Snow Hill: Experience a delightful fusion of refreshing craft beers from the Indian Brewery Company and mouth-watering Indian street food at this vibrant venue located beneath the arches of Snow Hill railway station. This must-visit destination is a haven for those who appreciate well-crafted spice-infused dishes. Pair your food with a pint of the locally renowned Birmingham Lager for the perfect combination.