Birmingham - what is there to do and see in Birmingham?

ferien_uk

I like Chung Ying Gardens in Chinatown (a restaurant, not gardens btw).

Anywhere around Brindley Place is nice during the day. The Moat House pub is nice to sit outside when it's sunny as it's right by the canal.

You could go to Sutton Park if it's sunny. It's big enough to spend the day in, and there's some good places to eat.

Jo4

moneysavingyvonne wrote: »

Might not be of interest for you (it is for me and my partner - early / mid twenties!!) but their is West Midlands Safari Park not far which i really enjoyed.

HTH

Yvonne

This would be really suitable for hubby and I. I cannot get the website to load but according to another website you can drive through the park. I wonder do they have a bus that goes through the park or do you have to take your own car?

Can anyone else get the website to load, www.wmsp.co.uk?

Jo4

p00hsticks wrote: »

The Black Country Living Museum is close by

http://www.bclm.co.uk/index.htm

Looks interesting, I must read in to it more.

Jo4

markandkate wrote: »

Hi The Art gallery has some wonderful pre raphelite paintings and a beautiful edwardian tea rooms. The Botanical gardens are on the edge of the city. The cathedral also has lovely pre raphelite stained glass windows. the Ikon gallery in Oozells place has modern art and a highly rated tapas bar.

For eating in the city the Big Wok offers a superb chinese buffet for £4.99 all you can eat before 5.00pm £8.99 after.

In Hurst Street just below the Hippodrome are the Back to back houses, houses owned by the National Trust which have been restored to their original 1900's condition.

Mathew Boulton's house http://www.birminghamuk.com/sohohouse.htm is in Handsworth is reachable by bus and also there is the jewellery quarter museum http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/motjq.bcc a fascinating insight into the trade and also a short ride from the city centre. You may even find a bargain in one of the shops!

A walk round Brindley place and the rennovated canal basin is pleasant and there are a number of shops and bars. Bill Clinton famously stopped for a drink here.

We live not far away and visit the city regulalry so please ask if there is anything else you want to know

Gee, thanks for all the information and offering to help, much appreciated!

Jo4

bestpud wrote: »

I recommend you visit the Black Country Museum - it's a fab day out.

Cadbury World will be heaving in the school holidays so I'd book in advance rather than take a chance and end up waiting. I like it there, but it involves quite a lot of walking, and standing (more to the point), and lots of people say it is not what they expected - just to warn you!

I am hoping to get suggestions from here regarding where to visit and then I can plan my holiday. Thanks for the warning regarding Cadbury World. I am looking forward to visiting Cadbury Worlds' sweetie shop!! :D

Jo4

loveabargin wrote: »

How about the motorcycle museum in solihull not far from the nec here's the web link
http://www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk/museum/photos.php

or maybe hire a barge for the day on the canal and have lunch/dinner at one of the pubs along the way.

have a good trip

The motorbikes would interest hubby, thanks for the link.

Jo4

bex2002 wrote: »

I would reccomend going to see we will rock you on tour - we see it in london and it is the must see musical and will be going to see it on tour when it hits bristol!!

I must see if I can get tickets for it and if so for which days, in order to help me plan what we are doing and when.

Jo4

ferien_uk wrote: »

I like Chung Ying Gardens in Chinatown (a restaurant, not gardens btw).

Anywhere around Brindley Place is nice during the day. The Moat House pub is nice to sit outside when it's sunny as it's right by the canal.

You could go to Sutton Park if it's sunny. It's big enough to spend the day in, and there's some good places to eat.

Thank you for the recommendations.

Horace

Brindley Place is nice with the sealife centre and the ikon gallery with its wierd musical lift. An adult daysaver ticket on the bus is £3.30 each and you can hop on and off all day - if you are feeling really daring, you would always catch the Number 11 bus as this takes you on a circular tour of the city (there are even guide books on the bus). The Jewellery Quarter is closeby too and that has a lovely museum and of course there are plenty of jewellery shops.

If you get the no 61, 62 or 63 bus from the city centre out to the University of Birmingham (Selly Oak campus) along the Bristol Road then you can get off at the University and visit The Barber Institute which is a wonderful art gallery containing all sorts of old masters, also on the campus is another museum which is fascinating, it is based in Earth Sciences and is called The Lapworth Museum (both of these are open to the public and free to get into). The Barber Institute is disabled friendly and when you let them know you are partially sighted they will give you a magnifier to help you see the pictures.

I know I mentioned the SeaLife centre - its still a great place to even as an adult.

Depending on how you are travelling - if you are coming by car then you can drive down the M42/M40 to visit Gaydon with there is a huge motor museum, it was set up originally by Rover.

I know what it is like to not be able to see too well in the dark, I have a similar problem, however Birmingham is extremely well lit at night. I have also visited Cadbury World and found that a bit difficult to cope with due to my visual impairment - there are lots of stairs and there doesnt appear to be any lifts.

Hope you enjoy visiting Birmingham - its a lovely place (in parts).

Jo4

Horace wrote: »

Brindley Place is nice with the sealife centre and the ikon gallery with its wierd musical lift. An adult daysaver ticket on the bus is £3.30 each and you can hop on and off all day - if you are feeling really daring, you would always catch the Number 11 bus as this takes you on a circular tour of the city (there are even guide books on the bus). The Jewellery Quarter is closeby too and that has a lovely museum and of course there are plenty of jewellery shops.

If you get the no 61, 62 or 63 bus from the city centre out to the University of Birmingham (Selly Oak campus) along the Bristol Road then you can get off at the University and visit The Barber Institute which is a wonderful art gallery containing all sorts of old masters, also on the campus is another museum which is fascinating, it is based in Earth Sciences and is called The Lapworth Museum (both of these are open to the public and free to get into). The Barber Institute is disabled friendly and when you let them know you are partially sighted they will give you a magnifier to help you see the pictures.

I know I mentioned the SeaLife centre - its still a great place to even as an adult.

Depending on how you are travelling - if you are coming by car then you can drive down the M42/M40 to visit Gaydon with there is a huge motor museum, it was set up originally by Rover.

I know what it is like to not be able to see too well in the dark, I have a similar problem, however Birmingham is extremely well lit at night. I have also visited Cadbury World and found that a bit difficult to cope with due to my visual impairment - there are lots of stairs and there doesnt appear to be any lifts.

Hope you enjoy visiting Birmingham - its a lovely place (in parts).

Thanks! Did you ever go to Warwick Castle? Hubby & I went 2 years ago and we didn't know that when you went on the tour inside the castle that we would be walking up staircases in towers in the dark. I was frightened to say the least but hubby communicated through my hand so I didn't trip or fall. No one appeared to be realise I had a visual impairment as they were complaining about others in the group but not us.