Day Trip to Birmingham

The Bullring (Photo: MichaelDBeckwith)

If you’ve got some time on your hands but not enough time (or, not enough money!) to fly out of the UK then ‘staycations’ in the form of day trips are really fun and a fabulous way of learning more about British history, culture, or just to see another city and do some shopping.

Birmingham may not be top of everyone’s list but this fascinating city possesses some unexpected and idiosyncratic charms, actually.

This Midlands hub also offers many DayBreakHotels day rooms. These allow you to have a bit of a base in the city during your visit, meaning you can rest, nap, or even swim before continuing your explorations in the afternoon, or before enjoying an evening meal and, then, your return trip home. It can be sweaty work exploring a new place, so a shower and change of clothes at a day hotel is the perfect solution to this.

Before and after, there is lots to see and do in the city. We highly recommend:

Museum of the Jewellery Quarter

Museum of the Jewellery Quarter (Photo: Dr Bob Hall)

Yes, Birmingham is a jewellery making hub. This delightful museum is an excellent way of learning more about this refined cultural history of the city, as well as viewing jewellery, and also perhaps purchasing a suitably shiny souvenir.

Birmingham Back to Basics

These wonderfully restored houses offer a glimpse into bygone ways of life, allowing you to immerse yourself into the lifestyles of those living in Birmingham back in the 1940s, 50s, and beyond, up until the present day.

Bullring

The Bullring is a massive shopping centre complex at the heart of the city. It contains over 160 shops, 40 restaurants and eateries, and additional markets nearby on different days of the week, too. The ‘guardian’ of the Bullring is a 7 foot tall bronze bull situated near the shopping centre's west entrance.

National Sea Life Centre

Containing over 60 displays of marine life, from freshwater fish to deep marine dwellers, this centre houses sharks, crabs, sea turtles, and much more besides. It also overlooks Birmingham’s beautiful canal network, so offers unsurpassable city views.

Electric Cinema

The Electric Cinema (Photo: Alex Liivet)

 This is the oldest working cinema in the country. It opened in 1909, making it over 100 years old, and these days it shows all the latest releases as well as independent films. Sofas sit at the back waiting to cosy you as you snack on popcorn and watch… A truly memorable cinema experience!

Other highlights of the city include: the NEC; Birmingham Museum; and, for those with children, Cadbury World and Dudley Zoo. There truly is something for everyone, in Brimingham.