Birmingham

Birmingham can be explored through a wide range of interests: protected landscapes and outdoor activities, botanical gardens with historical connections, art and architecture, wildlife or Balti. When choosing where to stay, it helps to start by considering which of these themes you want to shape your visit. The city offers several very different points of interest to choose from.

Nature, activities and a city route

Sutton Park brings together open heathland, woodland, wetlands, marshland and lakes, along with a diverse range of plant and animal life. The park is designated as a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Activities include walking, jogging, fishing, wildlife watching and orienteering. Alongside the landscape itself, there are several ways to spend time outdoors.

Another option is the Birmingham Canal Walk: this one-mile route runs from Livery Street to the Mailbox through Birmingham city centre. Unlike the range of activities available in Sutton Park, this route has a clearly defined start and end point and a set length. This highlights the difference between a specific city route and a natural area with several recreational opportunities.

Gardens and architectural history

Birmingham Botanical Gardens include four Victorian glasshouses and a Japanese Garden. The glasshouses give the grounds a distinctive architectural accent, while the Japanese Garden offers its own design focus. Those interested in gardens will find more than one form of botanical design here.

Winterbourne House and Garden offers a different perspective on gardens and architecture: the well-preserved Arts and Crafts villa and garden were built in 1904 for the Nettlefold family. The garden was awarded Grade II listed status in 2008. Its features include a Japanese bridge and a teahouse, added by John Nicolson in the 1930s. While Birmingham Botanical Gardens are described in terms of their glasshouses and Japanese Garden, Winterbourne brings together the history of a villa and specific additions from the 1930s.

Wildlife, art and architecture

Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park focuses on animals from around the world and the protection of endangered species: it breeds animals that are threatened with extinction in the wild. Residents include red pandas, lemurs, reptiles, meerkats, otters, birds, wallabies and a large collection of monkeys. The city's nature-related attractions therefore differ considerably: Sutton Park focuses on landscapes and outdoor activities, while the Conservation Park focuses on animal species and breeding.

Art and architectural history also offer different ways to explore the city. Ikon presents free changing exhibitions across two floors in a Grade II listed Victorian school building. Birmingham Cathedral is an important stop on the Pre-Raphaelite Art Trail; its stained-glass windows were designed by Edward Burne-Jones. The cathedral also offers a self-guided tour via the Bloomberg Connects app. Check before you travel whether the app tour is available.

Balti and chocolate-related experiences

Birmingham is considered the culinary birthplace of Balti. The dish was invented in the mid-1970s by a Birmingham restaurateur of Pakistani origin. In the city's southeast, Balti first became well known in restaurants in the Balti Triangle, where some of the original and authentic Balti restaurants are still found. For travellers interested in food culture, this area brings together a well-established origin story and a specific part of the city.

Cadbury World adds chocolate to the mix: the self-guided tour takes visitors through chocolate-themed areas. Directions are available for getting to Cadbury World by car, by bus and from Birmingham railway station. If you are looking for a hotel, you can base your choice on the interests that matter most during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Bournville, Birmingham, Aston, Sandwell, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Stoke-On-Trent, County Of Herefordshire.

Go to the main travel overview: West Midlands.