Bournville: Chocolate and Village History

Bournville in Birmingham offers a range of things to explore during a stay: Cadbury chocolate, Tudor life and the history of the model village. If you’re looking for a hotel in Bournville, these visitor attractions can help you plan. Recurring events also take place on set dates, so check the programme before your trip.

Cadbury World and chocolate

Cadbury World in Bournville, Birmingham, is a self-guided experience all about Cadbury chocolate. Visitors can learn all about the subject there. The attraction’s content may change over time, so check the latest information before your visit.

The Have A Go Zone offers hands-on activities in piping and tempering chocolate. This means the experience includes a practical activity as well as information. If you’re planning a visit, Cadbury World recommends booking tickets in advance to guarantee admission.

Selly Manor and the Bournville Heritage Trail

Selly Manor Museum is in the heart of Bournville village in Birmingham. There, you can discover how the Tudors cooked, dressed and lived more than 500 years ago. For a hands-on visit, the museum offers activity boxes; individual offerings may change.

The Bournville Village Heritage Trail is a free, self-guided walk to some of the area’s most historic buildings. As route materials may be updated, it’s worth checking the latest trail information in advance.

The history of the model village

Bournville’s development into a model village can be traced to a specific historical step: in 1893, the Cadburys bought 120 acres of land near their new factory and began planning Bournville as a model village. The land was close to the factory. Bournville later became a model for many other model villages across the UK.

The Carillon and event dates

The Bournville Carillon has 48 bells. George Cadbury commissioned it in 1906 as a gift for Cadbury employees.

Recitals at the Bournville Carillon take place on Saturdays at 12:00 and 15:00 from February to December. As performance arrangements may change, check the latest information before your trip if you’d like to time your visit to coincide with a recital.

Bournville Heritage Open Day takes place every year on the second Saturday in September. The programme includes free openings, exhibitions, tours and activities. Participating venues and the programme may vary from year to year. So check the information for the year of your trip before planning your stay around it.

Getting around during your visit

Cadbury World is a 15-minute walk from Bournville Station. Signage and routes may change, so check the latest directions before your visit. The nearest bus stop to Cadbury World is on Woodbrooke Road/Linden Road in Bournville. Bus stop arrangements may also change, so it’s helpful to check the latest information.

To choose what to focus on during your visit, compare the themes directly: Cadbury World is all about chocolate, Selly Manor focuses on everyday Tudor life, and the Heritage Trail takes you to historic buildings. There are also the Carillon and Heritage Open Day dates. This lets you plan around the subjects that interest you most and the event dates that fall during your travel period.

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