48 Hours In Birmingham With Kids. Birmingham is fast becoming an attractive destination for a city break. Through its regeneration project, the city has a unique charm as old meets new. Which I have not seen elsewhere. Plus there are absolutely lots to do for both the kids and parents alike. In fact, we all agreed that 2 days in Birmingham is simply not enough time to enjoy UK’s second city. However, if you are you like us and you like to get away for a weekend then this itinerary will help you plan your own visit.
We visited in early July when the boys were aged five and nine. Arriving Friday evening and leaving Sunday afternoon. During our weekend in Birmingham with the kids we stayed with Staycity Aparthotels which was based in Charlotte Street. On the edge of the Jewellery Quarter in the centre of the city. We planned to spend one day walking around the city and another visiting attractions slightly further afield.
48 Hours in Birmingham with children
Friday Night – A Mexican Dinner
We arrived early evening and headed out to Bodgena which is only a ten-minute short walk from the hotel. Booking ahead is essential and can be done easily on their website. It has a wide range of South American food along with a kid’s menu.
A meal for four of us including alcoholic drinks for the adults came to £70. Its party atmosphere is popular with university students but the laid-back vibe works well with children. A perfect start to our 48 hours in Birmingham with kids.
I much prefer to seek out independent restaurants but if South American is not your thing, Bella Italia is at the end of the road, looking for pub food, then you will also pass an All Bar One on the route. And various other places with live music playing.
2 Days in Birmingham with kids
Saturday Morning – Exploring and a boat trip
Breakfast in the apartment before walking twenty minutes down to the ICC. Our route took us along the canals and some of the thirteen locks that take narrow boats out of Birmingham. Having stayed on a Narrow Boat. The boy’s fascination with locks still continues. So they were thrilled to help a passing boat on our walk. They would have happily spent a couple of hours helping out boats and wandering along the canals.
Opposite the ICC is Brindley Place the perfect place for a coffee before picking up a boat trip from the ICC. We sat outside the Costa while the boys ran around on the grass seating area. Our boat trip was with Sherbourne Wharf, so it is not possible to book. A family ticket cost £26 (not £22 advertised on their website) and they only take cash on board. The boat leaves at 11.30 and is around an hour long. It takes you down the canals and around some of the area that is currently being regenerated. Throughout the boat, there is a pre-recorded tour which gives you lots of information about the area. You also get a chance to go to the gas street basin where the boat is turned around. We spotted a Banksy on the route. It is a great way to learn about the city while saving little legs.
Saturday Lunchtime – Unexpected water playtime & adventure mini golf
Just behind the ICC is the library of Birmingham. This is a new modern building which is free to enter. A terrace on the roof gives panoramic views across the city. There is also a cafe where you can grab a spot to eat. There is also a large water fountain in front of the library which is like a magnet to kids in the hot weather. The boys loved playing in it and we managed not to get too wet. Although if I had known about this I would have packed a towel and put them in shorts.
With a lot of persuasions, we managed to convince the boys to walk down to our afternoon activity. Our route took us through Chamberlain Square. Which reminded us of the square in Rome where the Pantheon is located. The area has recently undergone a facelift with the Chamberlain Memorial being cleaned and paving replaced. Victoria square has a mix of modern office buildings and examples of old architecture and historic buildings. Such as the Town Hall, Council House, Art Gallery and Birmingham Museum of Art. If you can spare some time to explore Britain’s second-largest city further the area it is truly beautiful.
After head to the Bull Ring in Birmingham city centre to have a go at the Treetop Adventure Golf. I think it is the best example of adventure golf we have tried. There are two courses of 18 holes each, right next door to each other, which took us around two and a half hours to complete. It is not possible to book in advance so you just turn up. It is popular but we only had to wait fifteen minutes to go inside. There is also a cafe for refreshments. For a family of four for both courses, a ticket costs £48.
Don’t forget to have a quick stop and pose with the bull on the way out of the new shopping centres.
Saturday Evening – Traditional cuisine for dinner
The shops stay open into the early evening so you could get some shopping in. There is a wide range of high street brands plus an indoor market. There are also a lot of chain restaurants in the area. Yet visiting Birmingham we felt that the meal on our last night had to be an Indian. Unsurprisingly there are plenty to choose from. Going for the high end we had an early table at Varanasi as children are not allowed in the restaurant for bookings after 7.30 pm.
The food is very good but definitely on the expensive end. The boys are both used to having a curry and among the more unusual dishes, there are some favourites such as butter chicken. The menu is available on their website and they will create mild dishes if asked. On our way back to the hotel we went via the fountain again and the boys had a paddle as the sun went down. They declared it the best thing they did during our 48 hours in Birmingham.
Day trips close to Birmingham for kids
Sunday Morning – Black Country Living Museum
After breakfast in the apartment and checking out we headed half an hour in the car to the Black Country Living Museum.The museum is a collection of buildings from a Victorian era that have been moved from other areas of the county. Each comes with a story and you have the ability to go inside a lot of them.
With lots of demonstrations throughout the day including school lessons, chain making, shipbuilding, baking and mining. There is so much to see and do you could easily spend all day there and still not see everything. So it is just as well that your ticket comes with a 12-month pass which allows you to visit again and again. A ticket for a family of four costs £50. It is also a good place to stop for lunch as they have a great fish and chip shop or a pub serving filled cob rolls. Highly educational and a lot of fun.
Sunday Afternoon – Cadbury World
If you are looking for another kid-friendly activity then how about a final stop that involves chocolate? Cadbury World is around a twenty-five-minute drive from the Black Country Living Museum. You need around three to four hours there to really enjoy all it has to offer. Although you could do it in a little less if needed.
With a one-way system that takes you through how chocolate was discovered, how it arrived in the UK and the history of the Cadbury factory. Before seeing some chocolate making with the opportunity to have a go yourself and have a taste! Outside there is a play area, magic show and cinema experience. Oh, and did I mention the bag of chocolate you get given at the entrance? A family ticket for two adults and two children costs £57. It was the perfect end to our 2 days in Birmingham.
READ MORE – Review Cadbury World
Looking to extend your stay in Birmingham?
If you are looking to extend your 48 hours in Birmingham further then there is Birmingham Zoo or the Bear Grylls Adventure Park. Alternatively, you could try an overnight stop at Drayton Manor and & Thomas Land which is one of the best places we have visited. The boys had a great day at the theme park which catered for both of them. Both in Thomas Land for Harry and the wider park for Charlie.
It also meant that we actually had a day out as a family as we could go on a lot of the rides together. Something we struggle with due to the age gap and height difference between the boys. There is also a zoo and dinosaur walk which makes for a great break from the rides. Plus so many options for food. A day ticket for two adults and two children brought online in advance (essential at the moment) costs £110.
READ MORE – Complete Guide & Tips for Visiting Thomas Land
I hope you have enjoyed this blog post 48 Hours in Birmingham with kids. We got up to so much over our 2 days in Birmingham. I would love to know if you have been to Birmingham with kids and if so what are your favourite things to do there?
Please let me know about them in the comments below.
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6 Responses
Whirlwind 48 hrs ! Looks so much fun
It sounds like you managed to do plenty during that short period of time. Drayton Manor and & Thomas Land is somewhere I would love to take my son. He’s about the right age I think and he’d love it.
I have not been to Birmingham in a couple of years now. It is such a great city with so much going on. I must take a trip back soon.
The architecture is great and different. I have not been to Birmingham centre before but would like to.
Looks great never visited Birmingham would like to though
Looks like you had a brilliant time, Birmingham is somewhere we are keen to explore as we have only ever done a day trip.