The regeneration of Birmingham over the last 20 years has been an impressive example of how a city can successfully adapt to the changing landscape of family lifestyles. Officially England’s second city, Birmingham had previously suffered from the decline of a once thriving industry and was lacking the necessary investment to make it as attractive as London and other major cities for young professionals to create workplaces, homes, and leisure activities there.
The recent boom of a new family-friendly infrastructure has seen a renaissance for the city through the development of important educational institutions such as Birmingham University and Aston University. Culturally, it is making great strides too with the refurbishment of The Birmingham Hippodrome as an independent charity, dedicated to giving everybody in the area access to wonderful works of theatre, music, and the wider arts. The Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery looks set to reopen to its full capacity this year, strengthening the city’s focus on providing vital spaces for young minds to develop. With summer just around the corner, there will be plenty of opportunities for families to experience what Birmingham has to offer for children and young adults.
This is our essential guide to the best things to do with kids in Birmingham.
Cadbury World
Cadbury World in Bournville was opened by the world-famous chocolate manufacturer over 30 years ago as a magical attraction for children to experience all things chocolate. This is an action-packed day out for chocolate lovers to learn, play, and taste together. You can travel back in time 1000 years to the mystical Aztec Jungle to find the original cocoa beans among the rainforests and waterfalls, being careful to stay out of the grasp of the Aztec Emperor, Montezuma who wants to keep chocolate as his very own secret. A thrilling 4D rollercoaster cinema experience also awaits you as you join Freddo on an adventurous journey through huge bowls of liquid chocolate and into a giant Crème Egg airship. The Cadbury Chocolatiers will also guide you through how to make all the varieties of chocolate and let you taste for yourself how incredible the final result is. The Have-a-Go Zone even lets you try for yourself with some messy choccy piping fun.
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Thinktank at Birmingham Science Museum
Thinktank at the Birmingham Science Museum is perfect for curious little minds who want to have fun as they learn new skills in an engaging environment. The Planetarium is an out-of-this-world immersive journey across constellations of stars through the reaches of outer space, encountering planets with stunning 4K images and crystal-clear surround sound. For the smaller ones amongst your family, Mini Brum is a child-sized world for under 8s where the kids are firmly in charge. They can build dens or spend time at the Construction Zone with its lively towers and slides, or even fix engines and make their own race cars at The Workshop. The Science Garden is where mechanics and engineering are brought to life across 30 permanent exhibits in an outdoor space full of surprises and revelations. Excellent food and drink facilities and sensory elements for kids of all ages make Thinktank a must-see attraction if you are planning a visit to the Millennium Point Complex in Birmingham with the kids this summer.
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Rush Trampoline Park
Looking after kids during the school holidays can often be an up-and-down experience in terms of keeping them entertained, happy, and satisfied. Rush Trampoline Park in Stirchley is a wonderful way for kids to let off steam and bounce away all their energy in a safe and exciting location that offers all-day activities for the family. Over 35,000 square feet of fun awaits here with 72 ft long tumble lanes, Extreme Dodgeball zones, and trampoline-sprung basketball courts providing the best slam dunk experience in Birmingham. The mezzanine floor is home to a café that allows you to watch over your little ones as you relax with a coffee and take a well-earned break as they jump to their heart's content. When you do feel like joining in, the Foam Pit Diving Board will be waiting for you to take the plunge and get involved in all the action alongside them.
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The Bear Grylls Adventure
The Bear Grylls Adventure at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham brings together eleven epic challenges and experiences that will have kids pushing themselves to the limit to achieve something genuinely remarkable. This is an incredible opportunity for children to imagine themselves in the world of legendary survival expert and celebrity Bear Grylls for a day to experience the thrills, action, and adrenaline charge that comes with these high-octane activities. The 65ft high rope challenge represents the tallest of its kind in Europe, rewarding anybody who completes it with a unique and stunning view of the area. Axe throwing and archery are available to hone one’s skills of precision with expert tuition in sessions that add a competitive edge between friends and family members. The cage snorkelling adventure gets kids thrillingly close to sharks and tropical fish beneath the waves with just a few bars separating them from these fascinating aquatic creatures. This is definitely not for the faint hearted amongst your family.
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Legoland Discovery Centre
Lego has remained one of the most important and exciting toy brands available to children for almost 100 years. It represents the pinnacle of creative play, sharing, and learning in a way that lets kids take control of their imaginations and build whole new worlds exactly as they want to. Legoland Discovery Centre in Birmingham is a celebration of these brilliant bricks with an activity-packed day out all in one place. The Kingdom Quest Ride has you on a journey to save the princess from your chariot as you zap skeletons and beasts along the way. A 4D cinema experience brings the best in immersive technology right to your seat where you will experience wind, rain, and snow without ever leaving the venue. Of course, there are also opportunities for free roaming adventures through the soft play areas and hands-on building activities with all their favourite Lego characters and sets. The Ninjago Lego Event that runs until the end of June can also add a delightful element of mystery and investigation to your day here too.
There are so many great things to do with kids in Birmingham for 2024 whether you are just visiting or live in the surrounding areas. Our guide will help you choose the very best to have your children engaged, excited, and enthralled on an incredible day out. Amazing memories can be made with the best that Birmingham has to offer in family fun and adventure.
