Looking for Something to Do in Brum? Hopefully, This List I Made Might Help a Bit!^^
¿Buscando algo que hacer en Brum? ¡Espero que esta lista que hice te ayude un poco!
Si estás buscando actividades emocionantes y divertidas para hacer en Brum, ¡no busques más! Aquí te dejo una lista con algunas de las mejores cosas que puedes hacer en esta vibrante ciudad. Desde explorar museos y galerías de arte hasta disfrutar de la vibrante escena gastronómica, Brum tiene algo para todos.
Explora los museos y galerías de arte
Brum es hogar de algunos de los museos y galerías de arte más impresionantes del país. Desde el Museo de Birmingham hasta la Galería de Arte Barber, hay mucho que descubrir y explorar.
Disfruta de la vibrante escena gastronómica
Brum es conocida por su deliciosa comida y su vibrante escena gastronómica. Desde restaurantes de alta cocina hasta puestos de comida callejera, hay algo para todos los gustos y presupuestos.
Pasea por los parques y jardines
Brum tiene algunos de los parques y jardines más hermosos del país, como el Parque Cannon Hill y los Jardines Botánicos de Birmingham. Son perfectos para un picnic, un paseo o simplemente para relajarse y disfrutar de la naturaleza.
Asiste a un evento o festival
Brum es conocida por sus emocionantes eventos y festivales durante todo el año, desde el Festival de Jazz de Birmingham hasta el Festival de Comida y Bebida de Brum. Hay algo para todos los gustos y edades.
Espero que esta lista te haya dado algunas ideas de cosas emocionantes para hacer en Brum. ¡Disfruta explorando esta increíble ciudad!
UPDATED: 25.08.2024- please see the bottom of the post for major upcoming festivals and events in the area (originally posted on r/BirminghamUK and seemed to get a really great response!)!!!! I've updated these as of today, as well!
I have also tried to put every subsection into alphabetical order to try to make it a bit easier to navigate (please note, if "The" is in the title, I've listed it under "T"). Events and festivals are listed in the order of when they are set to occur.
*Note! I'll continue to add-to/remove from this list as time goes by! If you have any other recommendations, please leave them in the comments and I'll try add them here!*
Also, this list is more geared towards adults and late teens. There are lots of guides for parents with children in Brum and I wanted to make sure that people knew there is a lot for the rest of us to do, too!
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Hi, there! A large portion of my job is in student experience planning, so I'm hoping some of what I've acquired over the years might help a bit (a very long post, but I hope it will be helpful- I tried to divide it into sections to make it easier to navigate)!
My Tops Picks for Food!
- Asia Asia Food Hall can't be missed if you want to try a huge variety of East Asian food all under one roof- Chinese of various regions, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, Hong Kong- you name it, they most likely have it and it's GOOD!
- Damascena (specifically the Edgbaston restaurant- their staff are just so lovely)! Defo recommend and second this suggestion! Absolutely amazing Turkish and Middle Eastern food! You've GOT to try the baklava cheesecake!!! T-T
- La-Pop is absolutely incredible for ice pops, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and chocolate-dipped cheesecake!
- Lost and Found is THE place for afternoon tea
- Medicine is a prized gem in Birmingham for its incredible bakery and food. It's REALLY easy to miss, so keep an eye out (it's worth it!!!)!
- Saphari is the BEST all-you-can-eat buffet in the city and is beautiful inside (specialising in Indian food)
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City Centre-Specific (but, remember, getting around ALL of Brum is REALLY easy, so don't let something being outside of City Centre put you off!):
Brum (the nickname for Birmingham) is known for The Bullring and there's a LOT to do there (especially if you like to shop!):
- Grand Central Kitchen (one of the best places in the city to get a great breakfast, right behind NSS)
- Kenji (if you like cute things, visit one of the 10 stores located in the UK!)
- Lane7 (If you're a bowling fan, an amazing bowling alley that is just across the street)
- Ozzy the Bull (take a few minutes to watch him because he does a short show several times an hour)! He's right inside the station and impossible to miss!
- TOCA Social (the world's first duo dining and football experience)
- Sandbox VR (bring some friends and prepare to jump into the virtual arena! Don't forget to stop by the bar to grab a drink from their robot bartender, too!)
Make sure to head out behind the Bullring to New Street Station (NSS) to see a lot more shops and cool places to check out:
- Albert Schloss (if you're looking for dinner and a show, AS has you covered, with some of the best Bavarian beers on tap, too!)
- Bacchus Bar (one of the most beautiful pubs in the UK, that has recently been completely renovated, you'll find this literal hidden gem on the basement floor of the Burlington Arcade, just outside NSS)
- Bonehead (an awesome rock bar with some of the best fried chicken in the city!)
- Birmingham Open Media (an almost secret in Brum, you'll find innovative and new concepts in art in this studio just down from the back entrance to the Bullring!)
- Cherry Reds (an absolutely fantastic bar with lots of vegan options just across the street from the car park entrance to the NSS! Absolutely FANTASTIC service, too!)
- F1 Arcade (a big F1 simulator bar- a really cool place!)
- Flight Club (a GORGEOUS and super-fun darts bar- with phenomenal food!)
- "Floozie in the Jacuzzi" (just something you need to see when you’re in the city!)!
- Great Western Arcade (a stunning, traditional, Victorian-style shopping arcade with great independent shops!)
- Gong Cha (the internationally-famous, Taiwanese bubble tea shop!)
- Liquor Store Clothing (if you're looking for high-quality, sustainable clothing that offers free repairs, look no further! They specialise in high-quality, hard-wearing clothing that is gender-neutral)
- Merlin's (a horror-themed restaurant and bar; a really cool place opening, hopefully, the 31st, but I wanted to share it here ahead of the opening!)
- Morridge (an adorable little, 60s/70s-themed cafe specialising in gourmet porridge and speciality coffee!)
- Seoul Kitchen (a much-loved Korean restaurant in City Centre)
- The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG) (beginning its phased reopening after a major, multi-year renovation, the BMAG is set to reopen Thursday, 24 October! It the premiere art museum and gallery of the Midlands!)
- The Coffee Bar (known as the best independent coffee shop in the city, you'll always find the best pour-overs here!)
- The Good Intent (located in the Great Western Arcade, this is the UK's first not-for-profit bar!)
- The Old Joint Stock (a stunning pub that specialises in pies with an amazing, hidden theatre upstairs!)
- The Rag Market (open 6 days a week, you'll find incredibly good prices that can be haggled for a mass variety of things! Keep in mind that one building is focused on fabrics and HomeGoods -including "Bullring Fragrances", which I highly recommend-, whilst the other -just across the street- is more focused in meat mongers! You'll also find the Bullring Open Market just outside with fresh fruit and veg, as well as fabrics!)
- Tiger Bites Pig (a fantastic Taiwanese/Chinese restaurant right in the heart of the city!)
- Tilt (a pinball and gaming cafe!)
- Tin Tin Food Court (a great East Asian food hall with lots of variety!)
- Tokyo Toys (one of 3 award-winning anime and manga-focused shops in the UK!)
- Tokyo Izakaya (rated as the number 1 Japanese restaurant in the city!)
Of course, though, the city has a LOT to offer beyond The Bullring, though!
Just near the Bullring, you'll find two incredible and culturally-important locations:
- Back-to-Backs (a cool place that lets you step back in time right in the middle of the city)
- Chinatown (you'll find some of the best East Asian food in the city here!)
- Gay Village (absolutely the BEST club scene is located here!)
Chinatown has some amazing places to eat, as well!
- China Court Bakery (formerly Wah Kee Bakery) (the perfect place to get fluffy, East Asian-style cheesecake -it's amazing-, as well as Chinese-style cakes!)
- Ming Moon Buffet and Karaoke (one of the best places to both get full on fantastic Chinese food and have an amazing night in one of their 12 themed karaoke rooms- that can cater up to 48 people!)
- Mr Egg (a Birmingham staple! You know you're a Brummy if you know Mr Egg!)
- Uncle Cake (great for a wide variety of East Asian bakery delights!)
- Horsefaire Mural and Chinese Pagoda (Holloway Roundabout; you'll find a hidden Italian glass art piece that's been forgotten in many ways -you'll need to look through the fence and the shrubbery- that depicts the history of horse-trading in the area; you'll also get the chance to see one of the most iconic art pieces, the Chinese Pagoda, just in front of it)
One of the BEST places to check out in Brum is definitely Digbeth! Seriously, one of the coolest places in the city!
- Chance and Counters (a much-loved board game cafe!)
- Golf Fang (a wild, indoor crazy golf course)
- Mockingbird Cinema (an independent cinema in the heart of Digbeth)
- NQ64 (a great barcade which also has laser tag, DDR, Guitar Hero, and MeiMei!)
- Red Brick Market (want to see some of the best independent, artisan creators in the UK? Come to the RBM and pick up some one-of-a-kind items!)
- Roller Jam (there's a MASSIVE rollerskating/rollerblading scene here)
- The Old Crown (the oldest secular building in Brum at 655 years old! Great place for a pint!)
- The Wellington (known for its famous, always-rotating Bar Board and massive whiskey list!)
The Jewellery Quarter has lots to offer, as well beyond incredible amounts of jewellery shops:
- 1000 Trades (a deeply-loved independent pub with live shows on the regular)
- Burning Soul Tap Room (find some of the best brews in the city here!)
- Coffin Works (see what the process of making coffin furniture was like back in the day!)
- Geek Retreat (if you're into tabletop games, it's THE place to be!)
- Hockley Social Club (come and check out some of the best local, rotating food in the city!)
- Locanta (if you're on the lookout for some truly tantalising Italian food at a great price, Locanta is sure not to disappoint!)
- Museum of the Jewellery Quarter (currently closed due to maintenance issues, but will hopefully reopen soon; learn about the intricate history of the intricate trade of jewellery in Brum)
- Pen Museum (learn about the history of the pen trade in Brum!)
- RBSA (Royal Birmingham Society of Artists) Gallery (an artist-led charity that focuses on the visual arts)
- St Paul's Square (a picturesque picnic spot with the monthly Jewellery Quarter Artisan Market)
- The Wolf (a family-own, independent, craft beer pub)
I highly recommend at least going down to the canals just because they're beautiful, especially outside Brindley Place. You'll find the Sea Life Centre here (more below!), along with a lot of fantastic bars and restaurants.
If you go towards the main road, you'll end up on Broad Street. It's known as the home of the bar scene of the city:
- Boom Battle Bar (a cool, all-around fun afternoon!)
- Broadway Plaza (a little bit of everything from an iSense Odeon Cinema, to food, to bowling, mini-golf, a health club, hotel, and climbing!)
- Five Ways Entertainment Centre (food, drinks, and films!)
- IKON Gallery (Birmingham's critically-acclaimed contemporary art venue and gallery)
- MOONCAT (a cool, dueling piano bar specialising in sushi)
- Perios (the best place in the UK for Tex Mex!)
- The Black Sabbath Bench (a fantastic shrine to the famous rock band from Brum)
- The BRB (the Birmingham Royal Ballet; come and see some of the most talented dancers in the world on our very own stage!)
- The CBSO (the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; some of the best orchestral music in the UK with lots of guest stars throughout the year!)
- The Library of Birmingham is incredible and you really should check out the Shakespeare Memorial Room on one of the top floors (I think it's the 13th floor)!
- The Roundhouse (a great place to go for kayak the city and walking and boat tours)
- The Waterbus (want to see the city in a cool way? Grab the waterbus!)
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Outside of City Centre:
Just down from Broadway Plaza, you'll find Edgbaston Village, a beautiful, meticulously- kept street with artisan food, drinks, and crafters! You'll also find Loki Wine Bar and Wine Shop (the number 1 wine merchant in the UK) in the area, too!
Aston has some lovely things on offer, as well!
- Aston Hall (a beautiful, Jacobean-style home)
- Aston Villa Football Club (the first football club in the world! You can get a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium that's fantastic! Our guide was absolutely amazing!)
- Star City (a little bit of everything, from food, to family activities, to cinema!)
- Think Tank (a great place to see some of the best science exhibits for families and adults alike in the Midlands!)
- Tin Tin Food Hall (if you're looking for an amazing, independently-owned, East Asian food hall, look no further!)
- West Midlands Police Museum (a history of policing in the Midlands can be found here)
Bournville is the chocolate capital of the UK:
- Cadbury World (free chocolate!!!! Both it and Sea Life fall under Merlin Entertainments- more on that below)!
- Cotteridge Park (a much-loved local park that is very active with local events and festivals throughout the year)
Kings Heath has some magical options, so make sure to stop through!
- Blow Water Cafe (a cafe inspired by and dedicated to Hong Kong culture through food and art!)
- CircusMASH (the home of circus training and exhibition, you'll find many events throughout the year through CircusMASH, as well as classes to learn how the high-flyers make it look so effortless!)
- Hare & Hounds (a gorgeous, Art Nuevo, Grade II-listed, music venue that has established itself as a powerhouse in the indie scene)
- Women and Theatre (a local charity theatre company that focuses on empowering people through the arts)
- Zindiya (a unique Indian dining experience that specialises in High Chai Afternoon Tea!)
Mosely has some really fantastic options, too!
- Cannon Hill Park (from the MAC, to the BWCP -more below about both-, to mini-golf, Cannon Hill Park is a fantastic day out!)
- Moseley Bog & Joy's Woods (the inspiration for the "old forest" in "Lord of the Rings"!)
- Screen B14 (a monthly community cinema)
- Shababs (technically in Sparkbrook, but one of the last remaining balti houses in the Balti Triangle- the hub for some of the best Indian food in the city)
Stirchley is another great place to check out:
- Birmingham Bike Foundry (want to learn how to ride a bike safely? Maybe you're needing a repair or even a new ride entirely! This is the place for you!)
- Eat Vietnam (with a focus on embracing the Vietnamese culture in both aesthetic and taste, Eat Vietnam is a true treasure in Stirchley!)
- CanEat (a fantastic combination of brunch and bakery, you'll find something outstanding to eat here, for sure!)
- Chancer's Cafe/Yikouchi (depending on the day, you could be eating Louisiana-style food or Chinese homestyle cooking with it's amazing, rotating menu!)
- Loaf (a local favourite, this bakery also offers classes to learn how to make your own fluffy treats!)
- Stirchley Open Cinema (a pop-up cinema in Stirchley! Make sure to check their calendar for when and where the next pop-up is!)
- Stirchley Public Baths (a restored public bathhouse that now houses events throughout the year)
- Verbena (a woman-led staff that focus on great food in an intimate environment, at an accessibly pricepoint)
- Yardbirds (want some great fried chicken? Then pop into Yardbirds for some great food and fantastic service!)
- Stirchley has an amazing bar and pub scene, too!
- Birmingham Brew Company (a city favourite, BBC has the best brews on tap all year long!)
- Couch (rated as one of the top 20 bars in the world, make sure to stop in for a cocktail on tap)
- Glass House Brewery (a truly standout taphouse in Stirchley!)
- Stir Stores (a great hole-in-the-wall that has fantastic live music)
- Stirchley Wine & Spirits (can't find that particular spirit or wine? SWS might just have it!)
- The Attic Brew Company (a much-loved brewery in the area with great live music)
- The Wildcat Tap (known for its keg and cask beer, you can also get a great cup of coffee here!)
The University of Birmingham and Selly Oak have some great spots to experience:
- Cocobab (a great Korean restaurant on the edge of Bourneville and Selly Oak)
- The Barber Institute of Fine Arts (a University-owned, world-renowned art gallery that has displayed a plethora of works from artists including Monet to Van Gogh)
- The Elgar Concert Hall (a University-owned, 420-seat concert hall that invites performers from around the world, as well as students within the University and local area, to perform)
- The Lapworth Museum of Geology (a University-owned museum focusing on geological discoveries in the heart of the campus)
- The Soak Bar and Grill (an absolutely stellar place to get some of the best Indian food in the city- with amazing portions!)
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If You're Looking for Something Specific:
If you're an animal lover:
- Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park (BWCP) (that is the Council web address, but here is the Insta for a few more exploratory pictures. It's truly wonderful and the staff really love what they do there! The baby meerkats were born just a short while back!)
- Sea Life Birmingham (where you can see our underwater friends, including two rescued Alaska sea otters!)
- West Midlands Safari Park (check out the animals from your car and the walk-through exhibits! Plus, there's a small fairground onsite, too!)
If you like beautiful gardens and reservoirs, Brum can help with that, too!
- Birmingham Botanical Gardens (currently hosting a beautiful butterfly house!)
- Edgbaston Reservoir (really amazing on the weekend as you can watch people practice sailing as part of the local sailing club, as well as it being where longboat racers train; the city is currently working on a mass renovation to the area, with shops and restaurants going in)
- Winterbourne House and Gardens (a gorgeous, lesser-known house and garden on the University of Birmingham campus that is open to the public)
If you're into theatre, Birmingham has a fantastic theatre scene!
- The Alexandra
- The Crescent Theatre
- The Glee Club
- The Hippodrome (currently showing "Hamilton"; also, if you're looking for really inexpensive and expansive dance classes, make sure to check out Fabric Dance's website!)!
- The MAC
- The REP
If you're looking for concert and sport venues, Brum has you covered, there, too!
- Edgbaston Stadium (great events and games can be seen here!)
- National Conference Centre (NEC) (you can get here quickly from NSS) has huge, internationally-acclaimed events and concerts throughout the year! I've posted some the major, upcoming events below!
- Utilita Arena (located right in the middle of the canal crossing, you'll find some of the world's biggest music acts performing here!)
If you're looking for more fine dining, Birmingham is home to several Michelin-star and unique dining experiences:
- Adam's Restaurant (a City-Centre located, Art Nuevo, Michelin-star restaurant)
- Grace & Savour (a beautiful, Victorian-walled, Michelin-star restaurant)
- Opheem (an Indian, Michelin-star restaurant)
- Purnell's Restaurant (a contemporary, yet rustic-style, Michelin-star restaurant)
- Simpsons (a Michelin-star contemporary take on British cuisine)
- Tattu (a gourmet and stunning Chinese dining experience)
- The Wilderness (an intimate, unique dining experience)
- Varanasi (a truly stunning, Indian fine dining experience)
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If you have some time to head outside the city:
- Ackers Adventure is for the truly outdoorsy people out there! Amazing teambuilding activities, wall climbing, ziplining, canoeing, frisbee golf, dry skiing and tubing, it has it all (plus, their staff are just the loveliest people!)
- Black Country Living Museum (BCLM) is a great option, especially if you want to learn more about the area and to be thrown back in time with costumes and traditional homes! Their staff are so wonderful at their jobs and love telling people about the history of the Black Country!
- Drayton Manor, if you're a theme park fanatic like me, is a great afternoon out (it's quite small, but has the BEST water ride on the planet and I can't be convinced otherwise in "Stormforce 10")! It's attached to a zoo that is part of the park ticket!
- Dudley Zoo and Castle are just down from the road from BCLM and is a great day out to see both the castle and lots of animals of all types!
- House of Allure Burlesque and Cabaret is headed by the incredible and world-renowned Dominus von Vexo. He offers dance classes once a week in the Longbridge with multiple performances throughout the year throughout the country! Classes are open to all genders and backgrounds!
- Kibou is a Japanese restaurant and bar in Solihull that offers a Japanese spin on afternoon tea!
- Mad O'Rourke's Pie Factory is world-renowned for its famous pies and independent brews, and is just down the road from BCLM!
- Sarehole Mill is a 250-year-old watermill that helped to inspire parts of "The Lord of the Rings"!
- Severn Valley Railway offers you the chance to climb aboard traditional steam-powered trains that traverse throughout the Midlands, allowing you to hop on and off throughout!
- Team Sport is a good afternoon of go-karting and laser tag!
- The Akamba Heritage Centre truly stands out as a unique heritage and garden centre, focused on the beauty of Africa!
- The Bear Grylls Adventure is a great place if you want to get into some indoor skydiving and indoor diving, in general!
- The National Motorcycle Musuem is the world's largest motorcycle museum!
If you're willing to travel about an hour/hour-and-a-half outside of the city:
- Alton Towers if you like amusement parks. It's a bucket list park for most theme park enthusiasts, and for good reason! I think it's honestly the jewel of the Midlands with how important some of the coasters out of that park are to amusement park history (plus, it's just an absolutely badass day out!!!)!
- Ironbridge Valley of Innovation is similar to BCLM, but with more of a focus on the innovations that led to the Black Country becoming the powerhouse for trade that it did (there's a reason Birmingham is known as the "City of 1000 Trades"!)
- Stratford-upon-Avon is the final home for William Shakespeare and is a beautiful day out!
- Warwick Castle if you're into castles and history (this is right in the middle of one of their biggest events of the year, "Dragon Slayer")!
Both Alton Towers and Warwick Castle, along with the Sea Life Centre and Cadbury World, fall under Merlin Entertainment and you can get a package ticket through them if you check out one of the attractions on one of their websites!
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UPCOMING LARGE EVENTS AND FESTIVALS!
- (1 August-31 August 2024; Brum City Centre)
- "Birmingham Restaurant Festival" (come and see what the best restaurants of Birmingham have to offer!)
- (1 August-1 September; NEC)
- "Beyond Van Gogh" (an immersive, walkthrough experience of the works of the famous painter)
- (23-26 August 2024; Brum City Centre)
- "Birmingham Weekender" (his is a massive, FREE festival that happens every year in Brum City Centre! There will even be FREE West End performances! Make sure to scroll through the events- there is a navigation button on the edge)!
- (24-25 August 2024; The New Irish Centre Birmingham, Kings Heath)
- Paric Festival (the largest Irish music festival in the UK!)
- (24-25 August 2024; NEC)
- "Gravity Show" (major car show, including demonstrations)
- (26 August 2024, Ironbridge)
- Ironbridge Coracle Regatta (an annual race across the River Severn in a tiny, bowl-shaped, often handmade boat!)
- (30 August-1 September 2024; Mosely Park, Brum)
- "Moseley Folk and Arts Festival" (a family-friendly festival bringing together some of the best music, music, arts, crafts and folk experiences in the UK- BOOK NOW FOR NO BOOKING FEE!)
- (6-15 September 2024)
- Birmingham Heritage Week ("Celebrating ten years of your heritage, your stories, your city")
- (7 September 2024)
- Suds Fest 2024 (if you're a fan of beer, you'll be more than happy here at Birmingham's own independent beer festival!)
- (13-14 September 2024; Victoria Square)
- "Colmore Food Festival" (a food festival right beside the "Floozie in the Jacuzzi" that is free to enter and with price caps on food to keep it affordable for all!)
- (14 September 2024; NEC)
- "The Cat Show Live" (are you a cat fan? Then, do I have the event for you- without the competition!)
- (21 September 2024; Stirchley Public Bath House)
- Stirchley Community Autumn Market (come and support some lovely, local artisans!)
- (21 Septemnber 2024; XOYO, Digbeth)
- Swingamajig (an electro-swing and caberet festival that will get you out of your seat and dancing the night away!)
- (28 September 2024; Elgar Music Hall, University of Birmingham)
- "Kimono World" (the final performance of a 20-year going event, giving you the opportunity to experience a kimono fashion show, a traditional, Japanese, tea ceremony, koto and shamisen music, Nihon Buyo dance, and karate)
- (28 September 2024; Fazeley Street, Brum)
- "TILT Festival" (aerial and physical theatre festival; waiting on more information from the organisers)
- (29 September 2024; NEC)
- "Toy Collector's Fair" (the UK's biggest toy collecting fair)
- (15-20 October 2024; Fazeley Street, Brum)
- "Fierce Festival" (one of the most respected Live Arts festivals in the world returns to Brum!)
- (24-27 October 2024; Brum City Centre)
- "Birmingham Cocktail Weekend" (Winter Edition) (like cocktails, then join the city to celebrate a boozy weekend of fun)
- (31 October-3 November 2024; NEC)
- The UK Big Christmas and Craft Weekend (your ticket gets you into several other shows, as well!)
- "The Creative Craft Show" (the UK's biggest mixed-craft show)
- "Sewing for Pleasure" (get all the sewing mats you need, or learn to use them!)
- "Simply Christmas" (a crafty Christmas show with stalls)
- "Bake International/Cake International" (see your favourite baking stars, get everything you need for your kitchen, and watch demonstrations)
- The UK Big Christmas and Craft Weekend (your ticket gets you into several other shows, as well!)
- (8-17 November 2024; Millennium Point, Brum)
- "Birmingham Film Festival" (a weekend of free international film screenings, events, and awards highlighting filmmakers from across the world)
- (15-17 November 2024; NEC)
- "Mind Body Spirit Festival" (come and find your peace at the NEC for a weekend of mindfulness)
- (29 November-1 December 2024; NEC)
- "MCM Comic Con" (come and get your cosplay, anime, gaming, comic self on for a weekend of fun and special guests!)
- (7-8 December 2024; NEC)
- "FitFest" (Europe's only purely fitness festival)
- (17 May 2025; Brum City Centre)
- The Birmingham St. Patrick's Day Parade (known as one of the biggest SPD parade in the world, the parade is back, bigger and more amazing than ever, after returning last year!)
- (24-25 May 2025; Brum City Centre)
- "Birmingham Pride" (the PRIDE of the Midlands, and one of the largest pride festivals and parades in the world, the annual festival returns with all of the love and joy it always has, with plenty more to share!)
- (30 May-1 June 2025; NEC)
- "UK Games Expo" (if you're a board games fan, this is THE place for you! 3 days of board games of all kinds from around the world! This is the third biggest board games expo in the world, as well! I'm shocked I missed this on the first post as it's been a staple of my friend group for several years, now!)
- (5 July 2025; Cotteridge Park)
- "CoCoMAD" (an annual local arts festival right in the heart of Cotteridge Park!)
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More Info!
If you like artisan markets, make sure to check out the Birmingham Artisan Markets site! They keep updated the latest artisan market dates throughout the year!
If you are a fan of walking tours, check out Birmingham Heritage Walking Tours to see some cool and unique sides of the city you may not know about!
Make sure to download the "Walk, Run Cycle Birmingham" app to get a great tour of the amazing graffiti street art that Digbeth is known for!
You can also check out the Visit Birmingham "What's On" page for festivals
I hope this helped a bit!
-Ducky/Skittles
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This is dope
Thanks for this! I’m moving down to Brum from Edinburgh during the Fringe so excited that there’s still lots of arts and culture events too see!
Appreciate the effort!
Great list!
Thank you for this comprehensive list. I just saved your post to refer to it again.
Thank you for taking the time to do this! I’ll definitely be referring to it when looking at things to do on weekends. Also shows that Brum does have a lot to offer, sometimes you’ve just gotta look for it!
Damn this is good
Slight correction- Digbeth Dining Club doesn’t actually have a Digbeth location anymore, and hosts mostly near the Jewellery Quarter as ‘Hockley social club’.
I would also massively recommend Cherry Reds bar and cafe next door to Bonehead and Burnign Soul Brewery in the Jewellery Quarter.
Pairc festival
I don’t recommend the kitty cafe in bham at all. The last time I went In the cats were all highly stressed and the staff not bothered about enforcing the rules. The better one is in Stratford upon Avon as it does not allow under 10s in.
The list of events is really helpful! I don’t know where I can find this information any more.
Great post, thank you!
Missing events /festivals
Swingamajig, 21st September at XOYO digbeth. Electro/swing festival. https://www.swingamajig.co.uk/
UK games expo first weekend of June at the NEC. The UK’s largest boardgames expo. Been in Brum since it’s founding and run by Brummies, takes up 3 halls at the NEC.
Some thoughts/feedback, which isn’t to criticise the excellent work you’ve put in!
The date for Moseley folk festival is wrong, you have it running from the 20th Aug to 1st Sept, when it should be 30th Aug – 1st Sept.
You could add Suds fest – a beer festival hosted between Attic Brew & Seasonal Markets on the 7th September in Moseley.
I’d love a shout out for: [Birmingham Heritage Walking Tours (birminghamwalkingtours.co.uk)](https://www.birminghamwalkingtours.co.uk/) for some really interesting and unique sides to the city.
Birmingham Royal Ballet might also be a nice addition to the list. CBSO is under the theatres slot – I’m not sure it fits this description and just from the acronym, someone who didn’t know couldn’t tell.
Mockingbird cinema could be added to the Digbeth section – with the closing of the Electric it is one of the few remaining places (along with the MAC) that shows a more varied selection of films than your standard cinema chains. You could also mention some of the local cinema clubs like Stirchley Open Cinema or Screen B14.
As others have said, Digbeth Dining Club isn’t a venue in Digbeth any more (and hasn’t been for several years) – their main venues are now Hockley Social Club near the JQ (which should definitely be on this list both for its food options as well as its range of events and markets it hosts), and Herbert’s Yard (Longbridge).
Also personally don’t think EL&N London has any place on this list when there are many far better options nearby that a) don’t have London in their name… and b) aren’t entirely based around being Instagrammable rather than being good. I’d challenge some of your other suggestions (Lost & Found doesn’t really feel very unique or interesting, and Kitty cafe?!? Really?!?) but I appreciate that’s just personal preference. I’d also like to see some mention of Kings Heath/Stirchley on this list as two of the more exciting places in Birmingham for events and restaurants/bars.
Loki wine – #1 wine merchant in the UK! Lots of amazing wine tasting events and fairs
Ft that ppl
Mods please pin this!
Wow, that is a great list thank you! It’s quite crazy how living here all your life you tend to overlook a lot of what goes on in the city. A lot of these I didn’t know of or think to go to. Looks like i’ll be making some plans
This is great. I’d add in Stirchley: Loaf, Birmingham Brewery, Attic, Couch, Stir Stores, Caneat, Verbena
Thanks for taking the time to do this. Awesome list.
This is absolutely amazing! I wish we’d had this when we had visitors from Ireland. I couldn’t think of a damn thing to do! Thank you so much. ❤️
Amazing effort and definitely something to pin up by the mods.
Birmingham is a fantastic place to be and I’m glad something like this exists now to highlight it.
Theres loads of stuff going on with [Birmingham Heritage week](https://birminghamheritageweek.co.uk/) in September
As a resident of Stirchley theres a few more additions I’d recommend:-
[Glass House Brewery](https://glasshousebeer.co.uk/pages/taproom)
[Birmingham Brew Company](https://birminghambrewingcompany.co.uk/)
[Eat Vietnam](https://eatvietnam.co.uk/)
[Chancers cafe / yikouchi](https://www.instagram.com/_yikouchi/)
[The Wildcat Tap](https://stirchleywildcat.co.uk/)
Can’t believe you missed the Wellington off of the city centre pubs. One of the best ale selections, and a fantastic upstairs seating area for smokers. This pub has a rep for a reason, the range of choice is among the best in the city centre.
E; there are two Wellies btw, I mean the one near pigeon park
Someone in my party got pink chicken served to them in Saphari last weekend so I wouldn’t trust there unless you check the inside of the meat before you eat anything.
Alright, at the keyboard instead of the phone for some other contributions…
* Tin Tin Food Hall is like Asia Asia Food Hall. If you visit irregularly, the restaurants will change. People interested in Asia Asia will be just as interested in this. Masshouse, The Hive, Masshouse Ln, Birmingham B5 5JN
* Seoul Kitchen. Just get the hotpot or Japchae. Trust me on this. Unit 1, Sirius 24, Suffolk Street Queensway, Birmingham B1 1LT
* The Wolf is a nice pub in the JQ that specialises in craft beer, but the true secret is that you go there for their pie with a pint. 2-10 Constitution Hill, Birmingham, B19 3LY
* Speaking of pies, if you find yourself out in the Black Country for whatever reason and a bit peckish, perhaps a reason above, swing by Mad O’Rourke’s Pie Factory in Tipton. It is based in an old munitions factory, which has been refitted into a pie factory. Just a 10m walk from Tipton Station, and between Tipton Station and Dudley Zoo meaning it might be a nice capstone to a zoo visit. This is the realest pie place in the West Midlands. See if you can take on the Desperate Dan Challenge (I failed, personally), while also having an excellent selection of alcoholic drinks to go with. Mad O’Rourke’s Pie Factory, Hurst Lane, Tipton, West Midlands, DY4 9AB
* Locanta Italian in JQ is a nice, relaxed little Italian restaurant to chill out at after a day out. Is it the best? Probably not. Is it really good, very affordable, always quiet while offering a wide selection? Absolutely. 31 Ludgate Hill, Birmingham B3 1EH
* Loaf in Stirchley, a brilliant little cooperative bakery with awkward opening hours, is well worth a visit for some of the freshest bread in the city. They specialise in sourdough, which isn’t to my taste, but their focaccia is to die for when they do it, and they offer baking classes to those interested and excited to learn a new skill. 1421 Pershore Road, Stirchley, Birmingham, B30 2JL
* In a similar cooperative vein to Loaf, just up the street (currently, believe the coops are centralizing into one building eventually?) there is the Birmingham Bike Foundry. Why would you recommend a bike shop, you ask? Because this bike shop offers rewarding training courses on maintaining and beyond, just like the bakery. 1539 Pershore Road, Stirchley, B30 2JH
* Stirchley Wine and Spirits, just next door to the Bike Foundry, is an amazing and multiple award winning off-licence brewery that specialises in harder-to-find or local brews. If you want to try and take home something new to drink, swing by and pick something up, and be sure to speak to the staff who are willing to provide wonderful help in selecting. Additionally, and this is something you won’t see often, they offer a ‘growler’ service, meaning they have their own tap in store with a rotating cast of beers that you can have poured into a gigantic glass jug that you can purchase and take away with you. Truly rare, and well worth a try. 1535/1537 Pershore Road, Stirchley, Birmingham, B30 2JH
* Out for some menswear shopping? Ignore the Bullring. Put it out of your mind entirely, and walk on over to Pigeon Park. You are going to Liquor Store now instead, which has the best selection of mens denim and fashion in the city centre, along with the best customer service and options available. You can buy a pair of (admittedly expensive) jeans in this store, wear them for years, and then when they get a rip somehow swing on back for their in-house denim repair service. This is the best of the best when it comes to Birmingham mens streetwear. Liquor Store, 3 The Grand, 27 Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 2BS
Finally a request. Please go to the Chinese Pagoda in the Horsefair Roundabout (ignore the whiff of piss in the tunnels) and admire the brilliant mural which serves as a window to the city’s past. The City Council has determined it will not maintain this going forward, so the shelf life on it is limited now, sadly. Look at it now, before you never get another chance, it is already in heavy disrepair.
e;
Also in the daytime, look around the backstreets of Digbeth up and around Floodgate Street (near the Custard Factory) for some wonderful graffiti and street art. Where you see the JFK mural, turn down that street. Fun fact, the JFK mural is originally by the same artist as the Pagoda mural. Weirdly, the City Council chose to preserve the one of the famous American politician, but not the one depicting regular people from this city…