Birmingham

Alexander Stadium

Alexander Stadium, situated in Perry Barr, is Birmingham's only large athletics stadium and plays host to international meets and trials to decide the English/British teams for major events as well as being the base for the Birchfield Harriers athletics club. The stadium's various sporting facilities are also open to public use. £1-2, capacity 18,000.

Alexandra Theatre

Edwardian theatre showing pre- and post-West End plays and musicals.

£6-50 (price varies with seating)

Arena Birmingham

National Indoor Arena

A fairly large, modern arena hosting many national and international sporting and entertainment events. Prices vary with event and seating.

Aston Hall

Restored Jacobean mansion built between 1618 and 1635, containing period rooms and artwork. Cannon damage from the English Civil War is still visible. The Hall was visited by Arthur Conan Doyle and Washington Irving, inspiring the latter's 'Bracebridge Hall'. Aston Hall by Candlelight is a popular Christmas event that takes place every two years (even numbers) where the whole grounds are lit by candles for 17th-century festivities (fee charged). Closed when Aston Villa are playing at home. Admission to grounds is free.

£8 (adults)

BRIG Cafe at the Warehouse

Wholesome organic vegetarian and vegan fare. Closely linked with Friends of the Earth.

Tue-Fri 9AM-4PM

BT Tower

Completed in 1966, it is the second tallest structure in Birmingham at 152 m, and serves solely as the support for transmission antennas mounted atop it. It has no viewing platform or other accessible floors at all, but it can serve as a landmark and orientation point as it is clearly visible from many parts of the city. Its square profile sets it apart from many other similar structures in the world.

Bacchus

Cheerfully ornate, gothic style cellar bar beneath The Burlington Hotel. Discretely hidden just off the bustling New Street. Bacchus is a relaxing oasis away from the buzz of the City Centre. A range of real ales is available. Over 21s only.

Baguettes 4 Less

Nice baguettes. The jacket potatoes are good quality, well filled and piping hot.

Bambu

One of the best, but also one of the most pretentious clubs in Birmingham. It's not cheap but is still the place to be seen. The dress code here is very hard to define, they want "cool".

Fri and Sat 10:30PM–4AM

Barber Institute of Fine Arts

Small gallery with an excellent eclectic permanent collection, including many pre-Raphaelites. Good Britain Guide gallery of the year 2004. As of April 2026, the Barber galleries are closed for a major building improvement project.

Mon-Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun noon-5PM·Free (donations welcome)

Bell Edison Telephone Building

The Exchange

A signature, Grade-I-listed, building for the red-brick-and-terracota Victorian style prevalent in the late 19th century in Birmingham, which lacked natural stone and battled sooting problems due to air pollution. It is also a symbol of modernisation of Birmingham, as it was built to house the Central Telephone Exchange for the city; the logos of the Bell-Edison company are still visible within the building. As the telephone exchange relocated many decades ago, the building now houses offices and a bar.

Birmingham Back to Backs

Last surviving set of these 19th-century cramped, working-class houses in Birmingham, restored and preserved by the National Trust.

Tours must be booked a few days in advance, usually open Tue-Thu 1-5PM, Fri-Sun 10AM-5PM·£8.55

Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses

Large botanical gardens with a huge range of plants and workshops throughout the year.

Mon-Sat 9AM-7PM, Sun 10AM-7PM (closes at 5PM or dusk Oct-Mar)·£6.10 (concessions £3.60, family tickets available)

Birmingham Hippodrome

Large, refurbished theatre showing varied performing arts, including ballet, musicals, comedy, opera and drama. Home of the Patrick Centre for the Performing Arts and the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Preferred venue for the Welsh National Opera.

£6-50 (price varies with seating. Concessions £3-5 off or £10-15 student & seniors (plus non-student/senior friend) standby 24 hours in advance. 3%-6% transaction fee if not paying by cash)

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

Large museum with some local history, several temporary exhibitions and large permanent collection, including an extensive collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings. Home to part of the stunning Anglo-Saxon hoard, the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold metal work discovered just north of Birmingham in 2009. Includes the Gas Hall and Waterhall Gallery of Modern Art. As of August 2025, only some galleries are open, due to refurbishment.

Wed-Sun 10AM-5PM·Free (donations welcome)

Birmingham Nature Centre

Six-acre centre with lots of animals and birds, including deer, otters, owls and two rare Red Pandas.

Apr-Oct: daily 10AM-5PM; Nov-Mar: Sat Sun 10AM-4PM·£9.50 (concessions £7.00, children under 3 free)

Birmingham Peace Pagoda

Situated in an inner-city area of Birmingham close to Edgbaston Reservoir, the gold-roofed pagoda is a sight to behold. The pagoda is designed as symbol of peace, compassion and the noble exemplary qualities of the Buddha.

Birmingham School of Art

Birmingham Institute of Art and Design

Built in 1885 in High Victorian red brick style as a new seat for the Birmingham School of Art, the building retains its original function as its original occupier survived several educational institution mergers and is now the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design within Birmingham City University. The building itself is Grade I listed.

Blakesley Hall

One of the oldest buildings in Birmingham and a typical example of "black & white" Tudor architecture, constructed in 1590 by Richard Smalbroke as a timber-framed farmhouse. Many historic artefacts are on display in the museum, including authentic candlesticks and pewter goblets. The Gilbertstone, moved in local folklore by the Giant named Gilbert, is displayed in the grounds of the museum.

Wed-Sun 11AM-4PM·Adults £8, students and elderly £6, children younger than 15 £5

Bull

Quiet and comfortable pub, in the Gun quarter. Home-cooked food, too.

Bull Ring Markets

The markets comprise the original trading centre that Birmingham was built upon. There are hundreds of stalls, and you'll be able to get everything from food to underwear to gaffa tape relatively cheaply.

Indoor Market: Mon-Sat 9AM-5:30PM, Rag Market: Tue Thu-Sat 9AM-5PM, Open Market: Tue-Sat 9AM-5PM

Bullring

Regionally-important shopping mall, connected to Grand Central

CBSO Centre

Modern rehearsal facilities for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO). Concerts usually once a week, including Centre Stage intimate chamber music.

£5-12

Cadbury World

Huge chocolate factory south of the city centre. Tour includes the history of chocolate and the Cadbury company, plus a brief look at some of the factory floor. Some free chocolate, plus relatively cheap mis-shapes in the shop.

Opening times vary enormously but tend to be daily 10AM-5PM in the spring, summer and autumn·Entry from £24 (online price; costs more in person)

Cafe Face

Excellent reputation for their roasted vegetables or jacket potatoes. Absolutely excellent cafes, big helpings not shy on the cheese, garlic mayonnaise and chilli sauce if you were to order them.

Canalside Cafe

Fairly small cafe with a good range of organic and vegetarian foods. Excellent in the summer, as it's (unsurprisingly) right on the canalside.

Cannon Hill Park

Take a walk around on the Moseley/Edgbaston border. The park has a boating lake and is home to the Midlands Arts Centre. This has a theatre, an 'art-house' cinema and year-round exhibitions.

Caspian Pizza

Lovely vegetarian panini. The seating is comfortable and the overall decor is nice.

Chung Ying Cantonese Restaurant

The Chinese Restaurant in Birmingham, established since 1981. Opposite Arcadian Centre.

Council House

The seat of local government. Not open to the public, except for special events and council meetings. Several WWI & II memorial plaques have been relocated here from other municipal buildings and may be seen by appointment.