Free family activities and attractions in Birmingham and the West Midlands
Birmingham is the second largest city in the United Kingdom, the hub of the West Midlands region. Birmingham and the West Midlands have multiple amazing attractions for a day out such as Dudley Zoo & Castle, National Sea Life Centre Birmingham and more.
However, if you’d like to spend the day with your family but don’t wish to spend money on an entry ticket, there are a surprising number of fun, interesting and inspiring places to go and explore, from museums and art galleries to farms and parks. The West Midlands and Birmingham area is full of family-friendly activities with no ticket price or admission charge.
Free science attractions
Located within the Grade II listed Aston Webb Building, which retains the original Edwardian features, the Lapworth Museum of Geology dates back to 1880, and is one of the oldest specialist geological museums in the UK. Marvel at its state-of-the-art galleries and a range of innovative and interactive exhibits from dinosaurs to rocks and fossils, volcanoes and earthquakes.
Although there is an entry fee to Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum, the Science Garden, located on Level O, directly in front of Thinktank, is free to enter every day from 3pm, with varying closing times. It has over 30 hands-on exhibits including a giant human-sized hamster wheel.
Visit the Dudley Museum at the Archives to discover their wide range of displays including geology, fossils, dinosaurs, finds from Dudley Castle, local heroes and glass and art work.
Free museums and art galleries
In the city centre, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is free, and has regular pop-up exhibitions for families to visit. The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry is an ideal place to take children who are interested in fine arts and archaeology.
The Ikon Gallery is free to enter too and is an internationally acclaimed contemporary art venue that has temporary exhibitions of work by artists from around the world in many different mediums. Be sure to check opening hours ahead of travelling, as it’s usually closed on Mondays.
The Barber Institute of Fine Arts houses many iconic pieces of artwork, which are free of charge to view. Gaze on the work of Botticelli, Gainsborough, Van Gogh for free.
Free parks and open spaces
Birmingham and its surrounds have many wonderful parks, in fact Birmingham City Council looks after nearly 600 parks and public open spaces, plus over 200 play areas so there’s got to be one to tempt you on a family picnic or to see spring bursting into life.
Spend the day exploring Walsall Arboretum for some free water-related fun! An ideal way for your little ones to cool off this summer. With 170 acres of green spaces, gardens and play areas, this day out will keep the family endlessly entertained.
There’s Cannon Hill Park with its large lake, you can climb Beacon Hill at Lickey Hills Country Park and follow the nature trail at Bantock House Museum & Park, all free of charge.
Find Tolkien inspirations
Some trivia not many people know about is that many parts of Birmingham are connected to Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, who grew up in the city. Parts of it inspired the imaginary people and places in his epic fantasy tales. Go and take a look at Sarehole Mill; the grounds including the Woodland Realm and Mill Pond are free to visit, though there is an admission charge to get inside the mill house.
