Best art galleries in Birmingham: find options near you

Ένα μέρος που εμπνέει και ηρεμεί.

Μια καλή εισαγωγή στην ζωή του Μπέρμιγχαμ και τον πολιτών του.

Άριστη επιλογή για όσους αγαπούν τη ζωγραφική.

Εξαιρετικη και η εκθεση “Women in the City “

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Καταπληκτικό

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is truly a gem in the heart of the city. The building itself is stunning, blending history and architecture beautifully. Inside, the galleries are well-curated with a wonderful variety of exhibitions, from classical art to fascinating historical collections. Everything is laid out thoughtfully, making it easy to explore and enjoy at your own pace.

The atmosphere is calm and inspiring, perfect for spending a few hours appreciating culture and history. The staff are welcoming and knowledgeable, always ready to guide or answer questions, which really adds to the overall experience. The museum is also very well maintained, with clean facilities and comfortable spaces to sit and take it all in.

What I loved most was how the museum offers something for everyone – whether you’re interested in art, history, or just looking for a peaceful and enriching day out. It’s a place that makes you appreciate the heritage of Birmingham while also connecting you with global culture.

A must-visit for anyone in the city!

Rdws

The Birmingham Museum of Art is a wonderful part of Birmingham that holds a collection of international arts and culture. The building and location is conveniently place by tons of restaurants and parking. We attended The Candle Light concert while visiting tonight. The venue is the perfect size and intimate setting. No matter where you were seated, the view of the stage was excellent and easily viewed. The staff was friendly and helpful, most of all, the facility is clean and well maintained.

We enjoyed our first visit here. Because it’s free , we only toured the first floor, saving the rest for another visit

Compared to my hometown of Montgomery, this museum had more variety.

However, the security guards walk through with distractingly loud walkie talkies. Also I was standing by accident too close to this really boring green sofa. I didn’t notice it was beeping at me until a security guard rudely informed me I was standing too close. Move the sofa out of the way. I was two feet away and in no way going to endanger the sofa. Train your staff to kindly let guests know they are too close

We had read there is free parking but we didn’t know where it was so we ended up paying $3 in a garage just past the theater next to the museum. No big deal…just note that you may want to figure out where the free parking is

Who knew Birmingham offers one of the best Museums in the country. I was amazed and pleased at the collections at this wonderful Museums.. Entry to the Museum is free and so is parking! Prepare to be bedazzled

Una experiencia maravillosa. El personal es muy amable. Es libre de costo. Puedes pasar 2+ horas en el museo fácilmente. Diferentes exhibiciones, a mi esposo le encantó la exhibición de Wedgewood, un taller en Inglaterra. Hay un área para los niños y un patio interior. Hay estacionamientos a una cuadra a $2 la hora.

Very nice place. If I worked downtown I would visit often. Great place to walk around and see great art. Lots of ceramics as well. Spent several hours just trying to see most everything.

We had some time to kill in the area and decided to stop by. Great decision. Everyone was so helpful, the museum is well kept and had good exhibits. My family and I said we would like to come back to spend more time there.

Really great day out for all the family. Can get good discounts if you know where to look which makes it much more affordable.

Loads to do. The outside water play part it especially brilliant for your kids.

Planetarium comes at an extra cost but was good.

The think tank is a great spot for all ages. Whether you’re older or younger there is something for everybody. The play area was a favourite on our visit, the kids would love to go back just for that. It’s interactive and has so many different things there. It shows so much local history too which we loved. Pricing was fair and the staff were great too.

3 hours well spent! The exhibitions are interactive and informative. I was surprised to see paper printed information peeling off the wall given the price of the ticket. The Planetarium is OK if you are new to this.

We visited Thinktank with our 6 and 9-year-olds, and they absolutely loved it, especially the outdoor area. It’s really well set up for kids, and you could easily spend 2-3 hours exploring everything. Just a tip: that outdoor section can get hot in summer. Inside, the museum is spread across three stories, so there’s plenty to see.

A bonus for us was discovering that if you travel by bus or train, you can get 50% off admission! That made it even better value. Definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a fun and educational day out with the family.

Fantastic and interesting place. Every floor offers a different insight on science, evolution, technology and mechanics throughout human history. I would definitely recommend a visit especially with the kids. The Gift shop is quite expensive though! And finding parking is a nightmare.

It was ok for my teenager but even for me it was not that great. It’s a small museum separated in 3-4 floors. Interesting for little ones. We are use to museum and for us it was boring and very expensive for what it was.

В принципе неплохой музей, много достойных экспонатов, но 3/4 экспозиции ориентированы на детей с соответствующими интерактивными “игрушками”, половина из которых не работает или изрядно потрепаны. Есть кафе, сувенирная лавка, туалеты, лифты.

Οκ

Nice small museum that’s free but asks for a donation.

A couple of dinosaurs, lots of rocks and some cool interactive displays. Covers evolution.

There is a section on geologists from Birmingham and the university.

It will keep you entertained for 1 hour or so.

Parking is 10 minutes walk but the walk is nice through the university grounds.

They have live shows regularly.

When I was there they had murder in the museum, an app on your phone to find clues (tricking children into looking at items into the museum). Well worth the £20 because the kids did that, whilst I looked at the displays in the museum.

Visited recently for an event held by the University of Birmingham and Kidney Care UK… The museum, located within the university, is beautiful and has plenty to explore. The atmosphere was welcoming, and staff were friendly and helpful throughout the event. It was well-organized and a great success. A lovely venue for both events and to visit in general

Free entry to this hidden gem of a museum. Spoke to the person on reception about parking, who advised the parking is paid via RingGo app as seen in the signage and not free as per some Google reviews.

Small museum with geological collections over 2 floors, located on Birmingham University campus. It is not a particular big museum, doable within 45 minutes if you read most of the information.

It is not an interactive museum.

There are toilet facilities on the ground floor.

There is the Barber Institute of Fine Arts museum located close by but as of 2025, it remains closed until 2026 for major improvements.

Small but great museum with lots to see including fossils, rocks and gemstones. There are some free activity sheets and a room with books, colouring sheets and puzzles. Great for an hour or so visit. There are some toilets and an opportunity to buy a souvenir/gift. Parking is £2.50 via the ringo app. They welcome donations but the museum does not charge an entry fee so no need to book. Quite warm on a hot day but we enjoyed our visit. Helpful lady at reception.

What an amazing museum in a fab location on university campus. We used Google maps to get there by bus from city centre. Admission is free & the gem stone and fossil collection was amazing. Very informative & would recommend.

A brilliant place to visit with quality exhibits and welcoming staff. We went on a Sunday afternoon with a two year old and a three year old and they loved the dinosaur fossils, the rock wall and the giant interactive globe. The museum is in the beautiful grounds of the University of Birmingham, parking was free and easy to find and entry to the museum is also free. This place is a gem. We’ll be regular visitors for sure. Highly recommend.

It’s hard to believe this beautiful, serene place is only an eight minute train ride from Birmingham New Street. Its a great historical building; each of the rooms look stunning and the gardens are well cultivated and maintained.

I was here on a hot summer Saturday afternoon (the last weekend of June)., and was surprised it wasn’t very busy. Yes, there were other visitors around, but it never felt crowded. Maybe the £10 admission fee is off-putting to some?

The visit here was definitely worthwhile and felt like a tranquil oasis from the crowded Birmingham city centre. The volunteers are very knowledgably of the building’s history and the gardens are a great place to relax after touring the rooms withing the grand hall.

Aston Hall was our wedding venue. It’s a fantastic building, full of character and wonderful spaces. While booking was a bit of a faff, the staff on the day were excellent and did everything to make the event run smoothly while still being great fun, including accommodating a harpist and two bands. We had canapes on site that were also superb. If you’re looking for somewhere a little different, Aston Hall is highly recommended.

Very nice museum and well curated! The staff was very friendly and excited to answer questions about the place! It’s a bit hard to get to if you go by bus but the place is super nice!

Remarbly quiet for a historic visitor attraction. A nice property to take your time exploring the rooms and it’s potted history.

We had the best time at Aston Hall. We didn’t really know what to expect but ended up having an informative and engaging private tour of the entire hall filled with detailed knowledge, anecdotes and even ghost stories. Would thoroughly recommend. Thanks Matthew!

Amazing piece of history, yes cafe is closed and it’s really a few visitors, but let’s tell the friends to visit , to support and promote

Beautiful Jacobean property just minutes out of Birmingham, and National Trust Members get in for HALF PRICE.
Great visit with the staff very friendly and happy to indulge you with the properties rich and fascinating history. Go visit, you won’t be disappointed.

Αξιόλογα έργα από την φλαμανδική ζωγραφική, την ρομαντική περίοδο, ιμπρεσιονιστική, εξπρεσιονιστική και μοντέρνα τέχνη με έργα Μπρέγκελ, Ρούμπενς, Τέρνερ, Βαν Γκογκ, Πικάσσο. Υπάρχει και νομισματικό Μουσείο με νομίσματα πτολεμαϊκά βυζαντινά. Η είσοδος είναι δωρεάν

難得大學校園有博物館與美術館的存在，足見伯明罕大學除了在學術領域卓越外，更重視人文與藝術的薰陶。其羅馬時期的金幣收藏更讓人印象深刻外，馬內與梵谷及雷諾瓦的名畫更陳列其中，值得推薦全球旅客前往。

It is rare to have museums and art galleries on a university campus, which shows that in addition to its excellence in academics, the University of Birmingham also attaches great importance to the humanities and arts. In addition to its impressive collection of Roman gold coins, famous paintings by Manet, Van Gogh and Renoir are also on display, making it a recommended place for travelers from all over the world.

Definitely recommend it. They have a large collection, many famous artists. The staff is friendly. Nevertheless there is clearly room for improvement. The fact that many artworks are hanging tilted, not straight, that the light reflects on the frame window… not ideal. They could definitely also make it more interactive. Still a must see if you can especially as it’s free and not crowded so you can really wander around peacefully.

바버 여사님께서 기증한 그림들로 구성된 미술관 이라고 합니다. 차분히 그림을 보면서 다양한 시대의 그림들과 유명한 화가들의 그림, 그리고 조각상 등을 볼 수 있습니다.
전시 내용은 다른 미술관처럼 주기적으로 교체된다고 하고요. 테마전시회도 있습니다. 유화 질감과 다양한 소재위에 그린 그림을 직접 볼 수 있고, 윌리엄 터너, 모네, 고흐, 마네, 밀레 등… 그 외에도 아름다우면서 스토리가 있는 그림들, 로뎅 조각상까지 뭐… 정말 알찬 구성 입니다. 시간 내셔서 직접 가서 보면 정말 행복한 시간이 되실 겁니다.

We went to see a couple of the current exhibitions, but one only had 4 paintings, which I would not classify as an exhibition. Entry is free though.

Absolute gem- was not expecting to see paintings and sculptures by Moore, Degas, Toulouse- Letrec, Rosalli, Monet, Van Gogh.. all without crowds and high entrance fees for exhibits! Well worth a visit and supporting through easy to use contactless donation points. Beautiful art deco building makes this, along with Winterbourne around the corner a joint favourite place to visit in Birmingham. Could do with a dedicated cafe and seating around to pull in the punters and agree with suggestions about poor lighting and tilt on some paintings but overall a wonderful local asset! Interesting scent exhibition at present too

Went to see Blind Girl (not at main Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery), and discovered the gem that the gallery is on university campus. Well worth train from New Street to University (but quite a walk on campus).

Очень красивое здание. Здесь можно забронировать помещение и провести свою выставку. Я попала на ткатцкую выставку, она интересная так как так я уже делала это раньше. Вторая выставка Сыльги Ли была не очень понятна. Но музей бесплатный, поэтому он заслуживает высокую оценку.

This beautiful spot is a hidden gem in the city—lined with cherry blossom trees that create a stunning canopy of pink petals. It’s the perfect place to take a peaceful stroll or relax on a bench while soaking in the vibrant, serene atmosphere. A must-visit during springtime!

Loved seeing the art, interesting and playful — and can I just say, the staff were the friendliest I can remember in any art gallery, really appreciated them!

Loved it ! The (free entrance) space is really great with two floors of exhibition including a social space which has that giant drawing social table which is filled with so much of the visitors drawings.

Peaceful place. Access by stairs and elevator possible.
Nice little souvenir shop at the ground floor.
Very friendly staff.

The exhibition on at the moment on friendship is very interesting (brace yourself some pieces can be challenging to grasp) with varied media types.

I recently visited Ikon Gallery in Birmingham for the exhibition What Did You Want to See? by Mahtab Hussain. The exhibition offers a poignant exploration of Birmingham’s Muslim communities, addressing themes of surveillance and identity. Hussain’s photographic works, including intimate portraits and images of local mosques, challenge stereotypes and highlight the resilience of these communities. The gallery’s minimalist design provides an ideal setting for the contemplative nature of the exhibition. Overall, it was a thought-provoking experience that deepened my understanding of the complexities surrounding identity and representation.

Went in on Thursday really nice staff and free exhibitions. Definitely check it out they have different ones at different times..

Really wonderful time seeing the executions on Seulgi Lee we had some wonderful explanations by Todd! Really helpful and eager to share his perspectives really brought the visit together!

Such a hidden gem! The museum is mostly about Tolkien and his life in Birmingham which is very interesting as an LOTR fan. When you reach the actual mill part and all the structures, everything is a perfect picture of the past, it’s amazing how well preserved it is. Also the staff are lovely!

It’s a bit tricky to get to and the opening hours are limited, also sadly their tea room is closed at the moment, but it is worth a visit, especially alongside a walk around the pond which is very pretty.

Very nice and cute museum about Tolkien’s childhood and inspirations. I was very surprised to find out how rural Birmingham used to be!

Took my Year 4 class there to visit as part of their Geography field trip. The children loved it, gave them some knowledge on how to measure the water depth, the purpose of stepping stones to regulate water flow and they also cross link it to their science lesson (living things and habitats) where the children asked questions about the various plants by the river.
Children got to fish and learn about different lifeforms in the river water.

Staff were great, knowledgeable and patient!

Would be interesting for fans of J.R.R Tolkien (he lived in the house opposite Sarehole Mill)

Very interesting building and wonderful Tolkien tour.

It’s an enjoyable short day out in the fresh air for a family with young children. You can book a guided tour of the Mill, which is about 30 minutes max, and afterwards explore the nearby park and Moseley Bog. We took packed lunches because the cafe is not open at the moment. We stayed from 11am until 3pm.

My husband and I, being Tolkien fans, were definitely excited about doing this tour as part of our visit to Birmingham! Our initial research into the museum and the mill set us up to expect a nice tour of the mill, an intimate look into the years that Tolkien spent at the mill, and the pizza at the café.

The first two items (the mill and the Tolkien trivia) were an amazing experience! We definitely recommend this tour to anybody who wants to visit a good old run down watermill simply to see the works, or if you’re a Tolkien nerd as well!
Our tour guide was Ash, and he was marvellous! The tour lasted about an hour, during which he took us through the floors of the mill, explaining in immersive detail what milling was all about back in the day, occasionally treating us to a bit of insight into Tolkien’s life back when he lived around the mill.

The third aspect that we were looking forward to (the pizza) was unfortunately a big disappointment. Not only was it mediocre at best, we also had to wait over an hour just for our order to be taken! (No, it wasn’t that crowded. They were “backed up” with another order apparently.)
So after over an hour of waiting to place an order (during which time we had filled up on tea and cake because we were just sitting there hungry and waiting), and then a wait of about 20 minutes for our pizza to arrive, we were quite disappointed with what we were served.

In summary: definitely do the tour and take your time exploring the park and the trail, and the mill area.

I have been to the mill a few times for the pizza pod experience and it has always been great! Highly recommended to anyone looking for a bit of an escape from the mundane city ( in the city) for a bite to eat and to relax. They also have a selection of soft drinks available, not licence for alcohol though. The mill its self is a wonderful charming place.

Really interesting visit – super knowledgeable guide spent quality time with myself and my husband to explain some of the history and then we were able to take whatever time we needed to look around.

Office team were also really helpful as we signed up for a museum pass – looking forward to exploring other places across Birmingham and will go back for another visit to Blakesley Hall when the weather is a bit warmer!

We visited as a family for the first lot of Tudor Christmas Tours and we weren’t disappointed!
Plenty of things to see and really immerse yourself in what life was like in Tudor times, and afterwards, for both the landowners and for the people working and living there.
Our tour guide was wonderful, really knowledgeable, and our daughter loved it too.
We’ll be back in the summer to see the gardens in full bloom!

If you like historical buildings, this is a good one. 1590s build, with additional work over the centuries.

Great guide, knowledgeable and interesting, delivered with a bit of humour as well.

Overall the staff were lovely, the grounds immaculate and the house well presented and interesting.

This place is a hidden gem.

Takes you back to the good old days. Last time I came here was in primary school. A good 20 years ago.

The blakesley has been maintained very well. The courtyard is free to roam and take some picturesque photos. Some many apple trees, white flowers and yellow flowers.

To into Blakesley there is a £8 charge for adults and £4 (I think) for children.

They also have a small shop for which you can purchase merchandises and small gifts. There’s also free parking on site.

A gorgeous house with lots to see, and charming guides full of knowledge to inform. The guides let visitors in at intervals with a good introduction to the history of the house, then you’re free to wander at your leisure. The house is well kept and fully furnished in the style of the day. Especially good is the family room with costumes for dress up and puppets and theatre for putting on your own productions, as well as books, and blocks for building, to keep the little ones entertained for a good while. Well recommended.

Had a lovely afternoon out for Apple day on October 3rd. They had lots of things for the kids to do and and a craft fair was on in the hall, it was brilliant.

The hall itself is wonderful and there are guides there that can answer any questions you have. The building was built in 1590 but Is impeccably maintained.
There’s a little family room upstairs with toys and games and stuff. The stairs are quite steep and might be a challenge for some people.

The site isn’t massive but there’s a nice cafe and a small garden to walk around.

I think we will definitely go back in the future.

Beautiful house in a beautiful setting. The guides are extremely knowledgeable and are fantastic with children. The hall itself is kept very well and laid out as it would have been back then, with some exhibits kept in immaculate glass housing.
There is also a café and shop which are fairly well priced and you are able to bring your own food and sit in the gardens when the weather is good. Also highly recommend getting some of the lavender goods which is grown on site.

I was very happy to hear the museum was reopened and had a gret time there!! A very interesting part of Birmingham’s history! Our guide Carl was so nice and explainer things so well. The staff was also very friendly and helpful. I do recommend going!

A truly fascinating visit! Our guided tour (ca. 1 hour) was done by a knowledgable, dedicated volunteer (our guide grew up just a few streets from the museum) and the entire museum and preserved factory space is beautifully presented. You can see the tools, work benches, office and all the steps involved in making a piece of jewellery from order via the raw materials and hand-stamping and tooling to shipping. Some machines still work and the tour guide will activate them to let you experience the workspace. You can ask questions and we learned a lot about the city’s jewellery trade in the industrial age. The little shop also has a neat selection of Birmingham (social) history and fashion history publications. Highly recommend visiting!

We visited for the pop up event. It was great to see the museum and all the equipment used for jewellery making. We wish the visit was a bit more guided, but staff were very nice and enthusiastic. We hope this little time capsule opens up for more visitors soon!

The museum shows the working of a jewellery company in Birmingham, it’s is genuine reflection of how workshops functioned. It has also exquisite displays of silverware and jewellery. The top floor of the museum is still being worked on and not yet open however it is well worth the visit. Note that it is guided tour our guide was knowledgeable, had experience in jewellery making and friendly. Well worth a visit.

Great little museum and a very good tour! Our guide, Tim, was excellent and knowledgeable about the history of the factory and family that ran it. Highly recommend.

Fascinating: the workshop and the office are full of the paraphernalia of the jewellery-making business, as if the workers had just left the building (which they did in 1981). Interesting and well presented guided tour, well worth visiting.

A great little museum. William the tour guide was excellent – very entertaining and interesting. An hour well spent. Lovely and warm as well, which is what you want in February. It was almost eerie to see the papers and machines how the last workers left them in the 80s. It really brought the era to life for me. Good selection of coasters in the gift shop.