Best museums in Birmingham: find options near you

My visit to the Birmingham Back to Backs was absolutely fantastic and a truly immersive experience! I was completely captivated by the stories and history brought to life in each house. The guides were incredibly knowledgeable and passionate, making the past feel incredibly present and real. It’s a truly unique and wonderfully preserved piece of Birmingham’s heritage, offering a poignant glimpse into bygone eras. I left with a much deeper appreciation for the lives of those who lived there. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to step back in time and connect with history!”

Absolutely fantastic place to visit. It’s a guided tour and the guide explains about each room/ house and its history. Did the full tour which involves going up some narrow spiral stairs but there are banisters and handles to help.
Our guide Ross made our visit memorable.
You must book. Can not recommend highly enough.

I don’t give 5 star reviews lightly, but this place thoroughly deserves it.
Extremely informative tour (90 mins). The guide – Jean – was excellent throughout the tour. Stairs are a bit of a challenge on your joints, so be aware.
If you have an interest in social history, you must visit

Wonderful experience going back in time at different periods of local life, our benefit was the brilliant tour guide Wayne who with his extensive knowledge and stories brought it to life. You will have to pre book the tour and check access has there are quite a few stairs to climb

I only booked a tour of The Backs because I’m a National Trust member and was in Birmingham for the weekend and needed something to fill time. I was amazed at how much I enjoyed the tour, it was fascinating hearing about the history of the site and those that had lived there.

You can only visit the houses on a guided tour, and a full tour takes 90 minutes. Be warned that the stairs in the houses are narrow and steep.

Our guide, Miles, was brilliant and the time flew by way too quickly.

I’d highly recommend this tour and would happily visit again.

The tours do get fully booked, so if you want to do this book in advance.

This is a guided tour. When you buy your ticket you are given an entry time.
Our guide was very informative and humorous. Really interesting to see how people had to live over the years. The tour lasted about an hour and a half.

Fascinating to visit and hear the history of these building set up as time capsules from the 1800’s to 1930’s. It’s hard to imagine so many people living in such close proximity without running water and sanitation in the early periods.

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 “

Υπεροχα

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!

Μας έδειξαν πως γίνεται η σοκολάτα βγάλαμε φωτογραφίες είδαμε διάφορα αξιοθέατα είδαμε κάτι σαν ταινία σε σινεμά. Γενικά η εμπειρία μας εκεί πολύ όμορφη

This was such a fun experience! There is a 4D theatre, an interactive ride, you get to see chocolate being made and also get to taste chocolate! There are also places to learn the history and see old relics from their advertising, there is a big outdoor playground also. You can eat on site or bring your own food we well.

This is a wonderful and relaxing place for families or chocolate lovers to visit. The tour includes many interesting activities. In particular, we enjoyed watching the chocolate makers design souvenirs and demonstrate how to make chocolate right in front of us. I can’t wait to come again with my nephew.

If you’re in the area and have 2-3 hours to spare, this is a great tour for the kids and choco’olicks amongst us. I must admit to finding the history fascinating and the chocolate journey very interesting. Its also great to be reminded of the old adverts that helped shape our childhoods…

Cadbury World is an amazing experience, especially for kids! There’s so much to see and do – from fun, interactive exhibits to live shows that bring the story of chocolate to life. It’s hands-on, educational, and packed with sweet surprises.

Make sure to book your tickets well in advance – they sell out quickly, especially during weekends. It’s a popular spot for a reason!

Come ready for a serious sugar rush and a day full of fun. Highly recommended for families with young children! A must visit for fans of Cadbury (worth the trip from Canada).

This was one of the best experiences of my life! The instant smell of chocolate hits you from the car park and pulls you in
We learnt a lot about chocolate history and it was so interesting.
I can’t rate the staff enough, they were incredible. Thank you to Lee and Emma R who were in the chocolate tempering room. They showed us how to temper chocolate and it was very entertaining!
There’s a great atmosphere there and the staff are so welcoming from the second you walk in.
Would I go again…. 100% YES!

Great attractions. Informative and insightful explanations and demonstrations of the history of the company and how chocolate making has changed over the years. Lots of fun things for the kids to do inside, including: chocolate doodling, a mini coaster and other interactive things.

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.

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!

An amazing place to visit. Be sure to check it out. The Coffin Museum staff are very professional and friendly. After a while, I felt like I’d known these people for a long time. We also recommend it for the incredible knowledge. We were with children, and they had fun too, especially my little historian.

It may seem strange and macabre to go to this but it isn’t at all. It’s more about the manufacturing process and the machines used. The volunteers are all really helpful and informative. I thought I would be in and out in 15 minutes but they made it so interesting I was there for a hour. It is a well preserved factory showing the history of one of the great manufscturing companies that used to be in Birmingham.

真心推薦這個地方
外地來的旅客，建議可以先把行李箱放在飯店，帶著愉悅的心來參訪。

這裡的工作人員相當熱情，知識淵博，雖然我英文不是太好，邊聽導覽邊努力理解，但聽完還是很有收穫喔！內容非常有趣，導覽人員很幽默，可以比較深刻的去了解Birmingham過去的歷史。

此外，現場也有QR code ，有豐富的資訊可以讓參訪的人們更容易理解。

謝謝現場售票工作人員、導覽人員、志工，大家都很和善，我可以感受到大家都很重視並愛護這個地方，讓我和先生在這裡有一份很棒很美好的經驗。我們都非常喜歡這裡

A good insight into the past and working life, presented through stories and anecdotes. Because of the guide’s Birmingham accent, we didn’t catch everything (we are German).

A thoroughly enjoyable and illuminating experience. We decided to take one of the tours with a guide so discovered a lot. Having said that, my only suggestion would be to allow those on a paid tour to be able to return into the building again, after the tour finishes, as there was no chance to actually absorb everything that was going on in some of the rooms, especially those with detailed panels that we could not read. So it felt like we could only learn from the guide but not have a chance to really discover everything this wonderful place offers.

What a brilliant museum. We were visiting from London and didn’t know what to expect, as we had decided to visit the Coffin Works on a bit of a whim. It was incredible. The staff were so welcoming and knowledgeable. There were demonstrations of the machinery and a chance to see all the different areas up close. There is a cafe too! I will be visiting again with my kids next time we are in the area! Thoroughly recommend

Really enjoyed the visit. Their volunteers are very friendly and knowledgable, making the visit a very pleasant experience. It also provided an indepth view of Birmingham industrial past.
Although it is not close to any train station, it is within walking distance from the Birmingham central district, and easily be found via Goggle Map.
But please note that the museum does not open daily, so do check its opening hours beforehand.

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.

A fantastic little museum. 3 rooms packed with lots to see. Our guide, demonstrating the presses was incredibly knowledgeable. Some of the information presented was mind-blowing: how can someone make 28,000 nib blanks in a day?!? A multi-storey car is a few minutes’ walk away, and the Metro station just a little further. Definitely worth a visit. Recommended. The little souvenir was a nice touch.

This is a must-see for any visitor to Birmingham. It’s a modest but seriously good museum, preserving an aspect of Birmingham’s (and indeed British) history that is not well known.

The displays of pen nibs illustrating the history of their manufacture in Birmingham are fascinating by themselves. But I really enjoyed the second room with the film and the hands-on demonstration of how to make a nib. The gentlemen who guided us through the process was so knowledgeable, it was like stepping back 100 years.

The third room where you can try handwriting and use typewriters and office calculators. The volunteers were more than happy to answer our questions.

Great day out for my birthday! We went not expecting much but it was a lovely small museum. We were able to make our own pen nibs included in the price of the ticket and we’re gifted another functional one to take home. The shop had pens your could buy at very reasonable prices. Great for older and younger kids. 50% discount for art fund members (this is only £10 a year as a student)!!

Very interesting museum showcasing some of Birminghams heritage of Birmingham and the Jewellery quarter. Interactive talk showing how the machines were made and very knowledgeable staff. Great for Children.

Small organised museum.

Friendly staff!

When you renter the museum it looks so small however they have 2 more rooms behind. So don’t worry

Entrance fee is 6 in google , it’s 8,5 for adults !!! Will attach the picture

If you are interested to pens ️ this will be a great place to visit !

You will make your own pen nib in one of the room, one of the staff will help you out !

Have fun !

Super niszowe muzeum związane z bardzo bogatą historią miasta Birmingham. Mało kto wie że w tym mieście produkowano 70% stalówek na cały świat. Tutaj będziesz miał okazję pisać różnymi piórami i samemu wyprodukować stalówkę do pióra tradycyjną metodą. Polecam każdemu kto szuka ciekawych historii z różnych zakątków świata.

A really good museums on the pen trade in Birmingham. Across three rooms there are pen displays, informative text and a video with interviews by people who worked in the pen nib factories in their youth. You can also try your hand at different calligraphy forms and pens. The best bit was the middle room which has a workshop full of old tools set up in it. A lovely, dedicated volunteer guided us through some steps of making our own pen nibs. You really get a sense what skill and effort the work was to the people, and the pen nib is a really neat souvenir to take home! It is close to the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter so is a good opportunity to get to know Birmingham‘s industrial heritage.

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.