Birmingham blooms into life come spring time, with the UK city offering visitors a wide choice of great things to see and do, both outdoors and in.
(Photo: Birmingham Botanical Gardens)
Often referred to as England’s Second City, Birmingham has experienced something of a renaissance in recent years, with redevelopment allied with cultural renewal taking hold across the city. Where once its industrial heritage dominated, now trendy cafes, bars and cultural venues have popped up while public spaces including parks and plazas have been given a much-needed spruce. Here are some of the best affordable things to see and do in Birmingham this spring.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Home to 15 acres of landscaped gardens with over 7000 plants, shrubs and trees, there’s nowhere quite like Birmingham Botanical Gardens to enjoy the blooming of spring and escape the hubbub of the city in a tranquil setting. One of Birmingham’s most popular attractions, the gardens’ abundance of exotic flora is showcased across elegant Victorian glass houses. Other highlights include a Bonsai garden, a tropical rainforest teeming with rich vegetation, a bird collection and a Butterfly House. Admission is £7.50 for adults and £5.50 for children.
Westbourne Road / Mon-Sun 10am-5pm
Midlands Art Design and Antiques Fair
(Photo: Midlands Art Design and Antiques Fair)
The inaugural edition of the Midlands Art Design and Antiques Fair comes to Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre this April promising a convergence of art, antiques, and interior design. Self-styled as more than just a fair, it will offer visitors a captivating journey through time and style, featuring a curated selection of art and antique dealers, from the timeless allure of classic craftsmanship to more contemporary pieces. Admission is £10 for adults, with concessions available for children.
National Exhibition Centre, Pendigo Way, Marston Green / 5-7 April 2024
RBSA Summer Show
Avchinnikova, Tanya. March, Camber Sands. soft pastel
Following in a Royal Birmingham Society of Artists tradition that dates back to 1814, the RBSA Summer Show is an open call exhibition showcasing selected work by artists working in any media. However, unlike that first exhibition which was only open to artists from within a 30-mile radius of the city, today the RBSA welcomes submissions from artists based all around the world. With almost 250 artworks on display across all three floors of the Gallery, the show is a celebration of a wide variety of media and techniques showcasing work by artists of enormous talent. Admission is free.
RBSA Gallery, 4 Brook Street / 13 June – 20 July 2024
Cycle along the canals
(Photo: Elliott Brown via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED)
Stretching for almost 30 miles, the Birmingham Canal is lined with cycling and walking trails along most of its route, making for a great springtime activity as the temperature begins to creep up to respectable numbers. Linking Birmingham to Worcester, much of the canal passes through the city centre, allowing you to admire how the developed part of the city coexists with the man-made waterway. There are a number of local companies offering bikes for hire at reasonable prices, in case you don’t want to bring your own along.
Cannon Hill Park
Located in the southern reaches of the city, Cannon Hill Park is one of Birmingham’s most popular public parks and arguably at its most scenic during spring, when the verdant foliage and woodland show the first signs of life after the harsh winter months. Spanning some 250 acres, the park is a great place for a leisurely stroll away from the urban hubbub, as well as being packed full of recreational opportunities including boating, fishing, bowls, tennis, putting and picnic areas.
Birmingham Pride
(Photo: Dudley Council via Flickr / CC BY 2.0 DEED)
Birmingham’s contribution to the global phenomenon of Pride festivals is as fun and raucous as they get. First held in 1997, the free-to-attend event has grown to become one of the biggest anywhere in the UK, drawing more than 75,000 people every year. Taking place over a full weekend, festivities begin with a colourful parade from the city centre to the Gay Village, where revellers will discover music acts, a dance arena, a funfair, a cabaret and street stalls, all in the name of celebrating the LGB community.
Gay Village, Hurst Street / 25-26 May 2024
Women in Science Trail
Running until early spring, the acclaimed Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum is marking several notable dates in the calendar when the achievements of women are being celebrated with its own Women in Science Trail. During this period, visitors exploring the museum will get to learn about influential women in STEM through a variety of informative artefacts, displays and fact files. The trail is included in the price of admission, which is £15.50 for adults and £7.50 for kids.
Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum / Through 7 April 2024
by Paul Joseph