West Midlands· 2 min read
Best Days Out Near Birmingham — 13 Ideas Within an Hour
Cadbury World, theme parks, castles and canals — 13 brilliant days out in and around Birmingham, all within about an hour of the city.
Birmingham sits in the middle of England, which means it's within striking distance of an unusually good spread of days out — theme parks, castles, chocolate and more canals than Venice. Here are 13 of the best, in the city and within about an hour's drive.
In the city
Cadbury World, Bournville
The obvious one, and rightly so — the story of chocolate, a gentle indoor ride, a 4D cinema and (of course) chocolate along the way. Book a timed slot online; it sells out in holidays and it's entirely weatherproof.
Check Cadbury World tickets →Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum
Four floors of hands-on science, a planetarium and a steam-engine gallery — a reliable family day, especially when it's raining.
The Library of Birmingham & the canals
The rooftop garden and Shakespeare Memorial Room at the striking Library are free, and the canal towpaths around Brindleyplace make a pleasant, cheap wander with plenty of lunch options.
The big theme parks (within an hour)
Drayton Manor Resort
Home to Thomas Land — the best theme park in the region for under-8s — plus bigger rides for older kids and a zoo, all on one site near Tamworth.
Alton Towers
The UK's biggest theme park is about an hour north in Staffordshire — a full day of world-class rollercoasters, plus CBeebies Land for the little ones and a water park for a second day.
Castles and history (within an hour)
Warwick Castle
One of Britain's best days out: a genuine medieval castle with birds-of-prey displays, a trebuchet firing, a scary dungeon and jousting in summer. A full day; book online.
Coventry Transport Museum
Free, and home to the fastest cars on earth (the Thrust land-speed record holders) alongside the story of British motoring. An easy, cheap rainy-day win.
Outdoors and animals
- West Midland Safari Park, Bewdley — drive through lions and rhinos, then a theme-park area beyond.
- Twycross Zoo — a leading primate zoo about 40 minutes out.
- The Black Country Living Museum, Dudley — a brilliant open-air history museum (the Peaky Blinders one), with costumed streets and a real coal mine.
- Clent Hills & the Lickey Hills — free country parks with big views over the city.
The rest of the thirteen
- Sarehole Mill & the Tolkien trail — the mill that inspired Middle-earth, in Hall Green.
Practical notes
The big theme parks (Alton Towers, Drayton Manor) and Warwick Castle are all significantly cheaper booked online in advance, and Alton Towers deserves a full early start to beat the queues. The free museums (Thinktank aside — that one's paid) make great budget days. Traffic on the M6 and around Spaghetti Junction is grim at rush hour, so aim to travel outside 8–9am and 4–6pm.
Enjoyed this guide?
Get one email a week with our best day-out ideas and a discount code.
Related guides
North West2 min read
Rainy Day Activities in Manchester — 12 Indoor Days Out
It rains in Manchester — a lot. Here are 12 genuinely good indoor days out for families, couples and groups, from free museums to trampoline parks.
Nationwide2 min read
Wheelchair-Accessible Days Out in the UK — 16 Genuinely Inclusive Places
Step-free, level and genuinely accessible — 16 of the best wheelchair-friendly days out across the UK, with real detail on access, parking and Changing Places toilets.
London3 min read
Free Things to Do in London with Kids — 15 Genuinely Good Days Out
World-class museums, royal parks and river walks that cost nothing — 15 free London days out with kids, from a local who's done them all on a rainy half-term.