Rainy day favourites in Birmingham - museums, soft play, indoor climbing and weatherproof family days out for when the forecast lets you down.
Birmingham Museums Trust · Birmingham
A magnificent Jacobean mansion in north Birmingham with grand historic interiors and a long history of royal visits. Free entry and brilliantly atmospheric for children with an interest in history.
National Trust · Birmingham
A National Trust guided tour through the last surviving court of back-to-back houses in Birmingham, telling the stories of working-class families across two centuries. Intimate, moving, and brilliant for older children.
Birmingham Climbing Centre · Birmingham
A dedicated indoor climbing venue offering bouldering and roped climbing for all abilities. Family sessions welcome complete beginners with instruction available. It's a brilliant way to build confidence, problem-solving skills and get active together whatever the weather.
Birmingham Hippodrome · Birmingham
The Hippodrome's annual pantomime is a spectacular family tradition with star names, lavish sets and plenty of audience participation. Expect classic panto fun with modern twists, dazzling costumes and special effects that wow all ages. Book well ahead as these shows sell out fast.
Birmingham Museums Trust · Birmingham
A magnificent free city centre museum with an outstanding Pre-Raphaelite collection, Egyptian mummies, and regular family activity trails. The Round Room alone is worth the visit.
Birmingham Museums Trust · Birmingham
The museum's stores open to visitors with thousands of objects not on display elsewhere. Pre-booked tours take you behind the scenes to see everything from fine art to social history collections. It's a treasure hunt through Birmingham's stored heritage.
Birmingham City Council · Birmingham
The Bull Ring markets offer a vibrant cultural experience with international foods, street snacks and bustling atmosphere. Children love sampling treats, watching vendors and soaking up the energy. It's sensory, educational and perfect for adventurous eaters.
Rollerworld · Birmingham
A dedicated roller skating rink offering public sessions, lessons and disco sessions. It's retro fun that gets everyone moving regardless of ability. Skate aids available for beginners and the café serves snacks for energy top-ups.
Millennium Point Trust · Birmingham
While Think Tank itself is listed, the planetarium shows deserve separate mention. These immersive astronomy experiences transport families through the cosmos with stunning visuals and engaging narration. Different shows suit different ages from toddler-friendly daytime to deep space exploration.
Cadbury World · Birmingham
A chocolate lover's dream in Bournville — tour the history of Cadbury, watch chocolate being made, and enjoy generous tastings throughout. Hugely popular with families and essential booking well in advance.
Electric Cinema · Birmingham
The UK's oldest working cinema in the Jewellery Quarter with regular family screenings in beautifully restored art deco surroundings. A special occasion cinema trip that feels genuinely different to a multiplex.
Ikon Gallery · Birmingham
A free contemporary art gallery in a restored Victorian Gothic school building in Brindleyplace. The changing exhibitions are thought-provoking and the family interpretation materials are genuinely well made.
Birmingham Museums Trust · Birmingham
A fascinating free museum in the heart of Birmingham's historic Jewellery Quarter tracing 250 years of goldsmithing and silversmithing. The working demonstrations are particularly captivating for older children.
Midlands Arts Centre · Birmingham
A lively arts centre in Cannon Hill Park with a strong programme of family theatre, creative workshops, and exhibitions running year-round. The outdoor space and cafe make it a great half-day base.
Merlin Entertainments · Birmingham
Home to the UK's only 360-degree transparent ocean tunnel, with daily feeding talks and close encounters with giant sea turtles. The behind-the-scenes tours are particularly popular with older children.
NEC Birmingham · Birmingham
The NEC hosts major family shows throughout the year including Crufts, spring and autumn caravan shows featuring play zones, and Christmas markets. Check the calendar for family-friendly events offering hands-on activities and entertainment.
Historic England · Birmingham
A time-capsule Victorian coffin furniture factory in the Jewellery Quarter, preserved exactly as workers left it. Guided tours reveal the quirky stories of Birmingham's coffin fittings trade with original machinery, tools and even a dusty cup of tea. It's a fascinating slice of industrial history that's surprisingly engaging for children.
Rush UK · Birmingham
A massive indoor trampoline arena with dozens of interconnected trampolines, foam pits and dodgeball courts. Dedicated toddler sessions provide safe bouncing time for little ones. It's high-energy fun whatever the weather, guaranteed to tire everyone out.
Birmingham Museums Trust · Birmingham
A working water mill that inspired J.R.R. Tolkien's descriptions of the Shire in The Lord of the Rings. See the mill wheel turning, explore the miller's cottage and discover how grain was ground. The surrounding parkland and pond add to the storybook atmosphere.
Merlin Entertainments · Birmingham
An aquarium in the heart of the city centre with sharks, rays, and a dramatic ocean tunnel walk-through. Compact but well-curated and easy to combine with a Brindleyplace lunch or canal walk.
Birmingham Museums Trust · Birmingham
The elegant Georgian home of industrialist Matthew Boulton, beautifully restored with period rooms to explore. Children enjoy the dress-up boxes, hands-on activities and discovering how wealthy Georgian families lived. The gardens are perfect for running around afterwards.
The Electric Cinema · Birmingham
While the Electric Cinema is listed, the specific Kids Club screenings on Saturday mornings deserve mention. These screenings of recent family films come with lower volume, dimmed lights (not pitch black) and a relaxed atmosphere where children can move around and families can bring their own snacks.
Birmingham Repertory Theatre · Birmingham
The REP produces high-quality theatre specifically for families throughout the year, from fairy tales to contemporary stories. Productions are thoughtfully staged to engage children while entertaining adults. The theatre also runs creative workshops alongside many shows.
Birmingham Museums Trust · Birmingham
Four floors of hands-on science exhibits covering everything from the human body to space exploration, plus a planetarium. One of the best science museums outside London and brilliantly suited to primary-age children.
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre · Birmingham
Just beyond Birmingham, the Grand's traditional pantomimes offer spectacular family entertainment with professional casts and lavish production values. A more intimate theatre than the Hippodrome offering a different festive experience.