Things to Do with Kids in Birmingham

A day out with kids in Birmingham is fun and convenient for families in the Midlands, as well as families who love to travel for a day trip. Plus, with CrossCountry, it's easy to hop on a train and travel straight to the centre of the action. From museums to gardens to parks and so much more, the biggest challenge is fitting all the city’s great activities and attractions into one trip. These are the best things to do in Birmingham with kids.

How to Get to Birmingham by Train

CrossCountry services multiple stations in Birmingham, with the most central being Birmingham New Street. This station is located in the city centre and is the perfect place to start a family day out in Birmingham, with lots of attractions and restaurants just a bus, tram, or short walk away.

To keep your little ones entertained while on the train, make sure to bring a CrossCountry colouring book to keep them occupied and excited for the day ahead.

National SEA LIFE Centre

Birmingham’s SEA LIFE Centre is home to giant sea turtles, sharks, and an amazing 360° ocean tunnel. Every year, the aquarium showcases new interactive exhibits and behind-the-scenes experiences, plus regular talks and feeding sessions featuring clownfish, rays, sharks, and archerfish.

The centre also opens its doors an hour early for children with autism and sensory sensitivities on certain dates throughout the year to allow for a quieter experience. These sessions are designed to allow for visitors to enjoy the aquarium in an environment that feels safe and inclusive.

You can get to the SEA LIFE Centre by tram from Birmingham New Street in twelve minutes, or it’s a seventeen-minute walk through the city.

Botanical Gardens

Whether your little ones have green thumbs or just enjoy running around outside, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens are an excellent day trip for the family. Wander through the stunning glasshouses, discover exotic butterflies, and let the kids go wild in the adventure playground. The gardens have lots of exciting events throughout the year too, including workshops, markets, and live concerts on the bandstand.

You can catch a bus straight to the Botanical Gardens from Birmingham New Street and arrive in under half an hour.

Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum

Catch a train to Thinktank Birmingham, an award-winning science museum, absolutely jam-packed with kid-friendly activities for a family day out. From the Spitfire Gallery to the Planetarium, there’s something for the whole family. Kids will love MiniBrum, an interactive miniature city designed for under-8s. With houses, a park, shops, cafés, and even a make-believe ice cream stand, children can explore, role-play, and take charge of their own little world.

Thinktank is a fifteen-minute walk from Birmingham New Street, taking you past lots of great shops and into the Eastside City Park, a great place to appreciate the Birmingham Science Garden.

Library of Birmingham

The Library of Birmingham is perfect for a rainy day of literature and learning. One of the largest public libraries in the UK, families across the city can come here to enjoy fairy tales, comic books, classics, and – beyond the books – a regular stream of exciting events. The library offers storytelling sessions, arts and photography exhibitions, educational talks, and plenty of opportunities to meet your favourite authors. At the top of the iconic building is a scenic rooftop garden that shouldn’t be missed, rewarding you with impressive views of Birmingham’s modern skyline.

The Library of Birmingham is located in Centenary Square, a twelve-minute walk from Birmingham New Street that will also take you past Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, a great opportunity to appreciate the city’s history and culture.

Lapworth Museum of Geology

Boys and girls alike will enjoy an enriching trip to the Lapworth Museum of Geology. As well as dinosaurs, volcanoes, and crystals, the museum puts on plenty of fun-filled events throughout the year, including tours led by experts. Located on the University of Birmingham campus, Lapworth Museum promises a fantastic free day out in Birmingham. You can catch a CrossCountry train from Birmingham New Street to Birmingham University and arrive in under fifteen minutes.

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

Located at Arena Birmingham, the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre features lots of fun experiences, like the Kingdom Quest laser ride, a 4D cinema, and thousands of bricks for free play. Inside, you'll also find MINILAND, a miniature version of Birmingham made entirely from LEGO, featuring famous landmarks like the Bullring, the Library of Birmingham, and the canals.

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre also offers a 360° VR experience where little ones will get to take on some of their favourite characters in a friendly race through mountains, forests, and volcanoes!

You can catch a tram to Brindley Place from Birmingham New Street, which will leave you with a short walk to LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, or, if you prefer to stretch your legs, it’s a twenty-minute walk from the station.

Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park

Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park is a sanctuary that works to support and raise animals who would have been endangered in the wild - animals such as red pandas, meerkats, Komodo dragons, and monkeys. You can pay a visit to witness the animals up close, watch feeding times and enjoy the beautiful park. There are buses available to take you straight to the park in around fifteen minutes from Birmingham New Street.

Birmingham Tolkien Trail

Did you know that the illustrious J.R.R. Tolkien spent his formative years in Birmingham? If your kids are fans of Middle Earth, Birmingham is actually one of the best places to learn about how it all started in the UK. The Tolkien Trail starts at the author’s childhood home and includes highlights such as Sarehole Mill, now a museum with an exciting Tolkien exhibit, the Shire country park, and the Library of Birmingham. All of the sites on the trail would have been significant to Tolkien, and it's a great way to feel closer to this literary legend.

If you’re planning some things to do with kids in Birmingham, don’t forget to book Advance rail tickets via our website or the CrossCountry app. Before you travel, make sure to check scheduled train times to find the best journey for you. If you need more information, you can contact us here.