Guides

Things to do in Birmingham by season

What to do in Birmingham through the year: garden days in spring, old and new in summer and autumn, and indoor programmes in winter.

Birmingham doesn't need a festival or a special date to make a worthwhile visit. You can build spring around a garden, compare old and new cultural buildings in summer and autumn, and give winter over to indoor collections. Here are four seasonal plans, with five places to choose from and no need to fit them all into one trip.

1. Spring: Winterbourne House and Garden

Start with the Arts and Crafts house built for the Nettlefold family in 1904, then head into the garden to see what the season is bringing through. The house gives a garden walk a bit of history, and lets you divide your attention between rooms and planting. Make it a slower outing rather than a quick detour from the centre.

Good to know

  • Admission is paid; tickets are available on arrival or online for a chosen date. Bring a card: Winterbourne is cashless.
  • It opens daily, with longer hours from March to October. Check current hours and last entry before travelling.
  • Winterbourne is on the University of Birmingham campus in Edgbaston. Use its visitor page to plan your bus or rail journey.

2. Summer: Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Leave an afternoon for the outdoor gardens and glasshouses rather than trying to visit every cultural building in the centre. Bring a picnic for the lawn, or make the bakery your food stop. This is a garden-led summer plan, not a promise of a particular flower display or event.

Good to know

  • Admission is paid; choose an arrival slot when booking online. Once inside, you can stay until closing.
  • Check seasonal hours and event notices: evening performances can shorten daytime opening.
  • Picnics are welcome, and you can refill a water bottle at the fountain by the Terrace. Pack a waterproof layer for the outdoor part.

3. Autumn: Ikon Gallery and the Library of Birmingham

Use these two buildings to compare different sides of Birmingham's cultural life. Ikon shows contemporary art in a Victorian school, while the library brings a modern setting together with its historic Shakespeare Memorial Room. If the weather suits, add the library's seventh-floor Secret Garden for a view across the city.

Good to know

  • Ikon is free and normally opens Tuesday to Sunday and bank holiday Mondays, 11am–5pm. Check which temporary exhibitions are showing.
  • Check the council’s library visitor information separately, including access to the Shakespeare Memorial Room and terraces.
  • Ikon has a shop and café, but their hours differ from the galleries; check before planning a late food stop.

4. Winter: Thinktank indoors

Give a winter day a clear focus at Birmingham's science museum. The Smethwick Engine and Spitfire connect the collections with engineering and transport, while MiniBrum gives younger children a city of their own to explore. You can keep the main visit indoors rather than relying on time in the outdoor Science Garden.

Good to know

  • Admission is paid. Pre-book to guarantee entry, especially during weekends and school holidays; planetarium shows are an extra charge.
  • Term-time opening is normally Tuesday to Sunday, with additional school-holiday and bank holiday opening. Check Christmas and New Year closures before travelling.
  • The entrance is on level 0 of Millennium Point. MiniBrum is designed for under-8s, with sensory areas for babies.

Quick tips

  • Choose the outdoor day after checking the forecast, and keep Ikon or Thinktank as your indoor alternative.
  • Book the attraction or activity that matters most first, then leave room around it rather than filling every hour.
  • Want company? Check upcoming events in Birmingham on Socroo below and find someone to go with.

Upcoming events

Things to do in Birmingham (all year) Winterbourne House and Garden Birmingham Botanical Gardens Ikon Gallery Library of Birmingham Thinktank