Things to Do in Birmingham: Explore the Heart of the Midlands
Birmingham has shed its industrial past without forgetting where it came from, emerging as one of Britain's most dynamic cities and offering a wealth of things to do and see in Birmingham for visitors who want history and modern energy in one place. This is a place where Victorian canal networks wind past contemporary architecture, where Michelin-starred restaurants sit alongside authentic curry houses that have been feeding the city for generations, and where cultural institutions rival anything London has to offer. The second city has found its confidence, and it shows in everything from the ambitious redevelopment of the city centre to the creativity bubbling up in former industrial quarters.
For visitors, Birmingham offers a particular kind of urban experience, with countless things to do in Birmingham that suit travellers who want a blend of culture, food, and atmosphere. It is big enough to feel genuinely cosmopolitan, yet compact enough to explore on foot. The shopping rivals anywhere in the country, the food scene punches well above its weight, and the nightlife caters to every taste from intimate jazz clubs to rooftop bars with city views. Hotel Du Vin Birmingham provides the perfect base for all of this, a beautifully converted Victorian eye hospital where boutique charm meets contemporary comfort, and where returning after a day exploring the city feels like coming somewhere that understands what good hospitality means.
Discover Birmingham’s cultural side
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery stands as one of the finest regional collections in Britain, its Pre-Raphaelite holdings alone worth the visit, especially for those looking to explore the deeper cultural things to do and see in Birmingham beyond the obvious highlights. The building houses everything from ancient Egyptian artefacts to contemporary installations, with free admission and a café serving proper coffee. Symphony Hall has earned its reputation as one of Europe's finest concert venues, bringing world-class musicians to the Midlands year-round. The Library of Birmingham offers architecture that divides opinion but interiors that inspire, with terraced gardens providing unexpected green spaces high above the streets.
The Hippodrome hosts the Birmingham Royal Ballet along with touring West End productions, whilst the Utilita Arena brings major concerts and sporting events to the city. For those interested in Birmingham's industrial heritage, canal walks reveal a different side to the city. More than 35 miles of waterways wind through Birmingham, offering towpaths that connect neighbourhoods and provide peaceful routes away from traffic.
Shopping and local markets
Bullring & Grand Central have transformed Birmingham's retail offering, creating a shopping destination that also sits at the heart of the most popular things to do in Birmingham for visitors who enjoy browsing everything from global brands to independent names. The Bullring's distinctive architecture, all curves and reflective surfaces, houses everything from high street favourites to luxury brands. Grand Central, built above New Street Station, adds further depth with its mix of fashion, beauty, and dining options. The two centres connect seamlessly, making it easy to browse for hours without retracing your steps.
The Great Western Arcade provides a complete contrast, its Victorian elegance and independent boutiques offering a more personal shopping experience. Here you will find jewellery designers, vintage fashion, and specialist retailers who know their stock and their customers. The arcade's covered walkways and ornate detailing remind you of Birmingham's 19th-century prosperity whilst the shops themselves look firmly to the present.
The Jewellery Quarter remains one of Birmingham's most distinctive areas, where traditional workshops still produce handmade pieces using techniques passed down through generations. You can watch craftspeople at work, commission bespoke jewellery, or browse the many independent shops that line the streets, adding a unique flavour to the broader things to do and see in Birmingham for those seeking something authentic. Digbeth Dining Club has become a byword for street food excellence, bringing together traders offering everything from Korean fried chicken to Italian porchetta. The atmosphere is relaxed and communal, with long tables encouraging conversation between strangers and a rotating roster of vendors ensuring there is always something new to try.
Food and drink in Birmingham
Birmingham's food scene has earned a reputation that extends far beyond the famous Balti Triangle, with countless things to do in Birmingham for adults centred around the city’s growing dining and drinks culture. Bistro Du Vin brings wine-led dining to the heart of the city, its menu celebrating French and British classics executed with care. The dining room manages to feel both elegant and welcoming, with a wine list that runs deep and sommeliers who take genuine pleasure in guiding you towards something you will enjoy.
Wine tastings and cocktails at the bar provide ways to unwind, whilst Birmingham's craft brewery scene means locally produced beers feature prominently. Several breweries offer tours, showing the production process and letting you taste beers straight from the tank.
Things to do in Birmingham for adults
Birmingham's nightlife caters to every mood, with the city’s evening energy shaping some of the most popular things to do in Birmingham for adults who enjoy culture, music, and late-night dining. Live jazz finds a home in intimate clubs, theatre performances span experimental works to crowd-pleasing musicals, and late-night dining has become increasingly sophisticated. The Jewellery Quarter transforms after dark, its Victorian buildings housing bars and restaurants, whilst the Mailbox offers waterside dining with a polished atmosphere.
Seasonal activities add further dimension. The Frankfurt Christmas Market transforms Victoria Square into a continental-style winter celebration, summer sees rooftop bars open across the city, and food festivals celebrate everything from chocolate to street food.
Unusual things to do in Birmingham
The Coffin Works Museum occupies a former coffin furniture factory, telling the surprisingly fascinating story of Birmingham's role in the death industry, and it stands out as one of the most memorable unusual things to do in Birmingham for adults who enjoy something a little different. The building has been preserved exactly as the workers left it, creating an authentic glimpse into working life in the 20th century. It is quirky, meticulously detailed, and genuinely interesting, the kind of attraction that stays with you long after you have left.
The Electric Cinema in Station Street claims to be the oldest working cinema in Britain, its Art Deco interior and comfortable seating creating an experience that modern multiplexes cannot match. Watching a film here, with waiter service delivering drinks to your seat, feels properly special. Canal kayaking tours offer a completely different perspective on the city, paddling along waterways that most visitors only glimpse from towpaths. It is surprisingly peaceful, gliding past former warehouses now converted to apartments and discovering stretches of canal that feel genuinely rural despite being in the city centre.
Immersive dining experiences range from theatrical dinner shows to interactive culinary adventures where the line between performance and meal becomes deliberately blurred. Escape rooms have proliferated across Birmingham, offering everything from historical mysteries to sci-fi adventures. The street art trails around Digbeth showcase work by local and international artists, transforming blank walls into outdoor galleries that change and evolve over time. Combining these quirky daytime activities with elegant evening dining creates the kind of varied day that makes city breaks memorable.
Group dining and weekend getaways
Hotel Du Vin's private dining rooms provide settings for celebrations that feel personal rather than corporate, becoming part of the broader things to do and see in Birmingham for groups looking to combine great food with a sense of occasion. The spaces retain the building's original character, with period features and careful design creating atmosphere without formality. Whether you are marking a milestone birthday, organising a work gathering, or bringing together friends and family, the private dining team works to create menus and select wines that suit your group.
Combining cultural exploration with an overnight stay transforms a day trip into something more substantial. You can approach the city at a more relaxed pace, knowing you have somewhere comfortable to return to. A brasserie dinner becomes the natural conclusion to a day spent in galleries and shops, and breakfast the following morning provides fuel for further exploration before heading home.
Plan your next dining experience
Birmingham rewards curiosity and repays those who look beyond the obvious, with the city offering countless things to do in Birmingham that reveal themselves slowly as you explore neighbourhood by neighbourhood. The culture runs deeper than the headline attractions, the food scene offers more diversity than many larger cities, and the shopping ranges from global brands to one-off independents. The nightlife caters to sophisticated tastes, and the unusual attractions provide stories you will actually want to tell when you get home.
Hotel Du Vin Birmingham sits at the centre of all this, a boutique retreat where the rooms are genuinely comfortable, the restaurant serves food worth seeking out, and the overall atmosphere balances style with substance. Whether you are visiting for a weekend getaway, celebrating with friends, or exploring the city for the first time, the hotel provides a base that enhances rather than simply accommodates your stay.
Plan your Birmingham getaway and experience the best of the Midlands in style. Book a table for dinner, reserve a room for the night, or enquire about private dining for a special occasion. The city awaits, full of culture, character, and surprises for those willing to explore beyond the familiar.
Things to do in Birmingham FAQS:
What are the best areas of Birmingham to explore?
Each area has its own personality. The Jewellery Quarter blends history and independent shops, Digbeth is known for art and street food, and Brindleyplace offers riverside restaurants and live music. Exploring a mix of neighbourhoods gives you the full Birmingham experience.
What can you experience in Birmingham that you can’t anywhere else?
Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter is one of the only places in the UK where you can watch traditional jewellery-making in action. The city also has more canals than Venice, offering unique waterside walks and dining.
What are some underrated attractions in Birmingham?
The Ikon Gallery’s contemporary art exhibitions, the Coffin Works’ industrial history, and the Custard Factory’s creative pop-ups all show a different side to the city that many visitors miss.
Where are the best canal side spots in Birmingham?
Head to Gas Street Basin for classic canal views, then follow the towpath to Brindleyplace for restaurants and galleries. The Mailbox stretch is ideal for relaxed riverside dining and evening walks right in the city centre.