West Midlands Attractions

The Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Opened in 1832. They were designed by J. C. Loudon, a leading garden planner, horticultural journalist and publisher. Today the gardens offer a superb opportunity for recreation and relaxation close to the centre of Birmingham. With  excellent visitor facilities

Westbourne Road Edgbaston Birmingham  B15 3TR  Tel: 0121 454 1860   Email

Cadbury World

Situated in Bournville this attraction is a fun packed, unique visitor centre devoted to Cadbury’s chocolate, its history, how chocolate is made and the role of the Cadbury family in developing the nation’s favourite eating pleasure

Bournville Lane, Bournville, Birmingham B30 2LU Tel: +44 (0) 121 451 4159

Castel Bromwich Hall Gardens

A 10 acre walled gardens being a unique example of an English Baroque Garden is being restored as near as possible to the period 1680 - 1740. The gardens contain The Holly Maze which is a distorted mirror image of the one at Hampton Court Palace designed by George London and Henry Wise.

Chester Road, Castle Bromwich, B36 9BT. Tel:  0121 749 4100   Email

Dudley Zoo

Dudley Zoo was built in 1937 and at the time was considered the most modern in Europe. In the Discovery Centre you will meet lots of small animals and learn all about their characteristics. Scales, fur or feathers – Snake, Chinchilla or Parrots.

2 The Broadway Dudley DY1 4QB Tel:, 01384 215314   Email

Lickey Hills Country Park And Visitors Centre

Laying 11 miles south west of Birmingham city centre and covers an area of 524 acres. The hills are covered by a mosaic of mixed deciduous woodland, conifer plantations and heathland, all are rich in a variety of wildlife

Warren Lane Rednal Birmingham B45 8ER Tel: 0121 447 7106    Email

The Pen Room

Birmingham was the centre of the world pen trade for more than a century employing thousands of people, pioneering craftsmanship and manufacturing processes.

The Argent Centre, 60 Frederick Street, Hockley, Birmingham B1 8HS Tel:0121 236 9834  Email

Red House Cone Glassworks Experience

Built at the end of the 18th Century the Cone was used for the manufacture of glass until 1936 and is now one of only four left in the United Kingdom. Reaching 100 feet into the sky, the Cone enclosed a furnace around which men made glass for 140 years. The cone is currently being upgraded to include a visitor facility with interpretation. There will be glass blowing demonstrations within the Cone and a self-guided audio tour round the Cone, through the tunnels and up to the furnace.

High Street  Wordsley  Stourbridge   DY8 4AZ   Tel: 01384 812750

Sarehole Mill

Once watermills were a very common sight along Birmingham’s rivers. It is estimated that in the 18th century there were over fifty the area. However, of all Birmingham’s watermills, only Sarehole Mill and Newhall Mill (in Sutton Coldfield) survive as standing buildings with working water-driven machinery. Visitors to Sarehole Mill will see an attractive group of buildings, including a bakehouse, a metal workshop, a granary and the mill itself, all arranged around a cobbled courtyard. Behind the mill is the pool which receives its water from nearby Coldbath Brook.

Cole Bank Road Hall Green Birmingham B13 0BD  Tel: 0121 777 6612

Sea Life Centre

Seahorse Breeding and Conservation Centre. The National Sea Life centre is hosting a special unit for breeding and rearing a range of seahorses.  This exciting new feature "The Seahorse Breeding and Conservation Centre," will allow visitors a fascinating insight into the kind of work normally carried out by our dedicated marine biologists behind the scenes. Other exhibits include  Tropical Ocean display featuring our magnificent Sea Turtles , Otter Sanctuary, Bay of Rays, Touch Pool , Claws

The National Sea Life Centre The Waters Edge Brindleyplace Birmingham B1 2HL  tel: 0121 633 6777

Sutton Park

Sutton Park is Birmingham’s largest park, covering 2,400 acres consisting of woodlands, heathlands and wetlands. The entire park was recently designated a National Nature Reserve by English Nature. It is the home for a wide variety of wildlife, many species uncommon elsewhere in the West Midlands region. Visitors benefit from a true countryside experience, remarkably within 10 Km (6 miles) of the very heart of the City. The Visitor Centre contains displays and information related to the park

Sutton Park Park Road Sutton Coldfield  B74 2YT   Tel: 0121 355 6370

Vintage Trains

The operating company for the collection of locomotives kept at Tyseley Locomotive Works by the Birmingham Railway Museum Trust.  This includes a large collection of express steam engines and smaller tank engines, which are run on the main line from time to time.  Engines from the collection plus guest locomotives are used to haul steam excursions on the national mainline railway network to places of interest making an excellent day out for families and railway enthusiasts alike.  The steam programme features a regular summer steam train service between Birmingham & Stratford-upon-Avon (the Shakespeare Express & the Bullring Express) which, in 2004, will be in its sixth season of operation.  It has appeal to families and is an affordable way of enjoying mainline steam

670 Warwick Road, Tyseley, Birmingham B11 2HL  Tel:  0121 707 4696    Email

Walsall Arboretum

First opened in 1874 the Arboretum covers over 79 acres and has over 200 varieties of trees and shrubs. Already a million people a year visit the Arboretum to enjoy its beauty and use the many facilities that are available. Walk beside landscaped gardens, along tree lined paths and the lakeside

Lichfield Street Walsall  WS4 2BY Tel:  01922 653140

Crystal Glass Centre

The Crystal Glass Centre is housed in a splendid Victorian building close to the town centre of Brierley Hill, just 3 miles from Dudley itself. The fine building started life as a Technical Institute and Library. In the 1960’s Dudley College, in co-operation with the local crystal industry, set up a well equipped centre to train apprentices in glass blowing and decorating skills

Audnam, Wordsley, Stourbridge. Tel 01384 354400