Best family hotels in Birmingham, as tried and tested by Mumsnetters

When you think of your perfect UK staycation destination, Birmingham might not immediately spring to mind, but we’re here to give you the inside scoop on why it is the UK’s best-kept secret when it comes to affordable, fun-filled family staycations.

In the West Midlands, Birmingham is a culturally rich and diverse hub, where the people are famously friendly.

From interactive museums to safari parks to chocolate factories (hello Cadbury World), there's plenty to see and do in the UK's second largest city.

If you’re already imagining all the family memories to be made, check out our hand-picked selection of Birmingham’s best family hotels. Created using a vetting process of Musmnetter recommendations, parent reviews and opinions from industry experts, it's a guide you can trust. That way, all you have to worry about is planning how to fit everything in!

Tried and tested: See what Mumsnetters thought of Birmingham's Legoland Discovery Centre

Family-friendly hotels in Birmingham at a glance 

• Best budget family friendly hotel: Premier Inn, New Street

• Best for activities: The Belfry Hotel & Resort

• Best overall family hotel: Holiday Inn Express 

• Highest-rated family hotel: The Highfield Town House

• Best family hotel for young families: Hilton Garden Inn

• Best family apartments: Staycity Aparthotels

1. Best budget family hotel: Premier Inn, New Street

Premier Inn | Check availability

What Mumsnet users say

“New Street Premier Inn. Stayed there many times with the kids.” Comefromaway

Our verdict

The Premier Inn on New Street is a no-frills, low-cost stay with plenty to offer families Located literally 80 yards from New Street train station, you’ve got the benefit of a very short walk and a central location, from here it is easy to access public transport to visit attractions. If you’re travelling by car, this hotel does not have parking available. The nearest car park is the Grand Central NCP car park where an overnight charge is £28.50.

Premier Inn family rooms are standard and don’t come with any surprises, there is a double or kingsize bed, a sofa bed and a pull-out bed. Travel cots are also available at no extra cost. If you’d like to book interconnecting rooms so your teenager can have some privacy, you can do that too.

If you love an unlimited hotel breakfast as much as we do, the Premier Inn is a great choice for that. If parents buy a full breakfast at £9.50, kids eat free! A deal that is too good to pass up.

Hassle-free, easy and convenient, book a common sense stay here so that you can make the most of exploring Birmingham City Centre.

Nearest train station: Birmingham New Street (less than 100 metres0

2. Best overall family hotel: Holiday Inn Express Birmingham, City Centre

Holiday Inn Express | Check availability

What Mumsnet users say

“If you want to be quite central the Holliday Inn Express on Holliday Street is in a great location, and as it's fairly new I would imagine it is quite clean and modern.” SummaLuvin

Our verdict

The Holiday Inn Express on Holiday Street has earned the accolade of the best overall family hotel because it is affordably priced, located centrally and is highly rated for cleanliness, customer service and the property's condition, making it an all-around excellent choice.

As above, this hotel is part of a chain, so you know the standard you can expect, though the hotel is fairly new so the rooms are still in good nick. Family rooms include a double bed as well as sofa beds. Extra cots for children up to the age of two are free. If you’d prefer, connecting and adjoining rooms are available at the point of booking.

Despite its location in the heart of the town centre, the Holiday Inn guarantees you a peaceful night’s sleep, as all rooms have blackout curtains as standard and a pillow menu ensuring that your room is quiet and the bed is comfortable. Also, if you love a hotel breakfast, they’re included in the room rate so you don’t have to pay any extra, so make sure to make the most of this!

Though getting to this hotel involves a slightly longer walk from Birmingham New Street Station, getting there by train is still your best option for a stay here. This is because as above this hotel does not have onsite parking, so you will need to pay £28.50 per night to the Grand Central NCP car park which is the closest option.

• Nearest train station: Birmingham New Street 0.4 miles

3. Best family hotel with a pool: Holiday Inn Birmingham (M6, Jct 7)

Holiday Inn | Check availability 

What Mumsnet users say

“When I go to Brum I stay at the Holiday Inn at Junction 7. Free parking, frequent (and cheap) buses to city. Good spot if you're doing the Black Country too. I used to live nearby and the gym at that hotel was where went and since I've moved away it is the hotel I use when I go back. Nothing flash but clean, comfortable and staff are nice” DrEllie

Our verdict

Though we’ve already recommended a Holiday Inn, this hotel was selected as a reasonably priced option for families who want the best of both worlds. Located at junction seven off of the M6, there is free onsite parking, allowing you more freedom to explore further afield. However, if you don’t fancy navigating the very busy M6 motorway and traffic-logged city by car, this hotel is a prime location for access to Hamstead Train Station and local bus routes that will easily get you into the centre.

Available family rooms and amenities are standard, if you’ve stayed in one Holiday Inn you’ve stayed in them all. Just bare in mind, this hotel is much older, so the rooms and their furnishings are a little more tired and certainly aren’t as modern as the option above.

However, if that isn’t a concern to you, two differences set it apart from its sister hotel. Firstly, there is the indoor pool, perfect for those of you whose children love to swim. Secondly, children under 17 sharing their parent’s room stay free of charge and up to two kids, 12 and under eat free as well! Still not convinced? There is an onsite spa too!

Nearest train station: Hamstead Train Station 2.1 miles

4. Best for activities: The Belfry Hotel & Resort, Sutton Coldfield

Check availability on Booking.com | Check availability on Hotels.com

Tested by Mumsnet: Read our full review of The Belfry Hotel & Resort

What Mumsnet users say

"The Belfry Hotel do some great deals in the holidays. Accomodation is fab if seversl families going as they are pods with lounge areas, so you can sit having drinks, play board games, watch tv.etc. Rooms back onto the woods, play area. Main hotel has spa, cocktail lounges? sports bar, crazy golf." wishingchair1

Our verdict

Around a 20-minute drive from Birmingham, the Belfry is a fantastic option for families looking for an action-packed stay within easy reach of the city. It's home to three top golf courses, an adventure playground and a spa and there are lots of activities on offer for kids, particularly during the school holidays.

The service and food were top notch during our stay and we loved the range of amenities for both adults and kids, from the playground with its zip line to the pedal car track and blissful spa and pool with set swim times for families. It's also close to Drayton Manor theme park if you wanted to combine a city break and a resort stay as well as some thrills and spills.

5. Best hotel for young families: Hilton Garden Inn

Hilton Garden Inn | Check availability

What Mumsnet users say

“I would say - The Edgbaston for something special it's out of town but lovely and superb restaurant

• Hilton Garden Inn Brindleyplace - bit corporate but great location

• Hotel Indigo at the Cube - I haven't been buy looks good

Depending on when you are going. The Grand is meant to open later this year as well.” jakeyboy1

Our verdict

The Hilton Garden Inn is a clean, modern and stylish 4* hotel that’s a short distance from the busy city centre. It’s made the list as a great option for families with young children looking to explore Birmingham, this is because children aged one or younger stay free, in addition to being able to access free cots and infant beds. Make sure you consider though that there are no family room options, so booking here is only appropriate if you have teenagers who will happily sleep in an adjoining room or for toddlers and babies who will still fit a cot or infant bed.

Though you do have to travel a little further by train to this hotel via Five Ways Train Station, it is easy enough to use to get to and from the city centre. In exchange for that extra travel time, you are much closer to interactive attractions like Legoland Discovery Centre and the National Sea Life Centre, so if you’re not bothered about visiting the Bullring, this could be a great fun-filled stay. Public transport links in Birmingham are numerous and very affordable so make the most of them.

However, if you are set on bringing a car, a perk of this hotel is that it has onsite parking. The only downside is your looking at a £20 charge per night which is only slightly cheaper than local private car parks, so ensure you factor that into your staycation budget.

Nearest train station: Birmingham Five Ways Station 0.7 miles

6. Best mid-range family hotel: Radisson Blu Hotel

Radisson Blu Hotel | Check availability 

Our verdict

Birmingham’s Radisson Blu Hotel is hard to miss as it towers above the streets below. An impressive 39 stories tall, you’re guaranteed stunning city views from their floor-to-ceiling windows during a stay here. Stylish and modern, this hotel is part of a chain so you know you can expect a certain standard, as such it is ranked highly for cleanliness and customer service. Family reviews all note that both reception and breakfast staff are friendly and helpful.

Though there are no family rooms, there are connected and adjoining rooms, this is a great option for older children who’d benefit from a little more privacy. For young children, it is possible to request a free cot or infant bed or at £30 per night, a rollaway bed.

If you’re on a budget, but fancy a buffet breakfast, at Radisson Blu this incurs an additional cost of £17.95 per person, so we’d recommend searching around for a cheaper option outside the hotel.

Located centrally, only a short walk away from Birmingham New Street Station, you have convenient access to many of the city’s attractions, shopping centres and restaurants. This is a great option for those travelling by public transport, however, if you do bring a car there is a car park available at £20 per night (just do make sure to check height restrictions ahead of time).

Nearest train station: Birmingham New Street 0.2 miles

7. Best family hotel outside of Birmingham city centre: Old Farm Hotel

Old Farm Hotel | Check availability 

What Mumsnet users say

“We have friends in Birmingham and always stay in a lovely guest house 2 mins from Cadbury World and 5 mins from Bournville train station with excellent connections/train directly into Birmingham etc called Old Farm Hotel, B30 1LA. Right in the heart of lovely Bournville village- which is very interesting in itself with a lot of history, lovely parks, old fashioned shops and unusual houses etc” Sorrento2014 

Our verdict

One of only three non-chain hotels on this list, this hotel is a great choice for anyone who prefers a little more green space and fresh air without the inconvenience of long travel times to great attractions. Situated in Bournville Village, Old Farm Hotel is only a mile away from Cadbury World, making it the perfect option for chocoholics willing to walk. Not only that, public transport links are excellent, it is only an eight minute walk to Bournville train station, where you’ll find trains running every 10 minutes into the city centre. Though you can still bring the family car if you need to as there is free onsite parking, leaving you to come and go as you please.

Small, charming and quiet, this hotel only has 12 rooms, so family room options are limited. However, they’re worth the slightly higher price as they boast very high ratings for cleanliness, customer service, amenities and property conditions. Rooms overlook their private garden, which has a newly installed decking area perfect for a cold drink in the summertime.

Nearest train station: Birmingham Bournville Station 0.4 mile

8. Highest-rated family hotel: The High Field Town House

The High Field Town House | Check availability 

What Mumsnet users say

“Out of town but lovely and superb restaurant” jakeyboy1

Our verdict

With a whopping 9.6/10 rating on Hotels.com, guest reviews all sing the praises of the 4* High Field Town House on Broad Street. Sophisticated, stylish and plush with gorgeous furnishings, this hotel is best for families celebrating special occasions with a weekend away.

It is worth its higher price point, just one look at its selection of rooms will have you falling in love. Room one and room four are noted as the best rooms for family bookings due to the extra space available. Consider, however, that all rooms only have one double or king-size bed, so the hotel requests that you contact them directly to reserve free cots, infant beds or rollaway beds for children to ensure that the hotel can accommodate them.

Though it looks like it's worlds away from Birmingham, this boutique-style hotel is actually located centrally, conveniently close to the newly extended tram system, making accessing the attractions of Birmingham easy for any family. There is free parking at this hotel too, allowing you to dodge the high private parking fees.

Nearest train station: Birmingham New Street 1.5 miles

9. Best family apartments in Birmingham: Staycity Aparthotels

Staycity Aparthotels | Check availability 

What Mumsnet users say

“I stayed at an apartment on St Paul's square, I can't find a link to the one I stayed in but there are a few, it's between the centre and the jewelry quarter and the square itself has pubs and restaurants around the square.” sashh 

“We had an Airbnb in the Chinese Quarter - 5 minutes from Bullring.” CraftyGin 

Our verdict

Staycity Aparthotels made this list because lots of Mumsnetter reviews talked about self-catered apartment stays in the city, but didn’t give further details on the best place to stay. When investigating, we wanted to make sure any recommendation we did give was reliable, easy to find and of a consistent standard. This is where Staycity stepped in.

Situated on Broad Street, Staycity is a secure aparthotel complex of 170 apartments. Unlike other self-catering options, they have an onsite reception which offers an easy point of contact. Parties are also strictly prohibited so there won’t be any late-night ragers going on next door. Securing a high rating from previous guests, the apartments are modern, clean and stylish. If you’re looking to save a little bit of cash by eating in, the kitchen has plenty of amenities including a microwave, oven and, most importantly, a dishwasher. You don’t have to bring any dinnerware or utensils with you either as they are all provided.

In the morning if you don’t fancy cooking, you can book their continental breakfast served in their onsite bar. It runs from 7am to 11am, and prices vary for adults and children.

Though it isn’t as centrally located as some of the other options on this list, you still have convenient transport links available as well as onsite car parking at only £13 a night (which is pretty reasonable for the city centre).

Nearest train station: Birmingham Snow Hill Station 0.5 miles

10. Best family spa hotel in Birmingham: Hyatt Regency

Hyatt Regency | Check availability 

What Mumsnet users say

“I've stayed at the Hyatt, chain but good” okiedokieme

Our verdict

Staying at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Birmingham secures you a slice of luxury in this busy city. Not exactly child-friendly to those under the age of 12, this is a special option for a night away with older children.

The Hyatt Regency is modern and sophisticated with a 4* hotel rating. Towering above Birmingham’s skyline, book here for stunning views across the city from your room's floor to ceiling windows. Family rooms are available, the beds are rated highly for a comfortable night’s sleep. If you do decide to book with younger children, reserving an extra bed or cot is free of charge.

Located centrally with closeby transport links, it is easy to manoeuvre around the city to nearby attractions. We would not recommend you bring a car to this hotel, even though they do provide onsite parking. The charge is £27 per night which is significant when you consider the price of a room.

The Hyatt Regency does offer plenty of amenities though, especially if you’re looking for a little peace and quiet for your staycation. Their onsite spa is available to children over the age of 12 accompanied by an adult, there you can all relax in the whirlpool, steam room and sauna. You’ll also find a swimming pool too, but this is adult-only on the weekends. After your refreshing hours spent in the spa, you can pop into the onsite Aria restaurant, where they serve a delicious and highly-rated afternoon tea.

Nearest train station: Birmingham New Street 0.6 mile

11. Best luxury family hotel in Birmingham: The Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel | Check availability 

What Mumsnet users say

“Depending on when you are going The Grand is meant to open later this year as well.” jakeyboy1

Our verdict

The Grand Hotel in Birmingham is iconic with a long and illustrious history in the city. Having welcomed guests who come from royalty, it is a luxury stay that has recently undergone a £50 million restoration and refurbishment, only reopening in 2021. This hotel is another option that should be reserved for a weekend away for a special occasion or event, there are better budget-friendly options on this list for longer staycations.

With 185 spacious rooms, including family rooms and connecting rooms, you’re sure to have the best night's sleep in their generously sized, comfortable four-poster beds. Retaining many of its Victorian features, the decor is a perfect blend of vintage and modern furnishings. If you need any extra beds in your room, rollaway beds are £30 per night, but there do not appear to be any infant cots available, so if you can, bring your own.

Situated in the city centre, you are only a short walk away from the Bullring and News Street Station. We’d recommend making the most of the excellent public transport nearby and forgoing your car, due to there being no onsite parking and high private parking prices.

Nearest train station: Birmingham Snow Hill Station 0.1 mile

How much is a family hotel in Birmingham? 

Well, like all bookings, that depends on several common-sense factors like the school holidays or local events. As you can see above, the range in October is roughly £50 to £125 per night, by December prices will increase due to Birmingham’s famous Christmas Market. Book wisely and you will be able to find good deals throughout the year depending on when you visit.

How do you get to Birmingham? 

Travelling to Birmingham by train is by far your easiest option, Birmingham New Street Station is a well-connected hub for the UK train system and is located centrally.

If you plan on driving, ensure that you consider traffic and road works, especially on the ring roads, these can be manic at rush hour. Also, make sure you’ve factored parking fees into your budget, even hotels with their own private parking charge roughly £20 or more per night.

Clean Air Zone in Birmingham

The centre of Birmingham City is a Clean Air Zone to help improve air quality and reduce pollution. It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Boundaries in and out of the Clean Air Zone are signposted. So, if you plan on travelling to or around Birmingham by car, make sure to check your vehicle meets emissions standards using the government website.

Be aware that if it does not meet the requirements there will be a charge per day. If you don’t pay the charge, you will receive a fine.

How do you get around Birmingham?

Navigating Birmingham by car can be a stressful experience, make sure your sat nav is up to date and that the driver can stay cool, calm and collected under pressure. If that sounds like hell on earth, Birmingham has an excellent public transport system of trains, buses and trams.

Many of the city’s attractions are close together too, so walking between venues is easy enough, ask your hotel for a local map to help you plan.

Is Birmingham a family-friendly place to visit?

Yes, absolutely. Birmingham is the perfect staycation for families of all ages with its amazing child-friendly attractions, huge variety of restaurants and budget-friendly hotels.

Things to do in Birmingham with kids

With so much on offer, we can’t list everything, however, there is a great list on Tripadvisor. Below I’ve listed just a small portion of what is available:

• Visit The Bullring: Treetop Adventure Golf, two soft play areas and a Creche for children aged three to eight years old at Teenie Weenies

• Interactive Attractions: Sea Life, Cadbury World, Legoland Discovery Centre 

• Museums: Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Pen Museum, Coffin Works Museum, JW Evans Silver Factory Tour

• Animals: Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park, West-Midlands Safari Park

• Historical Houses: Birmingham Back to Backs, Aston Hall, Bringleyplace, Soho House, Blakesley Hall

How we choose our recommendations

Recommendations by real parents

Mumsnet forums attract over 10 million users per month, making it the perfect resource for reviews and recommendations by real parents. We used them to create our initial list of the best family hotels in Birmingham.

Expert Guidance and traveller reviews

From there, we have consulted industry experts like TripAdvisor, Expedia, Hotels.com, and other comparison websites to analyse our list, ensuring that every hotel is trustworthy, safe and family-friendly. As part of our vetting process, we consider reviews, awards and expert opinions.

Celebrated hotels

Once we have our final list, we use our research to create an honest guide to the best affordably priced family hotels in Birmingham.

Why should you trust us?

Our two-step process for verifying our hotels is a safeguard, ensuring that we provide you with unbiased advice that you can depend on. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate links (click-to-buy) in our articles. This helps us fund more informative articles like this one.