Warwick/midlands/Birmingham day out ideas

[user6767]

Planning to go see my in-laws who live in Birmingham with our two young DC (age 4 and 2). Would appreciate some ideas on where we could take the DC out. Up to now we have Warwick castle, Drayton manor, think tank museum and Cadbury's world. I'm not sure if they are still abit young for Cadbury's world? But would also like ideas for places that are abit cheaper as I don't want to be paying a fortune each day. Also any good farms in the area? Thanks!

Hatton country world, but it's expensive. Look for vouchers. Not actually in Birmingham, but close enough.

Legoland discovery?

Shelly manor is a small but really cute place to visit, literally round the corner from Cadbury world. The village green is lovely, coffee shop, book shop, wool shop, butcher and grocer, plus the carillon is open at this time.of year selling locally made shite.

Take the train to stratford upon Avon. Lots to do there. Fish and chips on the green by the river, a boat ride, the butterfly farm, MAD museum.

Kenilworth castle is lovely.

There is so much you can do, what would you really like to spend your time doing? I'll be honest and say I think all the big attractions are a bit shit for the money.

Selly Manor. Bloody autocorrect!

Hatton country world is a great day out with the kids but is quite a expensive.
St Nicolas Park in Warwick is also lovely on a hot day and has a paddling pool, mini funfair and a lovely play area with a sand pit.
In terms of farms there is Attwell Farm Park in Redditch which has a farm and a soft play, play area and sand pits etc. Umberslade Farm is similar but probably more geared towards animals but it does have a play area.
In Birmingham there is the sea life centre or Lego discovery world which might suit the age range of your DC. I hope this helps

Arrow valley lake in Redditch is also nice. Very scenic and a nice walk and they've just installed a brand new play area which my DC (7 and 3) really like.
Lots of ducks to feed and lots of places to play hide and seek if you're looking for a cheaper day out.

I may be out of date as it’s been a few years. But check out some recent reviews of Cadbury World if you can. We weren’t that impressed same with the Sea Life centre.
They loved ThinkTank though.

Sea life, legoland. They do a combined ticket for both. More worth the money then Cadbury world. Black country museum, Dudley zoo, Twycross zoo.

Numerous parks. Cannon Hill has a large play area and a cafe in the arts centre. There might also be some toddler-friendly activities, you'd have to check what's on. Sutton Park and Lickey Hills are wild nature-ey places but there's still cafes and restaurants in the park or nearby.

Sea Life Centre, but that's money and might be a bit wasted on the 2yo.

The Lickey Hills are nice for a walk, free parking and only a short drive from Cadbury World. You could take a picnic, I'm not sure the cafe will be open because of Covid. There's a small play area near the Visitor Centre as well.

I second the suggestion of Cannon Hill Park, you have to pre-book a table(cocid guidelines) at the "Kiln" cafe which is in the Mac arts centre, but I think you can just walk in for take away food.

What’s the Botanical Gardens like these days? Used to go there a lot.

Thanks everyone having a google of all these ideas these looks great!

The Black Country museum. I LOVED that place as a child

Agree with @Sparklingbrook botanical gardens are good!

The Black Country museum was being expanded when I went. Not sure when that bit opens. Possibly 2022. I think 4 and 2 are too young to understand the history.

What part of Birmingham are they roughly? It's a big city.

Think tank has a separate "small world" area which will be perfect for your children's ages. Check you don't need a separate booking in covid times. There are (were?) fountains outside which come up from the pavement which can be fun on a hot day. Take a change of clothes.

The central library also has fountains outside it for playing in. The children's library is quite a nice area to explore as little ones and the library has several "gardens" which are free and fun to explore. Again, not sure what is open at moment. Hopefully everything!

If you're heading up to Tamworth way for Drayton manor there is a nice RSPB reserve calling Middleton lakes which has a pond dipping, a "play field" and den building area. Pay for parking only. Also around there is Ash End farm which is a soft play and small petting type farm place.

Have fun!

Nature centre
Dudley zoo
Many many parks
Swimming (haven't been for a while so use google£

Sandwell Valley Country Park in West Bromwich is nice, we always stop off there for a break and a walk when travelling on M5/M6 (lots of walks, playgrounds, crazy golf, cafe, I think there is a farm too) we park in a small car park at the top of the park fairly near a big retail park/Tesco but there is a large car park near the crazy golf as well

When my DS was small he lived Stratford upon Avon. We went to the Teletubbies shop (if it's still there) to go on the slide, lunch by the canal (the Rosie and Jim boat was always there), fed the ducks. He also preferred Kenilworth Castle to Warwick Castle.

Warwick usually has something going on. If you go to Coventry it is the City of Culture so there is stuff going on.

There aren’t many farms in the city
Depends how far you’re willing to travel but just outside Birmingham there’s:
Ash End Farm
Broomey Croft Farm
National Forest Adventure Farm
x

Other places not already suggested - the Birmingham Conservation Park is next to Cannon Hill, smallish but enjoyable zoo type set up. Avoncroft Museum over towards Bromsgrove, outdoor museum with old buildings you can go in (windmill is the big attraction!). Droitwich has a lido if nice weather, and I think has a decent toddler splash area.

If you get the train out to Kidderminster the station is right next to the Severn Valley Railway. About 40 minutes from New St station.

Ash End House Farm is lovely, check if the soft play is open as I think they had to close for a bit with staff having to isolate. You can pay for both or one or the other.

Sadly the Ragdoll shop (teletubbies etc) in Stratford shut many years ago and no Rosie and Jim boat these days! But we still have the mad museum, butterfly farm and a fair on the Rec currently. Really nice park with sand area there too and a paddling pool. New adventure area with a slide down the hillside. Boat trips and you can feed the ducks/ millions of swans. There’s a big wheel with great views over the town.

Just on the farms and animals- Attwells is lovely and quite reasonably priced. Umberslade has changed during covid and has just a few animals dotted about that you can see but it's only a half day out, if you're on the doorstep. You can walk the grounds and use the playground and cafe no problem.
Depending which part of Birmingham you will be there is Little Owls going out towards Kidderminster, a bit more expensive but a bit more to do than Attwells too.
I don't rate Hatton for younger children at all and I don't remember seeing very many actual animals last time I went to the wildlife place in Cannon Hill Park...
There's a tiny city farm in Sheldon (you can go plane spotting too), there's also Forge Mill Farm in Sandwell if you're over that side of town.

The Ragdoll shop was lovely. I bought Brum for DS from there when he was little. It broke, and I wrote asking if I could buy another. Their response asked me to send the broken toy, and included a postcard 'signed' by Brum saying that he was enjoying his holiday, to give to DS when I sent Brum to them. And they replaced it for free!

Anyway, back to recommendations. I second the Severn Valley Railway, and two towns on it that are worth a visit with or without the train journey.

Bewdley is a small Georgian town with a great riverside and a free museum that is very good for children.

Bridgnorth, at the end of the line, is also well worth a visit, with a funicular to reach the old town at the top of the hill.

There’s a play village in Warwick that is perfect for those ages. I really dated it when we went because the food and coffees were really good which is really rare at a kids play place