Dragging the kids and hubby to Birmingham for the weekend. Help!

[RareSpottedJess]

I'm dragging DH and the boys (8 and 11) to Birmingham with me for a weekend conference. We're staying near the airport.

What should they do while I'm busy? Museum? Canals (if so, which tour)?

They'll be using public transport. Is the train in from Birmingham International the way to get where they need to go?

Also, they want to see The Martian on Saturday night (I know, I know, he swears a lot in the book...). Recommendation for where to see it?

Thanks!

star city is great for the cinema, or. five ways if you want something in town.

There is a sealfe centre in the middle of town, right on the canals at Brindley Place. And of course there is Cadbury World in Bournville.

Plenty of other local bits to see and do,check out the tourist info page

Birmingham International to New Street is great and will bring them to the new Grand Central Shopping Area too.
Either the Electric Cinema or Everyman in the Mailbox are good 'experience' cinemas but if you cannot get in there Broad Street has a Cineworld. Avoid the Odeon in the centre as it is a bit riffy.
BMAG has got a lot to show as a museum and currently Birmingham has the Big Hoot going on. Lots of Owls decorated in funky styles have been placed around the city centre and will be auctioned off to raise money for Birmingham Childrens Hospital. Grab a free map from the Library and hunt them out! There is a shop in Great Western Arcade selling memorabilia to further up the funds too. We had a lot of fun doing that.
If you have national trust membership Birmingham Back to Backs are in the centre too.
Not sure about canal tours but if you get on the canal around the back of the icc you can go for a good walk and see a lot from there.