Whether you’re a student looking for fun things to do in Birmingham that won’t break the bank, or just after some inspiration for what to do in Birmingham this weekend, we’ve put together the ultimate list of the top 10 free days out and activities in and around the UK’s second city.
1. Explore the city with free tours from Roundhouse Birmingham
Roundhouse Birmingham is a Grade II* listed building which has been revived as a hub for exploring the city's history. They offer free self-guided walking tours and audio tours. There's also a small visitor centre and lots of picnic benches where you can soak up the industrial architecture and history. It's a perfect pit stop for a walk along the canal from our City Centre campus.
2. Take a stroll along the canals
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll be aware that Birmingham has more canals than Venice. Whilst ours might have slightly less of the romantic Italian charm, they still make for a great afternoon of ambling along the network discovering new perspectives of Birmingham, wondering yet again how the locks *actually* work (the only sensible explanation: magic), and admiring the street art.
3. Visit Birmingham Botanical Gardens
If you're a student (or staff) at BCU, you can visit Birmingham Botanical Gardens for free! The Botanical Gardens are opposite our City South Campus, so it couldn't be easier to get outdoors and make the most of this urban oasis. Just take your BCU ID card for free entry all year round.
4. Check out Digbeth
Just over the road from BCU is Birmingham's creative quarter - Digbeth. This flourishing area of Birmingham boasts the Custard Factory for quirky bars like Kilo Ziro - the UK's first zero waste café bar and taproom - as well as outdoor bars and some great up-and-coming restaurants. But for a cost-free activity in this area, all you need to do is walk down the streets and check out the wealth of street art and graffiti on show, which is always changing and evolving.
5. Take the Tolkien Trail - here's a guide and map
Lord of the Rings fan? Why not retrace Tolkien’s steps and discover the inspiration behind his writing with this great trail around the city and further afield? It covers Sarehole Mill, Moseley Bog, King’s Heath, Edgbaston Waterworks Tower and the Oratory. Find out more about his life on this free trail and learn how his childhood memories around Birmingham shaped his imagination to create Middle Earth in his ever-popular books.
6. Discover the Jewellery Quarter
Just a 10-minute walk from Birmingham City Centre is the Jewellery Quarter; home, strangely enough, to a myriad of jewellery shops, as well as a burgeoning independent scene. Great pubs, a variety of tasty restaurants, a pen museum and the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter make this an area of endless possibilities. Throughout the year they also run Open Studio events where you can get a glimpse into local artists’ and makers’ workspaces – why not find the BCU School of Jewellery while you’re at it so you can admire our architecture? If you've got ten minutes to spare, grab a coffee to go and head to St Paul’s Square, which makes the perfect spot to watch the world (and many dogs) go by.
7. Explore MAC and Cannon Hill Park
Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) houses a theatre space, cinema screen, and gallery areas. They often put on activities and events, but it’s even worth just having a wander through on your way to Cannon Hill Park. Birmingham’s most popular park is ideal for a picnic or cheeky game of Frisbee, but for the more adventurous there’s also boating, mini golf or tennis (which you can play for free!). If you’re making a full day of it in the area, you can pop next door to the Wildlife Conservation Park to see the red pandas, otters, lemurs and so much more. Whilst not free, per se, they do offer student discounts.
8. Take in the sights at the Library of Birmingham
You’ll still hear Brummies debating about the ‘new’ library – some people think they shouldn’t have knocked the old Brutalist library down, others think it’s an architectural triumph, and some just think it looks a bit like a wedding cake. Whatever you think about it, it’s undeniable that it’s a must-see in Birmingham, and there’s plenty to do and see for free there. From the Shakespeare Memorial Room to the ‘secret’ rooftop garden where you can get an awesome view of the city, this landmark doesn’t disappoint.
9. Discover the city's history at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
After a lengthy refurbishment, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG) is back open with exciting new displays and a fresh new look. As well as historic and well-known pieces of art, the museum now features an exhibition which celebrates the city of a thousand trades, as well as pieces from local artists including students from BCU.
10. Soak up some culture at Ikon Gallery
If modern art is more your thing, look no further than the Ikon Gallery. Free to enter, you can discover a whole range of weird and wonderful contemporary artists. When you’re tired out from scratching your head and saying, ‘but what does it *mean*??’, you can fuel up at the excellent Yorks café on site and explore the gift shop that features fancy coffee table books and locally made items.
Have you discovered any other great places or activities for free in Birmingham? Take a look at our tips on life in Birmingham to get some more inspiration for what you can get up to!