Want to immerse yourself in Birmingham’s history and culture? Or marvel at avant-garde art and science exhibits?
The best way to do that is through the fabulous museums in Birmingham!
Find out which ones should be on your bucket list, and all the details you should know before visiting them.
This Article Contains:
1. Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
2. Winterbourne House and Garden
3. National Motorcycle Museum
4. Coffin Works
5. Museum of the Jewellery Quarter
6. Soho House
7. Aston Hall
8. Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum
9. Pen Museum
10. Sarehole Mill
11. Blakesley Hall
12. Lapworth Museum of Geology
13. Barber Institute of Fine Arts
14. West Midlands Police Museum
15. Selly Manor
15 Must-Visit Museums in Birmingham
Here’s a handy list of famous museums that you should drop in to:
1. Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
If you need a sneak peek into Birmingham’s glorious past, then a visit to the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is a must.
The museum’s galleries are resplendent with masterpieces from the Renaissance age, Egyptian mummies, and contemporary art pieces. The place offers interactive displays to highlight some of the most captivating stories of Birmingham over the last 500 years.
Also, don’t forget to sport the Staffordshire Hoard – the largest find of Anglo-Saxon gold ever discovered.
Opening hours: The museum will partially reopen on 28th April 2022. It’ll be open 7-days a week, from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Entry fee: Free
Location: Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3DH
Contact: 0121 348 8000, hello@birminghammuseums.org.uk
Website: https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag
Nearest bus/metro/rail stop: Margaret Street, Great Charles St Queensway (Stop GC1), and Newhall Street (Stop NH1) (bus)
2. Winterbourne House and Garden
Established within seven acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, the Winterbourne house is a unique heritage attraction in Birmingham.
It’s home to over 6000 plant species and antiques collected from all around the world.
Enjoy a walk along the woodland or stroll through the hazelnut tunnel. The 1930s Japanese bridge present on this property is also the perfect spot for your Instagram reels.
Opening hours: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Entry fee: From £8.20
Location: 58 Edgbaston Park Rd, Birmingham B15 2RT, United Kingdom
Contact: 0121 414 3003
Website: https://www.winterbourne.org.uk/
Nearest bus/metro/rail stop: School of Education bus) and University station (train)
3. National Motorcycle Museum
Birmingham’s National Motorcycle Museum is one of the largest British motorcycle museums globally and attracts over 250,000 visitors every year.
Located in the heart of the Midlands Transport Network, this museum has rightfully become the focal point for the British motorcycle movement.
It currently has over 1000+ restored motorcycles on display. Each machine present here rightfully reflects the nation’s industrious marvels and engineering prowess.
Opening hours: 08:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Entry fee: From £15.00
Location: Coventry Road, Bickenhill Solihull, West Midlands, B92 0EJ, United Kingdom
Contact: 01675 443311
Website: https://www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk/
Nearest bus/metro/rail stop: Bickenhill Lane and East Way (bus)
4. Coffin Works
Coffin Works is a Victorian coffin furniture factory that has produced some of the finest furniture, including fittings for the funeral of Winston Churchill and the Queen Mother.
This workshop was restored by the Birmingham Conservation Trust and opened as a museum in 2014.
The workbenches at this museum showcase the original tools and machinery of the trade. You can also take guided tours to relive and experience Birmingham’s industrial legacy.
Opening hours: Thursdays, 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM.
Entry fee: From £8.50
Location: 13-15 Fleet Street, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, B3 1JP
Contact: 0203 757 9772 or email arttickets@artfund.org
Website: http://www.coffinworks.org/
Nearest bus/metro/rail stop: Charlotte St (bus) and New Street (train)
5. Museum of the Jewellery Quarter
Built around a carefully preserved jewelry workshop, this museum offers a unique tour of the jeweler’s craft and Britain’s 200 years old jewelry industry.
The museum also houses two self-guided galleries:
- Story of the Jewellery Quarter – Demonstrates the history of the Jewelry Quarter
- Earth’s Riches – showcases jewellery made from natural materials found worldwide.
Opening hours: The museum is currently closed except for special events.
Entry fee: N/A
Location: 75-80 Vyse Street, Birmingham, B18 6HA
Contact: 0121 348 8140, hello@birminghammuseums.org.uk
Website: https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/jewellery
Nearest bus/metro/rail stop: Regent Place (bus) and Birmingham Snow Hill (train)
6. Soho House
Soho House is the Georgian home of Matthew Boulton, a famous Birmingham industrialist. It was also a meeting place of the Lunar Society, a renowned enlightenment group that included personalities like Erasmus Darwin, James Watt, and Joseph Priestly.
This mansion perfectly personifies the fashion sense and tastes of the late Georgian period.
You can also see some artifacts from Bolton’s nearby factory, where he developed the steam engine along with James Watt.
Note: Soho House will reopen on 25th May 2022.
Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 12:00 Noon, 1.30 PM, and 3:00 PM.
Entry fee: From £7.00
Location: Soho Avenue (off Soho Road), Birmingham, B18 5LB
Contact: 0121 348 8150, hello@birminghammuseums.org.uk
Website: https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/soho
Nearest bus/metro stop: Rose Hill (bus) and Benson Road (metro)
7. Aston Hall
Aston Hall is a 17th-century red-brick Jacobean house surrounded by a quaint public park. It’s also the first historic building opened as a public museum by Queen Victoria in 1858.
The mansion is famous for reflecting 17th-century architectural details such as plasterwork, woodwork, and chimneypieces.
And as you immerse yourself in the Jacobean splendor, you can enjoy some lip-smacking cakes, snacks, and drinks at the dog-friendly Stable Yard Café.
Opening hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 12:00 Noon – 4:00 PM
Entry fee: From £9.90
Location: Trinity Road, Aston, Birmingham, B6 6JD
Contact: 0121 348 8100, hello@birminghammuseums.org.uk
Website: https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/aston
Nearest bus/metro/rail stop: Aston Station and Witton Station
8. Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum
A trip to Birmingham is incomplete without visiting the award-winning science museum that has over 200 unique displays on science and technology.
The museum houses some fascinating collections of historical artifacts, steam engines, talking robots, and a chocolate wrapping machine. It also has an interactive mini-city – MiniBrum, a 4K planetarium, and a science garden.
Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Entry fee: From £14.00
Location: Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum, Millennium Point, Birmingham, B4 7XG
Contact: 0121 348 8000, hello@birminghammuseums.org.uk
Website: https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank
Nearest bus/metro/train stop: Gopsal St (bus) and Moor Street station (train)
9. Pen Museum
Pen-making has been a significant industry in England since the Victorian era. The trade employed over 8000 women workers.
On your visit to the Pen Museum, you’ll see the machinery and objects used by those workers. You’ll also discover the link between Josiah Mason (a prominent pen manufacturer) and the establishment of the University of Birmingham.
Here are some of the fun activities you can do at the Pen Museum:
- Write with a quill and ink
- Use typewriters
- Make your own nib using the same machinery
- Try out calligraphy
- Analyze your handwriting using graphology
Opening hours: Friday/Saturday – 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM and Sunday – 12:00 Noon – 4:00 PM
Entry fee: From £7.00
Location: The Pen Museum, The Argent Centre, 60 Frederick Street, Birmingham, B1 3HS
Contact: 0121 236 9834, enquiries@penmuseum.org.uk
Website: https://penmuseum.org.uk/
Nearest bus/metro/train stop: Vittoria St (bus) and Jewellery Quarter (train)
10. Sarehole Mill
If you’re a Hobbit and Lord of the Rings fan, then the Sarehole Mill is a must-visit. The author of these famous books, JRR Tolkein, used to live across the mill, and this place’s rural surroundings inspired his writings.
Another interesting fact about this mill is its connection with Mathew Boulton, who leased this place for producing sheet metal for button manufacturing.
Today, Sarehole Mill is a modern-day bakery where you can enjoy some delectable freshly-baked treats while enjoying this place’s distinctive silhouette.
Opening hours: Fridays at 11.30 AM and Saturdays at 11.30 AM and 1.30 PM (except the first Saturday of the month)
Entry fee: From £6.00
Location: Sarehole Mill, Cole Bank Road, Hall Green, B13 0BD
Contact: 0121 348 8160, hello@birminghammuseums.org.uk
Website: https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/sarehole
Nearest bus/metro/train stop: Sarehole Mill (bus) and Hall Green (train)
11. Blakesley Hall
Located just a few miles from the city center, Blakesley Hall is a beautiful 430-years old timber-framed Todor house.
Expect to experience what life was like for a well-to-do family during the Tudor time. You’ll also get to see several original features of the building, including the original painted chambers from 1590.
Other highlights of this place include the Great Hall, the atmospheric Great Parlor, the herb garden, and the Long Gallery.
Opening hours:
- 13th – 17th April, 12:00 Noon – 4:00 PM
- 20th – 24th April, 12:00 Noon – 4:00 PM
- 1st June – 5th June, 12:00 Noon – 4:00 PM
- 6th July – 2nd October, 12:00 Noon – 4:00 PM
Entry fee: From £7.00
Location: Blakesley Hall, Blakesley Road, Yardley, Birmingham, B25 8RN
Contact: 0121 348 8120, hello@birminghammuseums.org.uk
Website: https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/blakesley/visit
Nearest bus/metro/train stop: Blakesley Hall (bus) and Stechford St (train)
12. Lapworth Museum of Geology
Dating back to 1880, the Lapworth Museum of Geology has one of the finest and most extensive collections (more than 250,0000 specimens) of fossils, minerals, rocks, geological maps, equipment, etc.
The museum was named after Charles Lapworth, the first Professor of Geology at Mason College, now known as the University of Birmingham.
Be prepared to marvel over the formation of Earth, how it has changed over time, and how life came to exist on Earth.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday – 12 Noon – 5:00 PM
Entry Fee: Free
Location: Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom, B15 2TT
Contact: 0121 414 3344
Website: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/lapworth-museum/index.aspx
Nearest Bus/metro stop: Grange Rd (bus) and University (train)
13. Barber Institute of Fine Arts
The Grade-I listed Barber Institute of Fine Arts houses an incredible art collection with masterpieces by Monet, Rossetti and Rodin, Van Gogh, Gainsborough, and many more.
It also features a coin gallery with Roman, Byzantine, and medieval coins and decorative art and sculptures.
If you want to check out various on-site learning programmes for adults and children, head to the institute’s website.
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Entry Fee: Free
Location: The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TS
Contact: 0121 414 7333, reception@barber.org.uk
Website: https://barber.org.uk/
Nearest Bus/metro stop: King Edwards High School (bus) and University (train)
14. West Midlands Police Museum
Experience what it’s like to live on the other side of the bars through this one-of-a-kind police museum.
You’ll see the Victorian-style lockups built in 1891, functional until 2016. Also, learn about some of the most notorious criminals held up in this lockup, including the Peaky Blinders gang.
On the fun side, you can dress up in police uniforms, take mugshots, solve crimes in the forensics lab and follow the mouse trail (designed for the younger visitors.)
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Entry Fee: From £9
Location: The Lock-up, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, B4 6BJ
Contact: 0121 609 1700
Website: https://museum.west-midlands.police.uk/
Nearest Bus/metro stop: Avondale Rd (bus) and Small Heath (train)
15. Selly Manor
The Selly Manor museum comprises two distinct buildings located in the heart of Bournville garden village.
Selly Manor, a Tudor house, along with Minworth Greaves, are two of the city’s oldest establishments found today.
The museum houses period furniture and domestic objects of George Cadbury, who saved the building from ruins and arranged its move to the village where you can find it today.
Likewise, his son Laurence Cadbury moved the Minworth Greaves and rebuilt it on-site in Bournville.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Entry fee: From £5
Location: Selly Manor, Maple Road, Bournville, Birmingham, B30 2AE
Contact: 0121 472 0199
Website: sellymanor@bvt.org.uk
Nearest bus/metro/train stop: Woodbrooke Rd (bus) and Bournville (train)