Arts & Culture

Housed in a magnificent Victorian building in Victoria Square, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery holds collections of international significance — from Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces and fine art to ceramics, archaeology, and natural history.

Managed by Birmingham Museums Trust, the museum is part of a wider network of venues across the city. General admission to the permanent galleries is free, though some major temporary exhibitions may charge an entry fee.

Highlights

• Pre-Raphaelite collection — one of the finest in the world
• Staffordshire Hoard and Birmingham history galleries
• Edwardian Tearooms for coffee and lunch
• Easy to combine with Town Hall and the Bullring on a city-centre day

Good to Know

• Open Wed–Sun during term time; daily in Birmingham school holidays — check birminghammuseums.org.uk before visiting
• The museum is reopening in phases after major building works — not all galleries may be open yet
• Located in the city Clean Air Zone if driving

Around 20 minutes' drive from Springfield House in normal traffic.

Thinktank is Birmingham's award-winning science museum, set within the Millennium Point complex at Eastside. With four floors of hands-on exhibits, a planetarium, and an outdoor Science Garden, it is one of the best family-friendly cultural days out in the city.

From steam engines and Spitfire aircraft to interactive galleries exploring the human body, space, and the natural world, Thinktank brings science to life for all ages.

Good to Know

• Planetarium shows are bookable on arrival — arrive early at weekends
• Science Garden is outdoors — ideal in dry weather
• Millennium Point car park and nearby city-centre parking available

Around 20 minutes' drive from Springfield House in normal traffic.

Ikon is one of the UK's leading contemporary art galleries, housed in a beautifully restored neo-Gothic school building in Brindleyplace. It presents a changing programme of international and British artists across painting, sculpture, film, and installation.

Admission is free, making it an easy addition to a Birmingham city-centre day — particularly alongside a canal-side stroll through Brindleyplace or a visit to Symphony Hall on Broad Street.

Around 20 minutes' drive from Springfield House in normal traffic.

Birmingham Town Hall is a Grade I listed landmark in Victoria Square — one of the finest examples of Roman Revival architecture in Britain. Built in the 1830s, it hosts comedy, spoken word, live music, and special events in a spectacular historic setting.

Managed by Town Hall Symphony Hall (THSH), it sits alongside Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and makes a natural stop on a city-centre cultural day.

Good to Know

• Check thsh.co.uk for upcoming shows and ticket availability
• Town Hall Car Park (B5 4AD) is a five-minute walk from Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
• Around 13 minutes by train from Coleshill Parkway to Birmingham New Street

Around 20 minutes' drive from Springfield House in normal traffic.

Symphony Hall on Broad Street is widely regarded as one of the finest concert halls in Europe — home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and a year-round programme of classical, jazz, and contemporary performances.

Part of the International Convention Centre complex at Brindleyplace, it offers world-class acoustics in a modern venue a short walk from the canal network and Ikon Gallery. For West End musicals and ballet, the Birmingham Hippodrome is nearby on Hurst Street.

Good to Know

• Check thsh.co.uk for CBSO concerts and visiting artists
• ICC car parks and Brindleyplace dining options nearby
• A separate venue from Birmingham Town Hall in Victoria Square

Around 20 minutes' drive from Springfield House in normal traffic.

Step back in time at the National Trust's Birmingham Back to Backs — the last surviving court of back-to-back houses in the city, telling the stories of the ordinary people who lived and worked here from the 1840s to the 1970s.

Guided tours bring the houses vividly to life, from a Victorian clockmaker's workshop to a 1930s sweet shop and a 1970s living room. It is a fascinating glimpse into Birmingham's social history and industrial heritage.

Good to Know

• Entry is by guided tour only — book ahead, especially at weekends
• Tours last around 75 minutes
• Located in the city centre on Hurst Street, near the Hippodrome and Birmingham Chinatown

Around 20 minutes' drive from Springfield House in normal traffic.

Coventry offers a powerful cultural pairing a short drive from Springfield House. The modern Coventry Cathedral — built alongside the ruins of the medieval cathedral destroyed in the Blitz — is an architectural masterpiece and a moving symbol of reconciliation and hope.

Steps away, the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum explores Coventry's history from the medieval period to the present, with fine art, archaeology, and social history collections. Admission to both is free.

Good to Know

• The cathedral ruins and new building can be explored together
• The Herbert is ideal for a rainy-day visit
• Coventry city centre has good parking and rail links

Around 15 minutes' drive from Springfield House.

Kenilworth Castle is one of England's most spectacular castle ruins, set in rolling Warwickshire parkland. With a history stretching back to Norman times, it was transformed into a magnificent Tudor palace by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, for Queen Elizabeth I.

Explore the towering red sandstone keep, the restored Elizabethan garden, and the vast great hall where lavish entertainments were once held. English Heritage brings the castle's romantic history vividly to life.

Highlights

• One of the largest castle ruins in England
• Beautifully recreated Elizabethan garden
• Panoramic views across Warwickshire countryside
• Easy to combine with a visit to Kenilworth town

Around 20 minutes' drive from Springfield House via the A452.

Stratford-upon-Avon is the birthplace of William Shakespeare and one of England's most celebrated cultural destinations. The Royal Shakespeare Company performs in three iconic theatres on the banks of the River Avon, while the town itself is rich with Tudor heritage.

Visit Shakespeare's Birthplace, Anne Hathaway's Cottage, and Holy Trinity Church where the Bard is buried. Riverside walks, independent shops, and excellent restaurants make this a rewarding full-day trip from Coleshill.

Highlights

• Royal Shakespeare Company — world-class theatre in a historic setting
• Shakespeare's Birthplace and five linked heritage sites
• River Avon boat trips and riverside gardens
• Charming market town atmosphere

Around 35 minutes' drive from Springfield House via the A452 or A46.

The Black Country Living Museum is one of the UK's finest open-air heritage attractions, recreating life in the Black Country from the 1850s to the 1950s across 26 acres of historic buildings, canals, and industrial landscapes.

Walk down a Victorian street, ride a vintage tram, explore a coal mine, and visit traditional shops, pubs, and workshops staffed by costumed interpreters. It is a vivid and immersive journey into the region's industrial past — and famously served as a filming location for Peaky Blinders.

Good to Know

• Allow a full day — there is a lot to explore
• Canal-side fish and chips and traditional sweet shop on site
• Book tickets online in advance at busy times

Around 30 minutes' drive from Springfield House.