How to spend one day in Birmingham
Although the city is not usually on people’s British bucket list, it is easy to spend one day in Birmingham, the UK’s second-largest city. A city with more canals than Venice (we know it’s bigger), a city that is the home of Cadbury’s chocolate, and that inspired Tolkien is worth visiting. This is all before we mention Peaky Blinders, or how it has 44% of the population under 30 or how it is green, diverse, and known as the city of a thousand trades.
There are many exciting things to do for one day in Birmingham, and we will only scratch the surface with this list, but if you are looking to see a modernising city, that is adapting and changing – Birmingham is your answer. The city’s motto is moving forward, and suggests that the city is full of creativity and change. It also is one of the UK’s greenest cities, with over 600 parks and open spaces, so get some Brummie spirit and make your way to this underrated city.
How to get to Birmingham
Birmingham is in the West Midlands in England and is easily reached by car, bus and train across the UK. 90% of the UK population live within 4 hours of the city.
Car: You can reach Birmingham by the M5, M6, M40 and M42. Birmingham has launched a Clean Air Zone Scheme, and you can check whether or not you need to pay as it depends on the vehicle you have. You can park at Five Ways, Cambridge Street and Arena Birmingham.
Train: There are many train stations in Birmingham, New Street Station – Grand Central, Snow Hill Station and Moor Street Station.
Coach: Birmingham Digbeth Coach station serves much of the UK’s major cities and is located in the Digbeth area of the city.
When is the best time to go for 24 hours in Birmingham?
Birmingham is full of exciting events all year round, from a Foodies Festival in June to the Christmas Market in December. There is something for everyone to enjoy, but with only 1 day in Birmingham, you might need more time if you are coming for a festival. That being said, there is not a wrong time to visit the city. Make sure you dress appropriately for the weather, and you will be fine.
How to get around for one day in Birmingham
There are many ways to get around for 24 hours in Birmingham. We enjoy walking when we are in a city and Birmingham is easily walkable, as it is not hilly. The main attractions for 1 day in Birmingham are close together. However, we saw many people using the following modes of transport when we were last in the city:
Voi Scooters: download the app, follow the instructions and off you go on these orange scooters.
Bikes: Brompton Bike Hire (£3.50 a day) for the folding bike option or get the Beryl App and ride the West Midlands Cycle Hire.
Uber: download the app and request a ride (good if you are short on time).
10 Things to do for One day in Birmingham Itinerary
As Birmingham is relatively compact and easy to get around, you should have no problem seeing the following exciting things to do without feeling too rushed to have an exciting 24 hours in Birmingham itinerary.
Victoria Square
For a one day in Birmingham itinerary, you should venture to Victoria Square – known as the centre of the city and named after Queen Victoria herself in 1901. It is pedestrianised and has beautiful buildings that you can admire – The Town Hall and the Council House. In addition, you will see some sculptures in the square, such as Mistry’s Fountain – The River and Queen Victoria.
The square is bustling and full of people when we last visited, and there was a band playing in the centre with many people enjoying the music on the picnic benches. It is also the part of the city that at Christmas time is taken over by the Christmas Markets, one of the biggest and busiest in the UK.
Museum and Art Gallery
Please note: the museum is currently closed until 2022. They aim to re-open in time for Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games.
The Museum and Art Gallery first opened in 1885 and today has over 40 galleries to explore. You can expect to see fine art, ceramics, metalwork and jewellery. It is known for extensively collecting paintings from the 14th-21st century and coins from ancient times to the Middle Ages.
Birmingham Library
Birmingham Library is one of the most visited tourist attractions outside of London and houses important archives and photography collections. The design of the building is said to be inspired by the energy of the city, and the architect Francine Houben describes it as the ‘People’s Palace’.
One of our favourite things to do is go on the terraces, see the city from above, and go up the elevators and admire the beautiful collection of books. There are over 400,000 books in the library, and it is one of the largest public libraries in Europe.
Digbeth
Undeniably, Digbeth has changed a lot in the last few years. From quite a dingy area filled with unused warehouses, it has transformed into a place full of colour, art and regenerated buildings. Of course, it still has its industrial feel, but the area is now full of impressive street art, such as Ghetto Golf (which we saw in Liverpool too) and a fantastic bar scene.
We recommend heading towards the Custard Factory, and here or near here, you will find Roberto’s bar (with the loveliest staff), Baked in Brick for some yummy pizza and Chance and Counters.
Bullring
A one day in Birmingham itinerary should include a visit to the Bullring shopping centre and markets. The building has become iconic due to the Selfridges section resembling a spaceship. Whilst you are there, you can see the bull, which is known as a symbol of Birmingham. The 6-tonne sculpture was created by Laurence Broderick and constantly has a queue of people waiting to take a picture with it and sometimes on it.
There are also markets nearby where you can find fish, meats, fruit, vegetables and more. Alternatively, for high-end shops, you can visit the Mailbox to shop. There is something for everyone!
Arcades
It is worth checking out both Piccadilly Arcade and the Great Western Arcade for 1 day in Birmingham. They are both different but unique in their way. For example, Piccadilly Arcade has beautiful frescoes on its ceiling, and the Great Western Arcade has a fascinating history. Both are worth strolling down, browsing the unique independent shops, and taking pictures of the beautiful architecture.
Brindleyplace
Brindleyplace used to be the heart of Birmingham’s industrial past, and after the decline, it became one of the largest redevelopments in the UK. One of the best things to do for one day in Birmingham is to wander down its canal ways and check out the lively bar scene surrounding it.
We particularly liked the Canal House and wandered around Gas Street Basin towards the Mailbox area and looked at the canal boats.
Jewellery Quarter
One day in Birmingham is not complete without a visit to the Jewellery Quarter. Here you will find over 700 jewellers and independent shops, in case you wondered how the quarter got its name. If you want to find out more, then we suggest heading to the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter to get an insight into Birmingham’s jewellery trading past and how it produces 40% of all jewellery made in the UK.
It is a unique spot in the city, and we suggest taking your time to walk around the home of UK jewellery and see more than 200 listed buildings. There are over 80 bars, so why not stop at one or grab some lunch as we did? We went to Coffee Tales, which was lovely and served great coffee, but there are many places to choose from for 1 day in Birmingham.
Peaky Blinders Tour
If you’ve heard of Birmingham because of the iconic hit, you can opt to go on a Peaky Blinder’s Tour in Digbeth. You can learn about Birmingham’s past from the 1880s and early 1900s when gangs ruled the Birmingham crime-filled streets.
This tour begins at the Old Crown on Deritend High Street, and then your guide will recreate the story of the real Peaky Blinders. The walking tour lasts about 45-minutes, but they offer a Victorian dinner and a drink too (if you fancy it). Please read all about it and book tickets on the Brum Tours website.
Birmingham Cathedral
It is worth making the trip to the impressive Birmingham Cathedral for your 1 day in Birmingham itinerary. It is a rare example of Baroque architecture and has exceptional stained glass windows. You can take a tour of the cathedral, where they explain the vital features of the building.
Many people gather in the cathedral square, as it is a popular spot to meet and socialise. But, when you visit, consider that there are 60,000 burials in the churchyard, even though no one else was buried after 1858. Creepy!
If you are spending longer than one day in Birmingham, read our guides to:
Free Things to do in Birmingham
Alternatively for other UK cities consider:
Photo Credits:averagelives.com
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