This is the ideal park for the entire family, offering a variety of facilities including boating lakes, playgrounds, tennis courts, tropical greenhouses and nature conservation areas. It is also the home of the Midland Arts Centre. A walking/bicycling route winds through the grounds that has recently been extended. The park also plays host to a variety of concerts, performances and the annual Fireworks Fantasia.
Situated across Church Hill Road, the St Alphege Parish Church is a historic church that dates back to the 12th Century. Over a period of time, it was refurbished several times; the bells and the church's shire were renovated too. It is a beautifully restored religious space and its ancient organ pipe organ, stained glass windows that belong to different time periods and the overall architecture is worth exploring. Apart from that, this church is home to community functions, choir concerts, youth groups, sermons, lectures and similar events.
The Black Country is a large industrial area to the north-west of Birmingham and this museum is a reminder of how things used to be here 100 years ago. It comprises many historic buildings, taken down from elsewhere and re-erected to make an authentic town of a century ago. Highlights include an old-fashioned funfair, a narrowboat ride and a trip down a coal mine, light is deliberately kept to the levels that would have been experienced by the miners. All children and adults can take a lesson in an 1840s school and tour round a Victorian sweetshop, chemist's, nail-making shop and stables, among many other exhibits.
This 80-hectare (200-acre) safari park is located less than a 60-minute drive from Birmingham. It will take you about an hour to drive through the animal reserves, where you can see elephants, rhinos, giraffes, lions, monkeys, wallabies and tigers. The amusement park has many different rides, and a wristband ticket that gives you access to all of them. Other attractions include a seal aquarium, reptile house and sea lion show. There are also plenty of themed places to eat and buy souvenirs.
As the only surviving example of the once prevalent Back to Backs of Birmingham, these historic buildings are a rare treasure. During the 19th Century, a number of buildings were built back to back around a common courtyard to meet the demands of the rapidly growing population of the city as a result of industrialization. These houses were inhabited by the working class who managed to survive in these cramped quarters. Each of the four Back to Backs around the courtyard has been restored and refurnished as a representation of four different time periods, giving visitors an extremely rare opportunity to take a peek into the lives of the ordinary working men and women of the 1840s, 1870s, 1930s and 1970s. Only a few slots are available each day and prior reservations are a must if you wish to visit these homes.
A little way out from the city center but easy to get to, the Barber Institute is adjacent to the University of Birmingham. This is one of the world's finest small art galleries with an outstanding collection of old and modern paintings, drawings and sculpture. This gallery is not normally as busy as some larger galleries, so your tour will be un-crowded and pleasant. Artists' works include Bellini, Canaletto, Monet, Renoir, Rossetti and Van Gogh. The Institute is also a regular venue for concerts, lectures and other events.
An expansive lush green community park is an asset in Stourbridge with approximately 1million visitors every year. Located half a mile away from the Stourbridge town centre, the park has an array of activities throughout the year. There is a war memorial, health pool, a bandstand, a large play area, activity center and a café in the tea gardens where you can indulge in fitness activities, group events and wildlife activities. Overall, it is a great spot for picnics and family outings where you can relax and take pleasure of the beauty around and also enjoy the park activities.
Bewdley Station was first opened in 1862 and was operated by the Severn Valley Railway company. The station saw a growth in passenger traffic over the years, however the industrialization that led to its growth eventually led to its demise as well due to the development of the automotive industry. Although the station was closed in 1970, a short four years later efforts were made to restore and preserve the station, and services began once more. Thanks to the efforts of the company and a dedicated group of volunteers Bewdley Station has retained much of its original character including the original footbridge and platform canopy. In addition, a variety of historic artifacts have been moved here from other railway stations. The station is often the venue for events and galas during which visitors are given the access to areas of this historic station that are usually closed to public. Trains being a common point of fascination for both adults and children, a visit to the Bewdley Station is sure to be an adventure for the entire family.
The Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum is a place that exhibits the rich history of the town's regiment in the time period between 1794 to 1954. The museum displays various weapons and a vast collection of different Yeomanry uniforms. An exhibit that stands out is a famous painting of the regiment by Lady Butler. Visit their website for more details.
Aston Reservoir, located adjacent to Gravelly Hill Interchange, was originally built as a drinking water reservoir that was intended to be extracted from the River Tame. It is called by many names like Salford Lake, Salford Park Pool or Salford Bridge Reservoir. The reservoir was an erstwhile boating lake and was utilized for speedboat racing. It is currently used by the surrounding wooded areas of Salford Park, making this a good place to spend a relaxing and refreshing day outdoors.
The Birmingham Eco Park is a center for environmental education managed by the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black County. It is also the site for the PAWS society (People and Services for Wildlife) which is the practical conservation facility of the Wildlife trust. The park offers a wide range of educational activities on environment and wildlife such as natural arts and crafts, animal spotting, pond dipping and sessions on how to grow trees and vegetables. It also has a number of interesting demonstration features on renewable energy such as wind turbines, solar panels and a water treatment plant. The variety of natural habitats located in the park make it a rich and diverse ground for woodlands, grasslands, orchards and wildflower meadows which are sure to delight any nature enthusiast. The park may not always be open to public, so it is advisable to check with the concerned authorities before visiting. Activities for large groups in training and education are charged and not free.
A memorial dedicated to the Polish men, military and civilians, in the second world war when the Nazi Germany took over allied forces. It is located within the National Memorial Arboretum. The poles were the fourth largest allied army fighting the Nazi's and the memorial is to commemorate their effort and honor their contribution. The Polish Forces War Memorial statue is an 18 diameter structure that acts as a tribute to the fallen. There are four surrounding plaques that inform the visitor's about the history and the purpose of the statue. The statue shows four soldiers standing back to back. The statue is deigned by the renowned Polish sculpture, Robert Sobociński in bronze and was shipped to Britain.