Housing one of the world's finest collections of Pre-Raphaelite art, with works by Rossetti, Ford Madox Brown and Holman Hunt, Birmingham's principal museum and gallery is located in a stunning Victorian building. The museum displays works by British and European artists, along with collections of ceramics, sculpture, silver and stained glass. You can also find archaeological, ethnographic and local history exhibits, including Egyptian mummies.
This is a Tudor manor house that has been restored to its former glory, with a superb Tudor garden and a small gift shop. It was originally saved from demolition 100 years ago by George Cadbury (whose Cadbury World is next door) and authentic furnishings were acquired for the building. There are two houses that form the museum and you are able to have a guided tour if you'd like - these are included in the admission. Pre-booked tours for larger parties are also available. In the words of the staff, "We're small but gorgeous!".
Parts of historic Harvington Hall, a popular stately home in Worcestershire, are medieval although most of it dates from the 16th century. Its owner in Elizabethan times, Humphrey Pakington, was a catholic and the hall contains what is acknowledged to be the best surviving set of priest holes in the country. Many additions and alterations have been made since and in 1923 it was bought by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham, which restored the building and opened it to the public. A new program of restoration is currently in progress and activities, including a music festival, are held here. There is also a licensed restaurant on site. The Hall is situated just outside Kidderminster, 17 miles south-west of Birmingham. A phone call is advised before a visit as the hall may be closed to accommodate a social function.
The Gas Hall is really a part of the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, but its history makes it worth a mention in its own right. It is actually a large Victorian building adjacent to the main museum and now has access either via the museum or directly from the street. It is so called because the building used to be occupied by the main gas company in the city, and was the place where local people went to pay their gas bills. Since the early 1990s it has been an important space for temporary exhibitions, of which there have been many of international importance. These have so far included exhibitions devoted to Canaletto, ancient China, Mughal India and more recently the Home of Metal. Opening hours are generally for the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, but may be different during specific exhibitions. Check website for more details on current and upcoming events and exact timings.
The celebrated Dr. Johnson of dictionary fame and coiner of so many famous quotes, is Lichfield's most famous son. The city in which he was born is a short drive from Birmingham and his house is now a fine museum to the life and works of the great man. Whilst in the city, make sure you also pay a visit to Lichfield Cathedral.
Coventry, just 20 minutes from Birmingham by road or rail, has a number of attractions well worth visiting. One such is this museum, which is devoted to British-made motor vehicles in a city famous for its car manufacturers - over 130 have been based in Coventry including Daimler, Jaguar, Rover and Triumph. Here you can see 230 cars, 90 motorcycles and 200 cycles, including some once-famous names that are now no more. There are also Edwardian vehicles as used by royalty and there is a display of model vehicles. More modern exhibits are also on display, such as Thrust 2 and ThrustSSC, the holders of the world land speed record, and prototypes of the latest in car design.