Birmingham

Birmingham is one of Britain's most energetic and genuinely surprising cities, where Victorian grandeur sits alongside cutting-edge architecture, an industrial past feeds a creative present, and the food scene punches well above its weight. Taking a Birmingham bus from London, Manchester, or beyond is easy and affordable with FlixBus, making it a natural choice for a weekend break or longer stay. With so many things to do in Birmingham, from world-class museums to tranquil waterways and storied historic quarters, there's more than enough to fill several days.

Museums

Cadbury World sits in the leafy suburb of Bournville, about four miles south of the city centre, and it's exactly what it sounds like: a deep dive into the history and making of one of Britain's most beloved chocolate brands. You walk through recreated Aztec rainforests, watch chocolate being poured on a real production line, and — inevitably — eat a fair amount along the way. It draws over 500,000 visitors a year, so booking ahead is strongly recommended, especially if you're travelling with children.

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery occupies a grand Victorian building on Chamberlain Square and holds one of the finest collections of Pre-Raphaelite paintings anywhere in the world. Beyond the art, there are galleries covering ancient Egypt, decorative arts, and local social history that give you a real sense of what shaped this city. The ornate Edwardian tearoom inside is worth a visit in its own right, a good spot to slow down mid-afternoon.

Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum is housed inside the Millennium Point complex on Curzon Street and offers more than 200 hands-on exhibits covering everything from steam engines and talking robots to a working planetarium. It traces Birmingham's outsized role in the Industrial Revolution and connects that heritage to modern science and technology in ways that keep both adults and kids genuinely engaged. The only surviving Birmingham tram is on display here, which alone makes it worth the trip.

Historic districts

Birmingham Back to Backs on Hurst Street is the last surviving court of back-to-back houses in the city, preserved by the National Trust and open for guided tours only. The houses are frozen at different points in time, the 1840s, the 1930s, the 1970s, giving you a layered, intimate picture of working-class life across more than a century. Tours sell out quickly, so it's worth booking well before you arrive.

Jewellery Quarter is a neighbourhood rather than a single attraction, but walking its streets is one of the most rewarding things you can do in Birmingham. The area has been the centre of British jewellery manufacturing since the 18th century, and today it blends working workshops with independent cafés, bars, and the fascinating Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, built around a factory preserved exactly as it was when it closed in 1981. Allow at least a couple of hours to wander properly.

Natural spaces

Birmingham Botanical Gardens in Edgbaston covers around 15 acres and contains four glasshouses ranging from a tropical house to an arid zone filled with cacti. It's a calm, well-maintained space that feels genuinely removed from the city, and the outdoor gardens include a Japanese garden and a children's discovery garden. Visiting on a weekday morning means you'll often have large sections almost to yourself.

Brindleyplace & Birmingham Canal Network offers a different kind of outdoor experience, one that reminds you that Birmingham has more miles of canal than Venice. The Brindleyplace development around the Gas Street Basin is the most visitor-friendly stretch, lined with restaurants and bars, but even a short walk along the towpaths in either direction quickly takes you into quieter, more atmospheric territory. It's one of the best ways to understand the city's industrial DNA.

Cultural centre

Library of Birmingham on Centenary Square is the largest public library in the United Kingdom and a striking piece of contemporary architecture. Its interlocking gold and silver rings are impossible to miss. Inside, the Shakespeare Memorial Room is a beautifully preserved Victorian rotunda transplanted from the old library, and the rooftop terrace offers one of the best free views across the city. Even if you're not a library person, it's worth stepping inside.

Iconic building

Bullring & Selfridges Birmingham is the building that announced to the world that Birmingham had arrived architecturally. The Selfridges store, clad in 15,000 aluminium discs, opened in 2003 and remains one of the most photographed buildings in Britain. The wider Bullring shopping centre surrounds it, but the building itself is the draw, best appreciated from the outside, especially at dusk when the discs catch the fading light.

Historic landmark

Aston Hall is a Jacobean mansion built between 1618 and 1635, sitting in Aston Park just north of the city centre. It's one of the last great Jacobean houses built in England and contains a series of period rooms that give a vivid sense of aristocratic life in the 17th century. The long gallery on the top floor, stretching nearly 136 feet, is particularly impressive.

For a quick city break or a longer stay, catching a bus to Birmingham is one of the simplest ways to get here. Pack your bags, grab a FlixBus ticket, and let the city do the rest.

Looking for bus tickets from or to Birmingham?

Look no further, we’ve got all the details you need to plan your bus trip from or to Birmingham! There are 3 bus stops in Birmingham.You can catch the FlixBus at Birmingham - Great Charles Street Queensway, Birmingham - Jennens Road, Birmingham Digbeth Coach Station. Departing from or traveling to Birmingham can cost as little as 4,48 €. You have various options to organize your bus trip as Birmingham is connected to 36 destinations with FlixBus. When you travel with FlixBus you're guaranteed a comfortable seat and complimentary access to our Wi-Fi throughout your journey. Stay connected and entertained while we take you to your destination!