Top 5 Birmingham Sightseeing Spots
We all love to sightsee. Getting those pictures in front of your favourite famous tower (Eiffel, Leaning, even Blackpool), is a real achievement!
If you’ve just joined us at our student accommodation in Birmingham, then you’ll be looking for things to do! In our ‘things to do in Birmingham’ blog series, we have analysed Tripadvisor to give you a host of must-see places to visit and snap some selfies.
What better way to get to know your new uni housemates? Here are the best sightseeing spots in Birmingham!
5. Birmingham Man - B5 4SJ
When exploring Birmingham, it would only be right to get a selfie with THE Birmingham man. Sculpted in 1993, the Birmingham man (Thomas Attwood) statue sits on the steps at Chamberlain square.
He was put on the ground to better represent the working class people around him, as the city's first MP. Think of all the creative and funny pictures you can get with this fella, free of charge!
View: Monuments in Birmingham
Tripadvisor Overall Review: 4/5 (7 reviews)
Distance from true Birmingham: 10-minute walk
4. Ariel the Waterbus - B16 8DE
Described as Birmingham’s veins on Tripadvisor, the Ariel waterbus circles around the canals showing off the city. This service operates daily and year-round, every half hour, from 10.30 am to 5 pm.
A full round trip is £4 or its £1 for each stop - bargain! Stops include; Brindley Place, Sherborne Wharf, King Edwards Wharf, Gas Street Basin and Mailbox. There are also a number of pubs, cafes and restaurants to try along the way too, including The Distillery, Pitcher and Piano, and JuJu’s cafe.
View: Ariel Waterbus
Tripadvisor Overall Review: 4/5 (11 reviews)
Distance from true Birmingham: 30-minute walk
3. The Bullring and Grand Central - B5 5BB
The Bullring is arguably the most talked-about sites in Birmingham, with a variety of shops, fooderies and markets. You will also find here the Church of St. Martin, which is the original parish of Birmingham and is open for public prayer.
The Bullring is definitely one of the main landmarks to see with your new friends! Why not explore what it has to offer? The grand architecture is definitely one for the gram and you definitely won’t be stuck on things to do. All the main high street shops are gathered here, as well as eateries and various activities.
Both locals and visitors are impressed by what it has to offer, and proclaim you can spend hours here!
View: The Bullring website
Tripadvisor Overall Review: 4.5/5 (Over 1300 reviews)
Distance from true Birmingham: 5-minute walk
2. Cannon Hill Park - B12 9QH
Cannon Hill Park is the most popular park in Birmingham according to Tripadvisor, consisting of 250 acres of woodland, conservation and sports areas. Autumn may be the most instagrammable season, so this park would be the perfect backdrop for your leafy, windswept pictures. As well as this, the facilities include tennis courts, running and cycle tracks. This would be a great way to hang out with friends whilst remaining socially distant. The park also has a 36-hole mini-golf course, The Golden Putter, for a bit of friendly competition. There is also the garden cafe to relax in after all your exercise!
View: Cannon Hill Park website
Tripadvisor Overall Review: 4.5/5 (Almost 800 reviews)
Distance from true Birmingham: 35-minute walk
1. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery - B3 3HD
Soak up Birmingham’s art and culture by visiting its Museum and Gallery. Rated as the travellers choice 2020 on TripAdvisor, Birmingham’s Museum and Gallery is a must-see! From its masterpieces to contemporary paintings, to Egyptian mummy’s, this place is full of culture!
There are also interactive displays that teach more about the history of Birmingham. It is open 10 am – 5 pm, Wednesday to Sunday, and the capacity has been reduced to accommodate social distancing.
There is also an Edwardian Tea Room that serves hot food, drinks and seasonal beer in a historic setting. Customers raved about the exhibits and said how impressed they were with Birmingham’s history.
We’ve given the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery the top spot as it has thousands of amazing reviews and out of all the things to do, it was the most agreed on for a brilliant day out.
View: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery website
Tripadvisor Overall Review: 4.5/5 (Almost 4000 reviews)
Distance from true Birmingham: 15-minute walk