Get your walking shoes on if you’re planning a visit to the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, because this exceptional cultural space offers a wealth of exhibits to explore. The domed Round Room – often the location for free musical performances and watched over by Jacob Epstein’s striking bronze statue The Archangel Lucifer – is a good starting point. Visitors can peruse one of the largest pre-Raphaelite collections in the world, delve into the treasures found in the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found or head up to the third level for a detailed, hands-on history of Birmingham and its people.
There are also a number of finds from Greek, Egyptian and Roman culture, and guided tours are regularly available if you’d like a more informed account of the building’s offerings. We also heartily recommend you make time for a slice of cake at BMAG’s refurbished Edwardian Tea Room.
If you’re looking for something a little more contemporary, head round the side of the building to Gas Hall and the Waterhall Gallery in Edmund Street (entrances opposite each other). These spaces host both touring work from international artists and pieces from local artists, the latter often displayed during the biennial West Midlands Open. Most of BMAG’s wonders are completely free, although some exhibitions have a small entry fee.