What is it?
Why, only Cadbury’s answer to Willy Wonka-ville of course.
Is it worth visiting?
It’s a strong-willed visitor who is not enticed into Cadbury World by the scent of chocolate wafting through Bournville. The attraction is very much an ode to the history of chocolate, featuring an Aztec jungle dedicated to the origin of the cocoa bean, a replica of the Victorian street where the Cadbury business began, and exhibitions about the Quaker family behind the brand and the village it founded for its workers.
In the chocolate making zones, you can see workers preparing products and watch demos of how to temper with liquid chocolate before having a go yourself (harder than it looks, btw). Stand agog here – we’ve never seen so much chocolate in one place.
Can you just turn up to Cadbury world?
Regularly fully booked weeks in advance, it’s best to order tickets online for discounts and to guarantee entry. Cadbury World is suitable for all ages, though recent additions have made the attraction more kiddy-focused than ever before so don’t expect anything akin to a grown-up experience.
There’s a wide range of ticket options and packages to choose from, plus it’s free for under-2s. Visitors are encouraged to pre-book and there’s an option to book specific timeslots for wheelchair users. More info on Cadbury World’s website.
Most importantly, do you get free chocolate?
Thankfully, yes (well, it’s included in your ticket). And if you’ve not gorged yourself silly on the free samples, there’s plenty of great restaurants nearby. It’s just a three-minute walk to Kafenion, a cafe serving Mediterranean-style brunches. If it’s on the menu, try the fasolada, a traditional Greek soup made of white beans. Delicious.
Additional reporting by Katy Drohan.
📍 Discover more of the best restaurants in Birmingham