Lauren Potts

The UK’s second city is teeming with museums, nightlife and nature, has the cultural chops to back up the claims, and boasts a sprawling web of leafy suburbs to set up home. Trust me, I know it: I’ve spent the last eight years exploring Birmingham’s nooks and crannies, filling my face and dousing my liver at its high-end restaurants, food festivals and indie bars.  I’ve danced to underground bands at Victorian boozers and sung along with star headliners at Symphony Hall. If it’s on this list, I’ve done it. Let me tell you, if Birmingham can win over this staunch northerner, it must be doing something right. Spend a day, spend a week. You’ll have no trouble filling your days. Here are the best things to do in Birmingham.  🍂 Autumn 2024: ‘Welcome to my favourite season here – it’s the perfect time to crunch through the autumn leaves at one of Birmingham’s many gardens, bandstands and nearby country parks.’ –Lauren Potts  RECOMMENDED:😋 The best restaurants in Birmingham🍻 The most charming pubs in Birmingham🛏 The best hotels in Birmingham🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Birmingham This guide was recently updated by Birmingham-based writer Lauren Potts. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Birmingham might just be Britain’s most exciting food destination right now. This burgeoning city bursts at the seams with creative chefs, great-value restaurants, Michelin-star dining and everything in between. Looking for street food? It’s here. Small plates and natural wines? We’ve got you covered. Even if you’re just looking to dive into a burger and chips, you might find the best one you’ve ever tasted in Brum (in fact, we can promise that one). Here are the best restaurants in Birmingham.  RECOMMENDED:🍺 The best bars in Birmingham📍 The best things to do in Birmingham🍻 The best pubs in Birmingham🛏 The best hotels in Birmingham This guide was recently updated by Birmingham-based food writer Lauren Potts. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

From cultural venues to cracking pubs, Birmingham’s got it all. And its vibrant mix of communities and cultures lends itself to a fabulous food scene too. And what does that mean? Brunch. So much brunch.  No matter what you’re craving, the city’s got you covered. There’s good old-fashioned full Englishes, American-style pancakes covered in maple syrup, and some fresh, fruity granola bowls on offer, so take a look below at our favourite places for breakfast and brunch in Birmingham.  RECOMMENDED:🎭The best things to do in Birmingham🍝The best restaurants in Birmingham🍺The best pubs in Birmingham☕The best coffee shops and cafés in Birmingham This guide was recently updated by Birmingham based food writer Lauren Potts. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

What is it? The Jewellery Quarter has long-been the place to pick out a diamond ring. But this part of town offers far more than the bullion and gem shops of Warstone Lane. Is it worth visiting? The JQ’s museums offer serious quirk: the Coffin Works celebrates the Newman Bros business that crafted all things funereal for a century, while the Pen Museum pays homage to the not-so-humble writing implement that supported a major industry of steel nib-making. Where should I eat? Elsewhere, the JQ’s Victorian heritage is evident in its red-stone buildings etched with the names of traders-past, or the tiled interiors of the Rose Villa Tavern pub. But it’s also an area that’s kept up with modern trends. If you’re looking for a spot of self-care, book in for an intricate manicure at Nails Bab or get a colour refresh at Hazel and Haydn, where you can sip a flat white from its coffee hatch as you sit in your foils. In need of a sunny spot for lunch or after-work cocktails? Try St Paul’s Square. For bottomless brunch, go no further than the Button Factory; for Sunday lunch, head to 1000 Trades.  How do I get there? With its own railway station and tram stop, there’s no excuse not to while away any day of the week in the JQ. Very walkable and as cheap or as expensive as you want to make it, based on what you fancy doing. 📍 Check out the best brunches in Birmingham

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

What is it? Once a major transport hub at the heart of the Industrial Revolution’s thriving canal network, Birmingham’s Gas Street Basin is now home to Brindleyplace – a sprawling complex of restaurants and entertainment venues that cater to city-dwellers and visitors alike. Is it worth visiting? No matter the make-up of your group, Brindleyplace has you covered. Kids have the choice of both Legoland Discovery Centre and the National Sea Life Centre, while adults are spoiled by gigs and events at the Utilita Arena, International Conference Centre, Birmingham Rep and Symphony Hall. For contemporary art, duck behind the canal path and find Ikon Gallery which, in addition to its exhibition spaces, also has a neat little gift shop and a Yorks coffee outpost.   What can I eat there? Chains and indies sit side-by-side from Cosy Club and Pitcher and Piano to the Gin Vault, which boasts 450 varieties of mother’s ruin, and the nearby Coconut Tree, which serves Sri Lankan small plates and affordable cocktails.  What are the prices like? Entry fees and ticket costs apply to most of Brindleyplace’s attractions. But a walk alongside the winding canal is free – as is sitting among the cherry blossoms in the tree-lined square outside Ikon. In terms of accessibility, the cobbled canal path is a little precarious at times but there’s also a mix of stairs and accessible ramps. 📍 More of the best things to do in Birmingham

What’s the vibe? Stirchley is a suburb built on community spirit and it shows when you go to Caneat - the constant stream of customers have cemented its status as neighbourhood favourite and it's the sort of place where someone wouldn’t think twice about giving up their table to a mum battling a cumbersome pram. What are the prices like? Where so many brunch places charge £10 and £15 a dish, it’s heartening that Caneat’s average between £8 and £9. Shop-baked toasted bread and homemade jam is a steal at £4. What should I order? The 7-minute eggs are a triumph in knowing the exact moment to whip them off the stove to serve just-set yolks so vibrant in colour they match the gochujang mayonnaise slathered on the toast. A liberal sprinkling of sesame seeds and coriander both keep the dish light and on the acceptable side of indulgent for something typically served before noon. What’s worth visiting nearby? It’s not hard to see why Stirchley was recently crowned the Midlands’ best place to live in the Sunday Times. Its main drag offers trinkets at lifestyle store Hedge, bread from community bakery Loaf, blowouts at Clay Hair Studio and artisan fudge from Chancer’s Cafe. When it’s time for dinner, head to Eat Vietnam or Verbana for food before squeezing into the ever-heaving Couch for cocktails. 📍 Discover more of the best things to do in Birmingham

What’s the vibe? Cocktail bar meets contemporary diner, OPM is all monochrome interior, soft lighting and pop-punk playlist. Its uncluttered tables are the perfect no-frills dining space for delicious burgers delivered on canteen-style trays. But it’s a brave person that takes a first date here – the food might come wrapped in cartoon paper but eating the contents is a guaranteed mess; the lack of napkin dispenser smacks of a practical joke. What are the prices like? Look, this isn’t McDonalds. The burgers at OPM range from £9.50 to £12 and if you want to add fries, there’s a range of plain to fancy that will set you back between £4 and £5.50. But the portions are sizable and unlike a fast food joint, what you spend in pennies you get back in quality. Wash it down with a cherry soda. What should I order? Vegans, veggies and carnivores are all catered for and there’s even a gluten free bun available. The Pineapple Express is a personal favourite – a juicy aged Longhorn beef patty, topped with bacon, cheese, shredded lettuce, zingy pineapple sauce and Roquito peppers that leave the lips buzzing. What’s worth visiting nearby? There’s no shortage of excellent bars in Digbeth but walk across OPM’s decked and covered courtyard and straight into Kilder, a stylish tap-room and natural wine spot. The best seat in the house is the curved corner banquette. You’re welcome.  📍 The best things to do in Birmingham