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Located in the West Midlands and right in the heart of the UK, Birmingham is a city full of culture and history.

A city laced with 35 miles of spectacular canals, historic buildings, iconic landmarks and world-famous visitor attractions, there's plenty to explore.

Enjoy alfresco dining along the canal, trendy cocktail bars and quaint traditional pubs packed full of history.

The family will love seeing everything it has to offer, with more museums than you can imagine in the city as well as gorgeous parks for you to wander around and take in nature. If you’re looking for a family-friendly getaway that will create lifelong memories, Birmingham will be the perfect place.

We've even put this weekend itinerary together for you to make it even easier to see everything on offer.

Thinktank Museum

Begin your trip away with a visit to Thinktank, a museum with over 200 displays about science and technology.

Children will love it as they learn about the past, present and future as well as exploring MiniBrum- a child-sized world featuring lots of famous Birmingham buildings and landmarks.

Visit the new 4K planetarium and be immersed in the night sky, ocean and even the human body - it's not just children who'll love this, we're sure grown-ups will learn a thing or two aswell!

Take a trip to the Signal Box Café before you leave, which sells drinks, sweet treats and yummy meals.

The Signal Box Burger is a must - with two juicy flame-grilled beef burgers and delicious skin-on fries, this will give you the energy you need for a whole day of fun!

SEA LIFE Birmingham

Head to the award-winning National SEA LIFE Centre, which is home to the only 360-degree ocean tunnel in the UK. It's only a 30-minute walk from Thinktank Museum, or you could even catch the tram and see the sights of Birmingham.

When you arrive, you can’t miss it - we think it looks like a stingray! Walking through the tunnel with sharks, turtles and other beautiful aquatic creatures swimming overhead and underneath you, this is a unique experience like no other.

You'll feel as if you’re in the ocean with them!

Be sure to check out the gentoo penguins and their cheeky antics at the Penguin Ice Adventure - see if you can spot Flash, a fluffy chick who was born at the SEA LIFE centre as part of their breeding programme.

There are plenty of other marvellous creatures for you to enjoy, such as Beverley, a giant pacific octopus. Children will love hearing about her three hearts and doughnut-shaped brain.

Don’t miss the talks and feeding times - these are a great way to see the animals up close and ask plenty of questions to the staff.

They'll also tell you all about the fantastic work the aquarium is doing to help with conservation efforts across the world.

Legoland Discovery Centre

Once you’ve finished your underwater adventure, head across the canal bridge to the Legoland Discovery Centre.

With some of the walls made from LEGO® bricks, children will be bursting with excitement. They've got everything you need to keep toddlers and children entertained, including MINILAND.

There’s also family rides, soft play areas and workshops where the little ones can learn all there is to know about LEGO®.

Don’t miss the LEGO ® 4D cinema. Feel the rain, snow and wind on your face in this immersive experience while you sit back and enjoy your favourite LEGO® film.

There’s also a café for you to grab a relaxing drink while the little ones play and a LEGO ® shop to stock up so the kids can continue building at home.

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Looking for something to do to keep the children entertained? Head for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, based in Symphony Hall.

Check out Notelets, an interactive musical experience designed for younger audiences.

These are designed for young children (and their grown-ups) to get involved in and become part of the performance through dance, games, and singing - they'll have so much fun in this unique event, and so will you! Or visit in the evening to see a concert.

Children will always remember the first time they heard a live orchestra and the hairs on the back of your neck will stand up as they passionately begin to play.

There are plenty of performances for all ages and interests - for kids, these range from hearing the Star Wars soundtrack in a way they’ve never heard it before to Christmas celebrations.

Tickets for children aged 17 and under start from only £6 for main season concerts.

Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park

Start your Sunday with a relaxing walk around Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park. Here you'll find a hidden gem with animals from across the world right in the heart of Birmingham.

Some of the animals are endangered and are part of a conservation programme to keep them protected. Maybe you love watching the wallabies jumping around or the meerkats standing on their back legs and burrowing away.

There are plenty of animals for you to see during your visit - from red pandas and otters to reptiles, lemurs, and a large collection of monkeys.

Look out for Pete, the large Komodo dragon basking in the sun, or the lynx prowling around.

Cadbury World

A trip to Birmingham would not be complete without a visit to Cadbury World.

Just under three miles away is Bournville - a pretty village near Birmingham that has become famous thanks to Cadbury's chocolate.

As you get closer to the attraction, look for the purple streetlights and railings - all painted the famous purple colour we all associate with Cadburys.

Pulling up, your mouth will begin to water! Be immersed in a world of chocolate - the smell of Cadbury's chocolate fills the attraction, so it's a good job there are lots of delicious samples for you to try.

A family favourite that toddlers to grandparents will all enjoy, the self-guided tour will tell you everything there is to know about the brand, its history and most importantly - its chocolate.

Experience a 4D chocolate adventure - we won't spoil this by telling you what happens, but it's great fun!

There's also a ride, outdoor play area and the world’s biggest Cadbury store - maybe you want to grab a treat for a friend or just stock up on chocolate for yourself.

You can even add on an afternoon tea on fine bone china (with a Cadbury's twist!). We're sure the whole family will love this experience.

A divine Sunday roast

Wrap up the day by tucking into a divine Sunday roast at The Physician.

County Winner in 2018 of the 'National Pub and Bar Awards' as well as being recommended by the Good Pub Guide in 2019 and 2020, it's clear to see why this is a favourite among many.

The pub features a mix of modern and traditional and manages to ooze history in a classic and beautiful way. With eight local cask ales for you to choose between as well as 50 wine and spirits, they're sure to have your favourite in stock.

Enjoy the larger room with a roaring open fire and soak up the atmosphere as you hear locals chatting away - maybe you’ll even pick up some Birmingham slang which can come in handy for your next trip!

Perhaps you and the family want to sit back and relax in one of the more intimate rooms? Check out the garden room where you can tuck into a delicious meal while overlooking the beautiful walled terrace garden.

On Sundays, they serve traditional Sunday roasts with all the trimmings! There are also classic pub mains if you’d prefer to sample some of those.

For little ones, there's a children's menu so they can enjoy the pub's delicious food too. We recommend trying the triple chocolate brownie with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream- you can’t go wrong with this mouth-watering dessert.

When your trip to Birmingham comes to an end, we're sure the entire family will have made memories to last a lifetime. Perhaps you will be booking your next trip before the weekend is even over!