The West Midlands is a fantastic region of England for families looking for great days out. With a mix of indoor and outdoor activities, as well as interactive museums and adventure parks, there are plenty of family-friendly attractions to keep kids of all ages entertained. Here are some of the top places to visit for family fun in the West Midlands.
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Birmingham
The LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Birmingham is one of only eight LEGOLAND indoor attractions in the world. It is packed with LEGO-themed rides, attractions and play areas to excite fans of the famous bricks. Kids can take a ride on the Kingdom Quest Laser Ride, race down the LEGO racetrack, or watch LEGO come to life at the 4D cinema. Budding engineers will love MINILAND, which features iconic West Midlands landmarks made entirely from LEGO. The LEGOLAND Discovery Centre is best suited for children aged 3-12.
Cadbury World
Chocoholics won’t want to miss a visit to Cadbury World in Bourneville. This chocolate-themed family attraction takes visitors on an interactive journey through the history of the iconic Cadbury brand. Kids can ride on the Crunchie Rollercoaster, join a chocolate making demonstration, and even meet the Cadbury ‘Purple Ronnie’ mascot. Of course, no visit is complete without indulging in some free Cadbury chocolate samples too! Cadbury World also hosts seasonal events and activities throughout the year like the Cadbury Egg Hunt.
Dudley Zoo and Castle
Dudley Zoo is a great family day out, home to over 1300 animals. Kids will love getting close to endangered species like Sumatran tigers and Asiatic lions in the zoo’s Big Cat Territory. The zoo has lots of indoor and outdoor play areas to blow off steam, including an adventure playground and discovery centre. Families can also explore the ruins of Dudley Castle which towers above the zoo grounds. Don’t miss the dinosaur trail featuring 10 animatronic dinosaurs, including a giant brachiosaurus!
National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham
For anyone fostering with fosteringpeople.co.uk, Birmingham’s National SEA LIFE Centre is the ideal rainy-day activity. This vast aquarium is home to over 2000 creatures including sharks, stingrays, turtles and clownfish. Visitors can walk under the UK’s only 360-degree underwater tunnel, coming face to face with sharks and giant green sea turtles. Kids will love the interactive rock pool displays where they can touch starfish and crabs. SEA LIFE hosts regular feeding displays and talks so visitors can learn all about the marine residents.
West Midlands Safari Park
The West Midlands Safari Park in Bewdley offers a wild family day out. Families can drive their own car through the safari, getting up close to elephants, tigers, rhinos, giraffes and more. Lemur Woods is home to over 130 ring-tailed lemurs roaming freely. Plus, visitors can see sea lions and penguins, and hear lions roar at the Twilight Cave. Little adventurers will love the gigantic outdoor play area. Make time to walk through the African Village to see warthogs and meerkats too.
Thinktank Science Museum
Thinktank at Millennium Point in Birmingham is one of the best museums for families in the Midlands. With over 200 hands-on displays across four floors, it covers everything from steam engines to retelling the story of the city’s Jewellery Quarter. Highlights include a planetarium, a chocolate wrapping workshop and an outdoor science garden. Thinktank regularly hosts special events and activities to engage budding scientists. Families could easily spend a whole day absorbed in the exhibits here.
With its mix of museums, visitor attractions and adventure parks, the West Midlands offers entertainment options to suit any family’s tastes. From chocolate to coasters, zoos to science, there are plenty of great days out that will create lasting family memories.
