I spent 2 weeks in the UK on business. During that time, I wasn't able to do nearly the amount of…read moreexploring that I'd hoped I would. I took a train from Bedford to London and spent the entire day walking around and exploring. I spent a lot of time traveling back and forth between Bedford and Birmingham, and exploring all I could between. Aston Hall was the only place I visited that I knew I would never forget. I was lucky to be here on the off season, on a bright sunny day. I had the property to myself, but was unfortunately unable to poke around inside. Aston Hall is overwhelming. The house had so much personality. The patches of lime green and crazy slippery algae in the corners of near the front door, the big beautiful gardens on either side of the property that smell of roses even before they bloom and the sound of children playing on the lawn *That on it's own blew me away, thinking of kids back home (in America) playing in just regular parks with a swing set while these children run around playing tag in the gardens of Aston Hall.*. The towering and cracking door leading into the front hall. I could go on forever. I don't know what it is about this property, but I felt immediately attached to it. I just sat on the front lawn and stared, knowing that when I left I would miss it immediately. If I had the chance to go back to the UK for just one hour, I'd spend it at Aston Hall.

I have spotted the Aston Hall for the first time some years ago, in my first visit to Birmingham,…read morewhen I was crossing the Aston Park to reach by Aston Villa's pitch. I can't describe how impressed was to see this stunning mansion's garden and I never would think this location would hide such an exuberant building. So I have decided to visit inside this historical Hall properly. What a fascinating experience! Built in 1635, The Aston Hall is considered almost like a treasure of Midlands and it was residence of The Holte Family for several years. The house also suffered a damaged during the English Civil War, in 1643. Nowadays, the Aston Hall is open to the public as a museum and what can be seen inside this Jacobean construction is a really interesting heritage collection of furniture and rooms that express well that atmosphere in Britain, in the period covering from 17th to 19th centuries. The details of the walls and the kitchen supplies of this impressive building are really lovely and visiting Aston Hall is a synonymous of a good day out with family. The admission to Aston Hall is £ 4 (adults) with free admission to children under 16, but every first Sunday of each month it`s free for visiting. The site is usually open from Tuesdays to Sundays, from 12 pm to 4 pm. Take a note: The Headless Statue is an interesting and sad part of Aston Hall history. Look for more information about it before visiting the place.

Free museum in Birmingham city centre focusing on contemporary art. It's in a very grand building,…read moreso I thought the museum would be big too, but it wasn't. Well there is a lot of empty space, and not that much to see. Few different rotating exhibitions, I saw some on the rave scene in the 80s and also racial violence from the 60-90s. On the way out I accidentally insulted one of the artists, but he just brushed it off.

We visited this museum yesterday and we really liked it. Both the exterior and interior of the…read morebuilding are beautiful. The museum has a terrific selection of paintings from the 15th, 16th & 17th centuries and a particularly good selection of Pre-Raphaelites. There's a *gorgeous*/large Edwardian tea room and also a separate café (the latter is small and attractive). The gift shop isn't very large, but it had some nice items. Also, I had a wonderful conversation with one of the guards; she was very friendly and kind-hearted.

Great collection of buses here and a collection of milk floats and other electric vehicles. There…read moreis an exhibition about bus services in the Midlands, which is well done. Interpretation in the bus halls is less good, with some displays awkwardly positioned and I spotted one description of the wrong bus. The cafe is very basic, a pity it does not do cakes and cream teas etc. However, we worth a visit an what is excellent here is that they have running days when buses offer rides that really demonstrate well what these venerable vehicles sound like and feel like to ride on.

We've all taken a bus ride in our time but how about a trip down memory lane with this excellent…read moremuseum. With buses from all eras you'll probably spot one that you used to catch often. There are all sorts of buses here which have been beautifully restored and maintain by the members. Many of the vehicles are still running, I have to admit I'm a bit of a geek when it comes to large vehicles, not quite a train spotter, but close! I defy anyone not to be impressed by the finest and largest collection of beautifully preserved buses this country has. If you are into trains as well then there's also a miniature steam railway too. This is a fabulous day out for the whole family, take grandma and pops, they'll love it. Admission is £3.00 for adults £1.50 for children.

What an amazing place! We happened to see this museum as we…read morewere walking by and were intrigued by their moving signage. Inside there are plenty of machines that whir and perform small tasks or even make music. Lots of interactive things to see and do, buttons to push, pedals to press, even a magnetic marble track you can build yourself! It's a treat for young and old and definitely worth the small entry fee.

The opening hours are stated for October to March. Opening hours from April to September are a…read morelittle longer (10:30 to 18:30 daily). A friend recommended this place to me thinking that my boys would like it. My friend was right! We did all enjoy the interactive displays. The extent of the interactivity is mainly pressing a button though but it's still good. There is an interesting range of mechanical art and my boys and I were fascinated by the mechanisms. It is quite a small place. It cost £19 for the four of us (2 adults and 2 children) which isn't too bad but, considering we spent less than an hour in there and saw everything, it does seem a little expensive. There are two floors. One very small room on each floor displaying different pieces of art. It can get rather crowded due to the small size, especially downstairs where the entrance/exit is the same. In the same small area, there is a counter where there is a single member of staff who both admits people and serves the gift shop. The gift shop is basically a small portion of the wall within the ground floor of the museum. Many items are over-priced and the selection is very limited. We did enjoy ourselves there and would recommend it but it could get claustrophobic and the upstairs can be noisy (although it does state this on the signage).

I do seriously love this place, and even though some of the exhibits are looking a bit tired,…read morethere's still a lot there, and new things coming in. There is a lot crammed in here, which, although it means the information on each subject is a bit watered down and lower quality than a specific museum, it's great for sparking the interest of kids and finding out what they love and keeping attention with varying material, the human body, forensics, machinery, industry, recycling, building, space, robots, computers, medicine, even a lighthouse bulb, it's got a lot going for it. The science garden is great, but filled with pushy children and parents who've given up caring after a full couple of hours inside, the planetarium was excellent. Our favourite bits were the planetarium and the beating heart that beats to your pulse, and the vehicles. Obscurely a lot of it seems to high up for kids, but there are loads of activities for them to get stuck into.

ThinkTank is a slightly sprawling science museum spread over 3 (and a half) floors. It can be…read morepricey for a family visit, but there's a lot to do and there are often good offers available. I'd recommend turning up early as on arrival you are given a timetable of talks, events and planetarium showings. You get a wristband on entry so you can go in and out as you please. (I recommend coffee from 6/8 Kafe, next door, or a well priced pub lunch at the Woodman, opposite Millennium Point.) The ground floor showcases huge bits of machinery, including car-manufacturing robots, traction engines, a lovely tram and.. A Spitfire, a Hurricane and the 1939 City of Birmingham Locomotive. A huuuge steam engine, one of the most powerful ever used. The main theme being Birmingham made, so it's a great Brummy experience. Just a shame you can go on any of them to explore. (Especially the Spitfire ;)) Other floors have sections on the human body (with videos of the digestive system.. Best not viewed near lunch), forensic crime scene investigations, how recycling works etc. There's a good little area called Kids City which has a doctor/dentist surgery, a cafe, a garden shed, and a big water play area (with aprons). It's really good for little ones. Upstairs is the space section, with a great 360 degrees planetarium which has a range of shows for different age ranges. The science garden wasn't open when we went, but in spring and summer it's another sciencey play area for kids. And grown ups.

I love the location of Oak House. I remember the first time I visited and truly marvelling that as…read moreI passed through the terraced streets of West Bromwich, tucked away is this half timbered Yeoman's house that was built between 1590-1630. With a small walled garden it is a free museum that often has activity days and public events to get you involved with everything from how to wash your clothes with your own pee to the daily life of a Yeoman. I've had the honour of being allowed in the closed off areas and i really wish that they would let you up as there are even more gems to see from a hidden taxidermy collection to stacks of mayoral chairs from when the Black Country local councils became one Sandwell council. It's worth popping by just to see how random it looks in the middle of a housing estate. Fingers crossed they will get the super ancient barn restored and their great plans to make this an even better museum and visitor centre.

this is a small house set in victorian times great to see a bit of historyread more

Very historic, beautiful site, what can i say nicest castle in England definetly reccomend and…read morevisit other places around there too

Lovely little hive of history, especially when my childhood castle was ruins, it's always nice to…read morespend some time in one that would still have some chance of holding fort. Did have a good giggle about the people ranting about it being the same tour- funny that, when it's history!

As I'm sure a large majority of people, I have regularly wandered past this building, never really…read morehaving any intention to go in, despite my curiosity. Last week though I decided to head on in for the first ever time. Being a History student at University, the hall of memory immediately appealed to me. In honour of those who have lost their lives fighting for this country in past wars, the hall offers a humbling atmosphere, for people like myself to silently pay their respects. The haven for this fantastic opportunity is beautiful building, one definitely worthy of its interior and significance. If you do make a visit, be sure to sign the visitors book and note down anything in particular you feel necessary after your look around.

I'd always walked past this stone dome on Centenary Square without much of a clue about what was…read moreinside it. My curiosity finally won out and I went inside for the first time last year. It is a humbling place to visit and very peaceful. There is a large marble shrine in the centre, which holds a glass case containing the books of remembrance for the first and second World Wars. The name of every known Birmingham citizen who died fighting in those wars is listed in these books. There is also a Roll of Honour for those who have died in wars since. It is terribly sad. This beautiful building, with its stained glass, marble and bronze statues makes a fitting tribute.

Otherwise known as Tyseley Railway Museum, this is a sprawling museum wedged between Tyseley…read morestation and Warwick Road. The Trust itself was established to preserve the steam trains which still ply the main line. In summer you can catch the Shakespeare Express to Stratford-upon-Avon. From a distance you can hear the whistle and the delicate chuffing as the trains set off - guarenteed to make you wish you were on board. If you decide to treat yourself to the post sets, you can have breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea on the train. There are also plenty of tours by steam train and there are open days every few months where you can get to see all the engines on display at close quarters. Great for a family day out.