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.

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.

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.

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.

I have seen many different exhibitions here, but this weekend was Marvellous Machines by Russell…read moreEmmett. Worth popping down if you can! The building is easily accessible, staff are friendly and helpful and the size of the room means that you can spend maybe an hour here, but don't get too overwhelmed by the information as some exhibitions can make you feel. Prices obviously vary, but this one was £5 well spent:)

The Gas Hall is the where Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery houses its major temporary exhibitions…read more It is a large, bright and grand space that is a work of art in its own right. That said, it makes a good blank canvas for many of the exhibitions that come and go. I was amazed to visit a couple of times last year and see the transformation from the gloomy Home of Metal exhibition space to the sparkling magnificence of Lost in Lace. The Gas Hall exhibitions normally involve paying an admission fee. The admissions desk staff are really helpful and will answer any questions you may have before handing over the cash. I have always found the exhibition attendants to be incredibly helpful and genuinely thrilled to answer questions - I review exhibitions there quite often and tend to ask LOTS of questions! They have always been patient and enthusiastic. There are lockers for bags and coats opposite the ticket desk and some well maintained toilets. Check online before visiting to find out what is on and how much it will cost.

The Museums Collections Centre is only open sporadically but well worth the trek out of town…read more Inside an unassuming warehouse you will find all kinds of treasures from old fire engines, atrocious taxidermy, Nazca pottery and even a beautiful Eduardo Paolozzi bronze sculpture. A wonderful and fascinating way to spend a day. Check the website listed above for updates on when it's open.

The exhibits showcase the Earth's history with impressive specimens and interactive displays. The…read moreknowledgeable staff adds value, offering insights into the fascinating world of rocks and fossils. However, a touch of modernization could enhance the overall experience.

There are a handful of cultural attractions within the University of Birmingham's campus area, and…read morethe Lapworth Museum of Geology is arguably the least well known (and hidden) of them all. Located in the bottom level of the Aston Webb Building, the collection has a history dating back to the 1880's. The museum started at UOB's predecessor school, Mason College and it's namesake derived from the first professor of geology there. The museum is now open following an extensive renovation that has increased the marketability and attractiveness of the attraction. The main floor of the museum is primarily dedicated to each of the recognised geologic periods. The displays and dioramas focus on life in each period with maps (showing the location of the Midlands) and fossils/reproductions. Between the main area and the first-floor side room is an impressive rock wall with many samples to admire. The secondary room's best asset is a collection of microfossils that can be examined under a microscope. Microfossils are not very well known to me, but a staff member on hand was available to explain to Brittany A. and I the extraction process for these incredibly tiny fossils. Heading upstairs you'll find the museum's outstanding collection of minerals and gems. A great number of these were obtained by industrials from Birmingham and the Black Country, shown well in a gem cabinet on display. Finally, the museum also houses the complete papers of Charles Lapworth himself, who was a pioneer in the field of indexing fossils. The museum is graciously free of charge, although one can easily drop some quid in their cafe and gift shop. Even if you have a passing interest in the field of geology, The Lapworth Museum will delight those of all ages.

This place is so wonderful and the volunteers are just fantastic (yep - they are volunteers; if you…read morevisited before and thought the place was amazing, now go back and realise it's even more special when you know the people telling you all you could ever want to know about the pen trade in Brum are giving their time for free!). What I particularly liked about this place was the hands on nature - Yes I want to have a go on the type writer! Yes I want to make my own pen nib! Yes I want to try writing with a quill and get my hands covered in ink. Once of several really fantastic museums in the Jewellery Quarter - and a lovely way to spend a few hours.

After working in the Jewellery Quarter for a few years, I'd often walked past The Pen Room and…read morewandered what it was. My initial thought was that it was a shop selling pens (come on you know you'd think the same!) to which I wondered how many pens they must have to sell every week to keep open! I since found out that it was so much more than a pen shop and in fact it was a museum that represents another one of Birmingham's fine manufacturing trades that have since been forgotten. I decided to wander in on my lunch break and have a look around. With so many biros and plastic pens taking prime position on our desks, it's a shame that the majority of us seem to have forgotten the classic steel pen which many artists and calligraphy writers still use today. The staff were all very knowledgeable and were happy to tell me lots about the machines and answer all of my questions, no matter how small or basic they were!

Did you know you can watch free films at the Library of Birmingham? No? Well, read on…read more.. The BFI installed it's "Mediatheque" on level 3 of the new Library. I hadn't even noticed it was there until I was wandering around with my lovely other half and spotted the cute red and white booths in a random corner of the building. On further investigation, I realised what it was! There are over 2,500 free films to watch within the database and you can either bring your own headphones or purchase some from the Library for £1 to watch. The seats are big enough for a couple of people, so you could even take a date along to watch a classic. You need to get a login number from the customer service desk on level 3, but the whole process should only take you a few minutes. You can even peruse the selections before you go down here (http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/introduction-bfi-collections/bfi-mediatheques), to make that massive archive easier to manage before you go! Now, unfortunately... It doesn't always seem to work... Sometimes the log in's go a bit screwy or the screens are a bit shonky, but there are quite a few units here and you can always ask a member of staff to help if there is an issue (they will probably turn it off and on again for you if needs be). As I have discovered a new found love of old film recently, a visit to the Mediatheque is a must if you're in town for a few hours or just want to uncover a hidden gem in the BFI archive.