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.

Museum of the Jeweller Quarter is another little gem within the JQ. With changing exhibitions,…read morethere's always something new and curious to see - but even if you don't want to pay to enter, their gift shop is SO MUCH BETTER than most museum gift shops! The shop has cabinets of local and national jewellers work in a wide range of prices meaning you can usually find something you like AND can afford - and then if what you're after is actually some more heritage information, they have books and trinkets linked to the area and the staff in the shop are extremely helpful! I picked up a keyring sized pair of working pliers which are awesome and always get me comments when I have my keys out!

In my opinion, the Jewellery Quarter should be celebrated even more than it already is, such is its…read morecontribution to the city's history and its independent spirit that proves there's more to shopping in Birmingham than the Bullring. If you agree with me on that, then you may have already taken a tour of the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter - if not though, then what are you waiting for?! A time capsule that demonstrates the practices and effort that went into one family business who thrived in the area during the mid-20th century, the guided tour that takes visitors around the Smith and Pepper workshop is a treat for local history buffs and anyone interested in the jewellery industry. As I now work for a local jewellers in the Black Country area, I found it really interesting to get a sense of the dedication to the craft all jewellers share and the metalwork demonstration shows you the men who make the shiny things in action. A great little gift shop is free to visit even if you don't want to take the tour, and showcases an array of unique and affordable pieces from local designers that you will definitely want to come away with. Great for a lazy weekday pop-in, an educational school trip or if you're on the lookout for a gift with a difference.

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!

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 Birmingham Back to Backs is a National Trust property which were rescued from destruction a few…read moreyears ago. They had been turned into shops and this is why these are the only remaining back to backs that have survived in Birmingham. The national trust have worked very hard and are still working on census records so these buildings can be brought back to the living standards of the time. There are 3 houses to see, all set in different times from the mid 19th century to the 1950's. Visits are by guided tour only and have to be booked. I am afraid that I cannot remember our guide's name, but she was a local lady as she said her parents had been born in back to back property and she also lived in one up until 1990's and she was a brilliant tour guide. We have no idea just how bad the living conditions were at the time and he really brought the the place and the era to life. You can even touch things as you time travel though not in the tailors shop! I can certainly recommend this place as being one of the best properties in the National Trust, but do take heed of what they say regarding access. I cannot recommend a visit highly enough, but be warned - although you will be under cover for most of the time, the tour starts and ends out in the (uncovered) yard, so bring a brolly in case it is raining. You will need comfortable shoes, as although there is not a lot of walking, there is a lot of standing around and few seats for visitors. And finally, allow nearly 2 hours - there is a lot to see.

As I was planning my first trip to Birmingham, I kept seeing the Back to Backs tour pop up at the…read moretop of lists and decided to give it a try. I am very happy that I did! Tickets can be purchased in the little, clearly marked shop. Next, you'll head to the corner to await your tour guide. Our group's leader was Les and he was amazing; insightful, engaging, knowledgeable and funny. He led us quickly from place to place during the nearly 2 hour tour with interesting stories about the lives of the skilled tradesmen and their families who lived in the homes as well as asked thought-provoking questions about many of the features that made me think about what it must have been like to live during the decades covered by the tour and how differently our lives are today. The Back To Backs is an excellent, affordable tour that you can't get almost anywhere else. If you enjoy history, you'll love it.

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.

A public square adjacent to the Chamberlain Square. We happened to visit the city the day after the…read moreCommonwealth Games had ended, so the place was still decorated in bright rainbow colors. The place has nice sights of historical sculptures and landmarks, plus important buildings such as the Town Hall and Council House. Although it was bustling with people at our weekday evening passthrough. I was astonished to witness the sheer number of children playing in the waters of The River "Floozie in the Jacuzzi". If visiting, I recommend coming in the morning when it is not so crowded.

Home to The Town Hall and the Council House in Birmingham, Victoria Square is a rather nice open…read moresquare and is in-between New Street and Colmore Row in the city - although partially ruined at the moment by ongoing construction works which make parts of the city a mess for the metro extension, I can't let this affect my opinion on the square as the construction is only temporary and of course the metro extension will bring lots of benefits to the West Midlands city as a whole. With fountains and benches, although there aren't really many cafes directly in the square - there is both a Starbucks on New Street and Colmore Row, however, where you can get multiple train and bus services respectively, it can be a nice place to sit in the city away from the hustle and bustle of the shopping areas on a nice sunny day - sadly in the UK we don't get many of them. In the square, you also have the Queen Victoria Statue, it is pretty much a common attraction most people will pass through while in Birmingham - this was pretty much part of my journey into the main city centre having to pass through the square to get to and from Broad Street, where many of the hotels from the Jury's Inn, Hampton by Hilton and Garden Inn Hilton, Hyatt Regency brands and more are located. I do feel there could be more of a welcome to tell people about the square including the historical parts of it including the Grade I listed building which is nice to see rather than having to look online after a visit and find it out. Pretty cool place in the city and it doesn't get as busy as the Bullring / New Street too on a regular day - pretty much Birmingham's answer to Piccadilly Gardens in a way. 3*

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.

What a splendid quirky museum run by volunteers who are passionate about Newman's coffin works and…read moreonly recently won their fight to open the museum to help preserve the history of the company. The museum has only been open for 7 months and is already winning awards. Located in Birmingham's jewellery quarter this museum opens at midday on Sunday's and the guided tour which takes just over an hour is thoroughly recommended. A bargain at just £5 per person.

What a fascinating place. A lovely guided tour around a beautiful little site. Our volunteer tour…read moreguide was very knowledgable and the little touches (tea trolley, handling collections, demonstrations) really made the difference. For only £5 it's great value too.