Visit Brum for family fun

With half term and Easter so close together, families will be looking for places to visit and new experiences to enjoy and where better to go than Europe’s Youngest City – Birmingham!

Thinktank is the perfect place to engage young minds, with its own planetarium and IMAX cinema. During February half term, visitors to Thinktank can find out some fascinating facts about the science inside their own body. To help families understand what goes on underneath their skin they are hosting body-themed activities and events, plus fascinating exhibitions to entertain visitors of all ages. Families can also join in the totally disgusting science ‘Gross Out Show’.

The National Sea Life Centre has a 40-stone green sea turtle, Atlantis Mirror Maze, and a brand new interactive feature set to launch in time for Easter visitors.

There are loads of arts-based activities for families to enjoy, with creative workshops especially for children. The educational team at the Ikon Gallery in Brindleyplace is hosting a special gallery tour. Families will delve into the themes and ideas behind the exhibition by artists Ryan Gander and Tim Maguire using cameras, digital printers, lenses, view finders and all things photographic. Places are free.

The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery also has regular, free, children’s workshop activities. There are family galleries such as ‘How is Art Made’, ‘In Touch’ and the ‘Bull Ring Gallery’ to stimulate creativity.

Step back in time by and visit the last remaining court of Back to Back housing in the Midlands. The courtyard of houses has been carefully restored to reflect four different time periods. Visitors take a guided tour which includes a visit to the 1930s sweet shop. They also have a programme of family activities taking place during the Easter break.

At the start of the Easter holiday you can catch Thomas and friends Live on Stage at The Birmingham Hippodrome, and from 25th – 29th March there’s Matthew Bourne's magical interpretation of the Nutcracker ballet, recently described by the Evening Standard as a great family show.

The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter is a great way to spend an hour or two. Centred on an abandoned jeweller's factory that was left (much as the Marie Celeste) by its owners in 1981 when they decided to cease production and literally walk away.

Get outdoors at the Birmingham Botanical Garden and Glasshouses which boast 15 acres of beautiful gardens, including an adventure playground and children’s discovery garden. They also run a series of children’s workshops during the holidays including an Easter Egg Hunt. The Birmingham Nature Centre is alongside the River Lea and adjoins Cannon Hill Park. It hosts a wide selection of domestic and wild animals from red pandas, meerkats and owls to snakes and lizards. Admission for children is free.

There are the well-known attractions such as Cadbury World – after all you can’t get enough chocolate at Easter which is a short journey away from the city centre. Birmingham is a gateway to some top attractions in the West Midlands. You can also venture outside of the city centre, especially if you extend your break by a few days and visit Thomas Land, based on the Thomas the Tank Engine stories, a new £4.5m development at Drayton Manor Theme Park, due to open before the Easter weekend.

And if theme parks are your thing then Alton Towers opens for half term, and on Saturday 15th March the park reopens and unveils its new splash water ride – Battle Galleons. West Midlands Safari Park has the animal kingdom covered and is open daily from 3rd February.

Where to stay?
For any family wanting a weekend get away in the city you will hard pushed to find a hotel that is more family friendly than the Birmingham Marriott Hotel. Guests enjoy full use of the leisure facilities, including a well-equipped fitness centre, pool and full-service spa, with plenty of activities for the children. The stylish West12 Bar and Restaurant with its contemporary British cuisine offers a full menu for children so they too can experience this fine British cuisine.

If you don’t want to leave your pooch at home, boutique hotel Malmaison can accommodate your four-legged friend. For families that prefer serviced apartments, The Spires is within sight of the canal side cafes of the Mailbox and an ideal starting point to explore the city’s canal network, either on foot or by bike.

Top 5 recommendations for half term
1. Thinktank – Gross Our Show.
2. Ikon Gallery - Ryan Gander and Tim Maguire children’s workshops.
3. The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter.
4. Sea Life Centre.
5. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Top 5 recommendations for Easter
1. Cannon Hill Park Nature Centre.
2. Back to Backs.
3. Cadburyworld.
4. Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Glasshouses.
5. Birmingham Hippodrome – Thomas and Friends Live on Stage and Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker