Top 10 Things To Do In Birmingham During Bank Holidays (2026)

If you're looking for a fun way to spend a Bank Holiday with your mates, these activities are a great place to start:

Battle aliens and explore wild worlds at Sandbox VR

Location: Unit 25A, Grand Central Shopping Centre

Leave the real world at the door when you step into Sandbox VR at Bullring.

This full-body, room-scale virtual reality experience is built for groups of friends who want something far more exciting than the usual Saturday plans.

You'll move, duck, and dodge your way through missions, from zombie battles to deep-space adventures, all while wearing motion-capture suits that track your every move.

It's the kind of activity where you forget you're in Brum for 30 minutes and genuinely believe you're saving the world.

The experience works brilliantly for birthday celebrations, mixed-age groups, and anyone who wants a weatherproof activity with serious bragging rights.

And the best bit? Watching your mates try to walk in a straight line afterwards, because their brain is still half in the virtual world.

You can book through the Sandbox VR website or by calling 0121 400 9888.

Note: Sandbox VR doesn't serve food, but you can arrange catering in advance for special events.

Show off your football skills at TOCA Social

Location: 11 Saint Martin's Walk, Birmingham B5 4BU.

TOCA Social in Bullring is where casual dining meets competitive play, and it's a brilliant spot for groups who want food, drinks, and a bit of friendly rivalry all under one roof.

The venue features the world's first interactive football experience, where you can test your accuracy, speed, and skills in a series of tech-powered games.

And if football isn't your thing, there's a lively bar atmosphere, social boxes, and signature cocktails that make it just as fun to watch as it is to play.

The food menu covers everything from American diner classics to street Asian favourites, so nobody goes hungry between rounds.

It's the kind of place where the cheering from other groups makes you feel like a proper football legend.

We'd recommend booking in advance if you're visiting on a Bank Holiday weekend, as it gets busy quickly.

Hunt for street art in Digbeth

Location: Bordesley St, Birmingham B5 5NR.

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Digbeth is Birmingham's creative neighbourhood and home to some of the most impressive street art in the UK, making it a perfect free day out with your mates.

The area works like a permanent open-air gallery, with large-scale murals covering the walls along Gibb Street, Floodgate Street, Heath Mill Lane, and Lower Trinity Street.

The Custard Factory sits at the heart of it all, a 15-acre creative complex in the former Bird's Custard factory, now packed with independent shops, vintage stores, and quirky cafes.

It's the kind of walk where you'll stop every few metres for photos and end up spending far longer than you planned.

💡 Local tip: Bank Holiday weekends sometimes bring pop-up street food markets and live music to the Custard Factory courtyard, so keep an eye out.

Explore Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery for free

Location: Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3DH.

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Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is a rewarding mix of history, art, and curiosity that makes for a brilliant free Bank Holiday activity with your friends.

The museum reopened after a major renovation and now features refreshed galleries covering everything from the Staffordshire Hoard to one of the world's finest Pre-Raphaelite painting collections.

There's also a dedicated Wild City gallery for younger visitors, and rotating exhibitions that give you a reason to come back.

The building itself sits right on Chamberlain Square and has plenty of character, with gallery cafes that are perfectly suited to lingering over a cup of tea between exhibits.

Entry is completely free, with no booking required.

💡 Local tip: The museum opens daily during school holidays, including Bank Holidays.

Try winning against the jungle at Treetop Golf

Location: Ground Level, Bullring.

Treetop Golf is a jungle-themed indoor mini golf experience in Bullring that works perfectly for families looking for something active and entertaining on a Bank Holiday.

There are two 18-hole courses to choose from, Tropical Trail and Ancient Explorer, both packed with twists, turns, and a few surprises around every corner.

This isn't your ordinary mini golf: inventive obstacles, winding paths, and scenic details make each hole feel like its own little adventure.

The atmosphere is relaxed but fun, which is why it appeals to all ages and tends to bring out the competitive side of even the most chilled-out family members.

There's a bar area where you can compare scores and enjoy a bite to eat while pretending that your hole-in-one was entirely skill and not luck.

You can also refuel with Pizza Cabana's handmade pizzas, try The Thirsty Toucan's tropical cocktails (for the grown-ups), or grab a locally roasted coffee from the Jungle Buzz Cafe.

No need to book, just turn up and play. Check Treetop Golf's pricing on their website. 

Build your own minifigure at the LEGO Store

Location: Upper level, Bullring, Rotunda Square, B5 4BU.

The LEGO Store in Bullring is the biggest LEGO shop in the UK outside of London, and it's as much an experience as it is a store.

The standout feature is the Pick and Build Wall, where you and your kids can fill a container with hundreds of different brick elements.

There's also a Minifigure Factory where you can design a completely custom minifigure that gets printed right in front of you, making it a genuinely unique keepsake.

Staff regularly run free building activities at the Demonstration Table, so younger visitors can get hands-on without needing to spend a penny.

The store's colourful design and dynamic lighting make it feel like walking into a LEGO world, and it's easy to lose half an hour just browsing.

Entry is free, and no booking is needed, so it makes a brilliant Bank Holiday stop, whether your kids are avid builders or just fancy something fun.

Run wild at Cannon Hill Park

Location: Russell Rd, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8RD.

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Cannon Hill Park is Birmingham's beloved green space, covering 250 acres of formal parkland, conservation woodland, and lakeside scenery.

It's the kind of place where your kids can burn off energy in two fully equipped play areas while you enjoy a breather on the grass nearby.

The park also offers free tennis courts (with equipment you can borrow), a wildflower meadow that blooms beautifully in late spring and summer, and a Japanese garden tucked away from the busier paths.

On Bank Holiday weekends, the park gets lively, so arriving early is a smart move if you want to grab parking.

The Midlands Arts Centre sits right inside the park and often runs free exhibitions and family-friendly activities during holiday periods.

💡 Local tip: For a quieter walk, head to the conservation woodland area rather than the formal park. It's usually much calmer, even on busy days.

Birmingham can be a surprisingly romantic place with the right plans (and the right person!).

These three are our picks for couples who want something a bit more special this Bank Holiday:

Treat yourselves to brunch at EL&N

Location: 146-148 New St, B2 4NY, Bullring.

EL&N is London's famous all-day cafe, and its Birmingham home in Bullring is the brand's first location in the UK outside of the capital.

The space covers nearly 8,000 square feet on New Street with a striking double-height frontage, and from the moment you walk in, you'll understand why it's been called the most Instagrammable cafe in the world.

Think pastel pink interiors, lush floral installations climbing the walls, and pretty lighting that makes everything (and everyone) look great.

The all-day dining menu covers brunch favourites like Shakshuka, French toast, smashed avocado on sourdough, and fluffy pancakes, alongside speciality coffees, iced drinks, and handcrafted patisserie from the in-house bakery.

If you're after something eye-catching to share, the cakes and pastries are almost too pretty to eat, from pistachio-filled croissants to rose macarons and red velvet cake.

EL&N is open from 8 AM to 11 PM every day, including Bank Holidays, so whether you're starting your morning with a speciality latte or winding down with dessert after a day of exploring, it fits right in.

It's the kind of place where a quick coffee turns into a two-hour stay, and you'll leave with a full camera roll to prove it.

Discover the secret rooftop garden at the Library of Birmingham

Location: Centenary Square, Broad St, Birmingham B1 2ND.

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The Library of Birmingham is a stunning piece of architecture and one of the city's most underrated free attractions, especially for couples looking for something calm and beautiful on a Bank Holiday.

Most visitors come for the books, but the real gem is the Secret Garden on Level 7, a rooftop garden with winding paths, natural planting, and panoramic views across the Birmingham skyline.

Head up to Level 9, and you'll find the Shakespeare Memorial Room, an ornate Victorian library with carved wood panelling and rare First Folios, plus one of the highest publicly accessible indoor viewpoints in the city.

It's a surprisingly romantic spot, especially around sunset when the city lights start to flicker on.

💡 Local tip: The rooftop garden stays quiet even on busy days, making it one of the best-kept secrets in Brum.

It's also a five-minute walk from the canals at Gas Street Basin, so you can easily combine the two.

Stroll along the canals at Gas Street Basin

Location: Gas Street Basin, Birmingham B1 2JT.

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Birmingham has more miles of canals, similar to Venice, and Gas Street Basin is the best place to start exploring them.

The basin sits at the heart of the city's canal network and features colourful narrowboats, cobbled towpaths, and beautifully restored Victorian buildings that make it feel like a different world from the busy streets above.

From here, you can follow the towpath through Brindleyplace, past waterside bars and restaurants, public art, and the old Farmer's Bridge Locks, which were once gas-lit for round-the-clock operation.

The walk is flat, easy, and completely free, and it works perfectly as a romantic end to a Bank Holiday spent in the city.

If you're feeling hungry afterwards, the surrounding Brindleyplace restaurants are a lovely spot for dinner.

💡 Local tip: Visit early morning for a quieter experience, especially on Bank Holidays when the area gets busier in good weather.

From battling aliens at Sandbox VR and scoring goals at TOCA Social to building custom LEGO minifigures with your kids, taking on the jungle at Treetop Golf, and sharing brunch at EL&N with your partner, Bullring has more than enough to fill a Bank Holiday.

And when you fancy a change of scenery, Birmingham's free attractions are right on your doorstep, from rooftop gardens and canal walks to street art and world-class museums.

You can plan your visit to Bullring here to see how to get to us by car, taxi, train, bus, or bike.

If you're driving, you can also register for our smart parking solution that gets rid of tickets and reduces queues, so you can focus on enjoying your day.