What to do and see in Birmingham, England: The Best Sights & Landmarks

Soho House was the elegant home of the industrialist and entrepreneur Matthew Boulton from 1766 to 1809. The house has been beautifully restored and reflects the fashions and tastes of the late Georgian period. There’s also the chance to see some of the products of Boulton’s nearby factory – where buttons and buckles, clocks and vases, and silver and Sheffield plate tableware were made – and where he developed the steam engine in partnership with James Watt. Soho House was also a favourite meeting place of the Lunar Society, a leading Enlightenment group. The Lunar Society would meet every month on the night of the full moon to dine, conduct experiments, and discuss philosophical matters of the day. Members of the society included Erasmus Darwin, James Watt and Joseph Priestly who all gathered around the Lunar Room table and engaged in a lively exchange of ideas which inspired many new discoveries and inventions.

Birmingham's Grade I listed concert hall, managed along sister venue Symphony Hall, is home to a diverse programme of events including jazz, world, folk, rock, pop and classical concerts, organ recitals, spoken word, dance, family, educational and community performances, as well as annual general meetings, product launches, conferences, dinners, fashion shows, graduation ceremonies and broadcasts.

Aston Hall is a magnificent seventeenth century red-brick mansion situated in a picturesque public park on the north side of Birmingham. It also boasts the title of being the first historic building to be opened as a public museum in 1858 by Queen Victoria. Built between 1618 and 1635 for Sir Thomas Holte and home to James Watt Junior from 1817-1848, Aston Hall is steeped in history. The last conventional Jacobean house erected in England, which today features fine 17th-century architectural detail including plasterwork, woodwork and chimneypieces. Now a grade I listed building, the hall is restored to its former Jacobean splendor and is hugely popular with visitors of all ages. Walk through the stunning interiors and see the home that received royalty, was besieged during the English Civil War and inspired an author. Enjoy peaceful, picturesque grounds and cakes, snacks, and hot drinks available in the dog friendly cafe.

Once a thriving port, this area where several canals meet offers colorful canal boats, bars, cafes and restaurants.

In tribute to those who lost their lives in combat from World War I to present day, the interior of this somber memorial offers books with the names of the fallen, as well as impressive stained glass windows and skylights.

Selly Manor is a beautiful Tudor manor in the heart of historic Bournville. Alongside the medieval hall of Minworth Greaves, together these are two of Birmingham's oldest buildings and are surrounded by a lovely cottage garden. The museum is home to the Laurence Cadbury Collection of period furniture and domestic objects which bring these timber-framed buildings to life. The museum offers a range of exhibitions, talks and tours, special events, children's activities and is licensed for civil wedding ceremonies. Please check our website for our current opening hours as these change throughout the year.

Welcome to St Martin in the Bull Ring. This is one of the most ancient and contemporary buildings in Birmingham. Most of this Grade II listed church is from the nineteenth century. It was built in 1873 and is an example of gothic Victorian architecture, designed by Alfred Chatwin, from Birmingham, who also worked on the houses of parliament. But St Martin's is much older than that. There has been a church on this site since 1290 and may well have been a simple place of worship here in Saxon times. St Martin's is also a place of worship for a thriving community who refurbished the building in 2000 making it more light and open. In 2009 we created a tea lounge, healing center, and learning and advice service so our hospitality in the heart of the city could be extended. We believe that what Jesus called 'Life in all its fullness' can be discovered right here in the crosscurrents of the marketplace. You are very welcome to come in and walk around.