Bank Holidays in Birmingham on a Budget

In the last post I covered some Bank Holiday day out trips to enjoy with your kids in the Birmingham area, but by the time the whole family are paid for those options turn out pretty costly.

This bank holiday we are going to try some fun days out on a budget. There are lots of ways for us to have a lovely day as a family without spending a lot of money, here are some options I would recommend:

Picnics

If the weather’s nice this is a great way for us to spend time as a family. The food needn't be expensive, but just buying a few treats that your children wouldn't ordinarily be allowed or wouldn't regularly eat makes it exciting for them.

We particularly enjoy Cannon Hill Park, but there are lots of nice places for a picnic around the Birmingham area. Try Arley and the area around for a picturesque setting if you live more towards Bewdley/Worcestershire.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

If your children take an interest in Art, visiting the gallery that Birmingham has to offer will be an educational and interesting trip for free. In the centre of the city, you can combine a visit to the gallery with a mooch around the shops – although that’s when your trip can start getting expensive!

The Black Country Living Museum, Dudley

Although not particularly cheap, once you have bought your family’s tickets you have free return to the museum for a whole 12 months. If you live fairly near I would recommend it. As there’s so much to do you can definitely get your money’s worth over the course of a year, and my kids love returning to the old fashioned sweet shop and fish and chip shop.

‘The Public’

The Public is an exciting creative, cultural and business space in West Bromwich. There are all sorts of exhibitions and events going on. It's a good place to take your family if you have younger children as well as teenagers, as it will cater to both. Current exhibitions include Tracey Emin, which is free.

Birmingham Nature Centre

This is a cheaper alternative to the Safari Park and Dudley Zoo, with entry just £2.50 for 5 – 16 year old, and free for under 5's. If you take a packed lunch with you your day will cost under £20. It’s a great place for kids that love animals like mine do - you can see meerkats, lemurs and otters, as well as a collection of endangered reptiles that Jack particularly likes to see.