Guide Arts & Activities Friend Outings

Top Recommendations for an Exciting Birmingham Day Out

Birmingham has quietly become a city of experiential venues. Instead of sitting passively with a drink, you’re now racing F1 simulators, throwing virtual clay, or playing board games whilst eating tacos. These six spots give you proper things to do rather than just things to consume.

Pick one or combine a couple for a full day or evening. Most are city centre or close enough to walk between, and they all do food and drinks alongside their main event. Prices are reasonable if you go in knowing what to expect, though the fancy options can add up if you’re treating it like a night out.

Spotted by @digital.recaps

Make a plan from this

Picks 6 places
Good forGroups of friends, team outings, competitive couples
Best timeFriday or Saturday evening; weekday lunchtimes for less crowded racing or baking
Spend£12 to £112 per person
1 ★ Competitive Groups Who Like Speed

F1 Arcade Birmingham Opening hours
Mon 10:00 to 23:00
Tue 10:00 to 23:00
Wed 10:00 to 23:00
Thu 10:00 to 23:00
Fri 10:00 to 00:00
Sat 10:00 to 01:00
Sun 10:00 to 23:00

Activity Birmingham £40.00 - £95.00

Formula 1 racing simulators, cocktails and elevated food in a high-octane social gaming venue.

Why it made the list: Formula 1 racing simulators are the main draw here. The food is actually decent for a gaming bar, with proper Mediterranean dishes and pizzas, and the cocktails take themselves seriously enough to justify the price.

2 Groups After Something Genuinely Different

The Big Birmingham Bake Opening hours
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed 16:30 to 22:30
Thu 16:30 to 22:30
Fri 14:30 to 22:30
Sat 09:30 to 22:30
Sun 09:30 to 22:00

Activity Birmingham £26.00 - £43.00

Competitive 90-minute baking experience with a monthly theme, a head baker guiding you, and all ingredients provided.

Why it made the list: A monthly theme keeps it fresh, and having a head baker guide you through 90 minutes is more interactive than most activities. It's competitive without being aggressive, and you get to eat what you've made at the end.

3 Drinkers Who Want More Than a Pub

Clays – Birmingham Opening hours
Mon 16:00 to 00:00
Tue 12:00 to 00:00
Wed 12:00 to 00:00
Thu 12:00 to 00:00
Fri 12:00 to 00:00
Sat 12:00 to 00:00
Sun 12:00 to 20:00

Activity Birmingham £30.00 - £112.00

Virtual clay shooting bar with cocktails, food and arcade games in Piccadilly Arcade, 3 mins from New Street station.

Why it made the list: Virtual clay shooting is less common than darts, so it feels novel. The location in Piccadilly Arcade is convenient, and the food and arcade games mean you've got options beyond just shooting.

4 Budget-conscious Visitors

Lucky Claw Opening hours
Mon 12:00 to 22:00
Tue 12:00 to 22:00
Wed 12:00 to 22:00
Thu 12:00 to 22:00
Fri 12:00 to 23:00
Sat 11:00 to 23:00
Sun 11:00 to 23:00

Activity Birmingham £12.00 - £40.00

Skill-based claw machines with 100% fair grip strength and interactive StepOn LED floor games.

Why it made the list: The cheapest entry point here, and the machines genuinely work on fair grip strength rather than being rigged. The LED floor games are gimmicky but fun if you're waiting for friends.

5 Open now Casual Evenings with Mixed Appetites

Chance and Counters – Birmingham Opening hours
Mon 08:00 to 23:00
Tue 08:00 to 23:00
Wed 08:00 to 23:00
Thu 08:00 to 23:00
Fri 08:00 to 00:00
Sat 10:00 to 00:00
Sun 10:00 to 22:00

Activity Birmingham £15.00 - £45.00

Board game café with 600+ games, craft beer, burgers and tacos in Digbeth's iconic Custard Factory.

Why it made the list: Six hundred board games means there's something for everyone, whether you want strategy or silliness. The Custard Factory location is atmospheric, and the food covers everything from burgers to tacos without pretension.

6 Groups Who Want Theatre with Their Darts

Flight Club – Birmingham Opening hours
Mon 12:00 to 00:00
Tue 12:00 to 00:00
Wed 12:00 to 00:00
Thu 12:00 to 00:30
Fri 12:00 to 00:30
Sat 11:00 to 00:30
Sun 12:00 to 22:30

Bar Birmingham £15.00 - £45.00

Darts reinvented: high-tech multiplayer games, cocktails, pizza and fairground theatre on Temple Street.

Why it made the list: Darts has been completely reimagined here with tech that makes the game faster and more visually engaging than a traditional oche. The fairground aesthetic and cocktail menu make it feel like an event rather than pub darts.