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Top 10 Summer Activities Near Birmingham for Day Trips

Summer in the Midlands doesn’t mean staying in the city. Within 30 minutes of Birmingham’s centre, you’ll find lakeside parks, riverside walks, pottery studios and farm shops that make for proper days out rather than quick visits.

Whether you want to spend an afternoon painting pottery in Kings Heath, walking through an 18th-century designed landscape in Halesowen, or picking your own strawberries near Wolverhampton, these ten spots offer the kind of low-key activities that feel special without requiring much planning.

Spotted by @bethcari

Make a plan from this

Picks 10 places
Good forgroups of friends, families and anyone after a break from the city
Best timeAny day of the week, though parks and farms are best on weekends
Spend£0 to £75 per person
1 A Long Lunch with Views

The Bracebridge Opening hours
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed 09:00 to 20:30
Thu 09:00 to 20:30
Fri 09:00 to 20:30
Sat 09:00 to 20:30
Sun 09:00 to 18:00

Bar Sutton Coldfield £35.00 - £75.00

Lakeside gastropub serving elevated British classics beside Bracebridge Pool in historic Sutton Park.

Why it made the list: The Bracebridge sits beside Bracebridge Pool in Sutton Park with proper food and a thoughtful drinks list. The setting alone makes it worth the drive north.

2 ★ Open now A Proper Long Walk

The Leasowes Park Opening hours
Mon 00:00 to 23:59
Tue 00:00 to 23:59
Wed 00:00 to 23:59
Thu 00:00 to 23:59
Fri 00:00 to 23:59
Sat 00:00 to 23:59
Sun 00:00 to 23:59

Trail Halesowen £0.00 - £0.00

Grade I historic landscape with woodland, lakes and walking trails designed by poet William Shenstone in the 1740s.

Why it made the list: The Leasowes is a Grade I historic landscape designed by poet William Shenstone in the 1740s. The woodland, lakes and trails feel genuinely wild despite being minutes from the suburbs.

3 An Afternoon with Friends

Coated Pottery

Activity Kings Heath £10.00 - £30.00

Pottery painting studio with a relaxed vibe, bisque-fired items and a vast glaze selection.

Why it made the list: Coated Pottery in Kings Heath lets you paint bisque-fired pieces with a vast glaze selection in a relaxed studio space. No experience needed and prices are reasonable.

4 Gardens and Cake

Winterbourne House and Gardens Opening hours
Mon 10:30 to 16:00
Tue 10:30 to 16:00
Wed 10:30 to 16:00
Thu 10:30 to 16:00
Fri 10:30 to 16:00
Sat 10:30 to 16:00
Sun 10:30 to 16:00

Activity Edgbaston £15.00 - £25.00

Beautifully preserved Edwardian villa and botanic garden with 6,000+ plant species across seven acres, including walled gardens, glasshouses and Arts and Crafts styling.

Why it made the list: Winterbourne House is an Edwardian villa with six thousand plant species across seven acres, including walled gardens and glasshouses. The setting is genuinely special and there's a good cafe.

5 Open now A Free Festival Day

Cotteridge Park Opening hours
Mon 00:00 to 00:00
Tue 00:00 to 00:00
Wed 00:00 to 00:00
Thu 00:00 to 00:00
Fri 00:00 to 00:00
Sat 00:00 to 00:00
Sun 00:00 to 00:00

Activity Bournville & Cotteridge £0.00 - £0.00

22-acre Victorian park hosting the free annual CoCoMAD festival in July with music, food, circus skills and crafts.

Why it made the list: Cotteridge Park hosts CoCoMAD each July with music, food traders, circus skills and crafts. Even outside the festival, it's a proper Victorian park with space to move.

6 Healthy Brunch

Açai and the Tribe Opening hours
Mon 08:00 to 18:00
Tue 08:00 to 18:00
Wed 08:00 to 18:00
Thu 08:00 to 18:00
Fri 08:00 to 18:00
Sat 08:00 to 18:00
Sun 08:00 to 18:00

Cafe Leamington Spa City Center £8.00 - £14.00

Brazilian superfood café serving customizable açai bowls and smoothies, open all week.

Why it made the list: Açai and the Tribe in Leamington serves customizable Brazilian superfood bowls and smoothies in a cafe that actually feels welcoming rather than trying too hard.

7 Coffee and a Read

The Courtyard Opening hours
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed 08:30 to 23:00
Thu 08:30 to 23:00
Fri 08:30 to 23:00
Sat 08:30 to 23:00
Sun 09:30 to 22:30

Bar Harbourne £8.00 - £22.00

Industrial-chic taproom and cafe hybrid, porridge by day, craft beer by night.

Why it made the list: The Courtyard in Harbourne is part taproom, part cafe with good porridge in the morning and craft beer by night. The industrial space doesn't show age.

8 Weekend Brunch

Brondi Opening hours
Mon 08:00 to 17:00
Tue 08:00 to 17:00
Wed 08:00 to 17:00
Thu 08:00 to 17:00
Fri 08:00 to 17:00
Sat 08:00 to 17:00
Sun 08:30 to 16:00

Cafe Dorridge £12.00 - £22.00

Aussie-inspired brunch and speciality coffee spot serving flat whites, seasonal brunch dishes, and rotating guest beans.

Why it made the list: Brondi does Aussie-style brunch with proper flat whites and seasonal dishes. The coffee rotates guest beans and the food is the kind of thing you actually want to eat.

9 Open now A Gentle Riverside Stroll

Bidford-on-Avon Riverside Walk Opening hours
Mon 00:00 to 23:59
Tue 00:00 to 23:59
Wed 00:00 to 23:59
Thu 00:00 to 23:59
Fri 00:00 to 23:59
Sat 00:00 to 23:59
Sun 00:00 to 23:59

Trail Bidford-On-Avon £0.00 - £0.00

Gentle riverside walk along the River Avon through Big Meadow, starting from the historic medieval bridge.

Why it made the list: The Bidford-on-Avon walk follows the River Avon through Big Meadow starting from the medieval bridge. It's flat, straightforward and feels removed from the A roads.

10 Families and Farm Visitors

Essington Fruit Farm Opening hours
Mon 09:00 to 17:00
Tue 09:00 to 17:00
Wed 09:00 to 17:00
Thu 09:00 to 17:00
Fri 09:00 to 17:00
Sat 09:00 to 17:00
Sun 09:00 to 17:00

Activity Essington £8.00 - £35.00

Family-run farm with pick-your-own strawberries and pumpkins, plus farm shop, butchery and restaurant.

Why it made the list: Essington Fruit Farm lets you pick strawberries and pumpkins depending on season, then browse the farm shop or eat in the restaurant. It's the kind of place that justifies an afternoon trip.