Our Top 4 Outdoor Activities in / Near Birmingham for Kids

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1. Why choose outdoor activities in / near Birmingham?

If you’re wondering “What is there to do outside in Birmingham in the summer with kids?”, you’re not alone. We understand it can be quite the challenge to keep your child entertained over the holidays. If you live near Birmingham, you’re in luck. We’ve collated the four most popular outdoor activities in / near Birmingham that are all fun and educational. 

Why choose outdoor activities in / near Birmingham?

It’s no secret that children (and us adults) spend way too much time looking at a screen. Every week, on average, children spend 13 hours watching TV, nearly 11 hours on gaming, 14.4 hours on a mobile phone, and 15.3 hours on the internet. Summer is the perfect opportunity to drag them outside, especially with these interesting outdoor family activities in Birmingham. ☀️

1. Go Ape

Go Ape is a fabulous day out amongst the trees. Set in beautiful forests and country parks, these adventure parks are all about flying high through the trees on zip rides and walking over high ropes. Your children will not only have a great time in nature but also improve their coordination skills. There is something for children of all ages, with different adventures available:

• Treetop Adventure - For younger children (over one metre tall), tickets are from £19
• Treetop Adventure Plus - For children over six and 1.2 metres, tickets are from £23
• Treetop Challenge - For older children and adults, tickets are from £30

It’s essential to book in advance, although you can try and book on the day but always have a reservation before you go. Depending on where you live in Birmingham, there are three Go Ape locations nearby: Wyre, Coventry, and Cannock Chase. Each location has parking, toilets, and food and drinks available. 

2. The Birmingham Treasure Trail

This is a fun adventure for the entire family but is targeted at kids aged six and above. Put your exploring shoes on and go on a treasure hunt through Birmingham. 

You can purchase a trail booklet from £9.99 that you can download or have sent to your home. Your child will learn about Birmingham’s history by following the clues to each location. The trail is 1.1 miles and it’s pushchair friendly plus you can take your four-legged friend along. 

If you arrive by train, there are public toilets on the platform, and along your treasure hunt after clue six you’ll find toilets in the Bullring Shopping Centre. It’s designed to be done during the daytime and if you get stuck there’s a helpful text message service to get you back on track. 

3. Dudley Zoo and Castle

This is one of the best outdoor family activities in Birmingham as there’s something for everyone. As the name suggests, you get a zoo and a castle at this great outdoor attraction. 

Your child will learn about many types of exotic animals, conservation, and the history of the 11th century Dudley Castle.🐒

There are many pricing options and packages, but here’s a selection to give you an idea of how much tickets cost:

It’s open every day from 10 a.m., except for Christmas Day when it’s shut. Children of all ages will find it enjoyable as there are more than 1,300 animals to marvel at. There are toilets throughout and places to buy food to take away or sit down and dine. If you drive there, you can reach the car park via Tipton Road.

4. Birmingham Botanical Gardens

One of our favourite outdoor activities for kids in Birmingham is the Botanical Gardens. You can enjoy some of the most beautiful gardens in the UK while your child learns about different climates when you enter the rainforest, desert, and more. 

The gardens have more than 7,000 plants from all over the world so there’s sure to be something new for you and your family to experience! To really boost your child’s knowledge and learning on the day, we recommend hiring a Gardens’ Explorer Family Backpack. There are four different educational themes to choose from to guide you around: 

1. Amazing plants
2. Brilliant birds
3. Bugs and beasties
4. Tremendous trees

It’s just £2 to hire a backpack and takes up to 90 minutes to complete the activity sheet they come with. There are also Children’s Trails which cost £1.50 and you can choose from educational themes including food, plants, and butterflies. There are also Orienteering Trails available for £1 whereby you’ll get a map and can follow numbered posts marked in the gardens. 🌴

You can also choose to wander around at your leisure. The cost of a regular ticket is £21.50 for a family, £7.50 per adult, the under five’s are free, and a concession is £5.50 (this includes children aged five to 15, senior citizens, disabled and helpers, and students). 

Facilities include a tea room on site that serves light lunches, snacks, cold and hot drinks, and afternoon tea. Limited parking is available and costs £3 or is free for members. Toilets and baby changing facilities are also available. 

The gardens are open every day from 10 a.m. except for Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The closing times vary throughout the year and are as follows:

• April - September: 6 p.m. on weekdays and 7 p.m. on weekends
• October - March: 5 p.m.
• Christmas Eve - 3 p.m.

Well, we hope you’re excited to try these interesting and educational outdoor activities for kids in Birmingham with your family. Whenever the weather is good, these will keep your children entertained, and you can expect to enjoy yourself at the same time.