Birmingham Hotels - B&B's - Apartments

Hall of Memory

Constructed in the 1920's by Birmingham craftsmen, Birmingham Hall of Memory is dedicated to the Birmingham men and women who lost their lives during the First World war, Second World War, in active service since, and those who returned injured. The wonderful building is built from white Portland Stone, symmetrical with four porticoes and has a small dome on top. Designed by Cooke and Twist and built by John Bowen and Sons, and John Barnsley and Sons.

The first stone was laid by The Prince of Wales, opened by HRH Prince Arthur of Connought on July 4th 1925 and cost of 60 thousand pounds to build, which was raised by public donations.

Located opposite the Rep Theatre, the exterior of Memory Hall has fine examples of bronze figures standing on granite pedestals by local artist Albert Toft. The figures are Astronomy, Flight, Navigation and Peace. The interior has Art Deco panels by William Bloye. A beautiful stained glass window inside depicts scenes from World War I. Two books containing the First World War and Second War World Roll of Honour take pride of place in a glass and bronze casket resting on a shrine on top of a beautiful marble floor. Outside once stood a colonnade of the stone, since moved to Peace Gardens when Centenary Square was built.

There are displays and collections of war memorials from the First World War, Second World War, Korea, Vietnam and the Falklands.

Open Monday-Saturday except for Christmas Day 10am-4pm. Pay and Display parking at Brindley Drive Multi Storey Car Park. Entry is Free.

Birmingham Sealife Centre

Visit the Birmingham Sea Life Centre, a watery day out for all the family, without getting wet. Opposite the NIA on the other side of the canal. The Sea Life Centre is helping to ensure that we take care of our seas inhabitants, at our coastal sanctuary.

An all weather attraction, take a magical journery through some of the amazing displays of aquatic life. 60 displays of marine life, 4,500 sea and freshwater animals, thousands of fish.

Visit the Lost City of Atlantis, a labyrinth of ancient ruins, featuring coral reef, caverns and underwater temples, and the mirror maze. See black tip reef sharks, green turtles, in a million litre ocean tank. There are seahorses and crabs, electric eels, freshwater singrays and many more. See the 2008 baby seahorses called Romeo and Juliet. Creatures from North America, Carribean and the Red Sea.

Walk underwater through the tunnel, a 360 degree adventure where you almost feel like your'e in the sea with the sharks and fish.

Feeding sessions and talks by experts are scheduled throughout the day, and are valuable to understand what makes our underwater world.

Nearest car park is at Brindley Place.

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in Chamberlain Street, is situated just underneath the clock tower, known by locals as Big Brum.

First opened in 1885, Birmingham Art Gallery and Museum houses a collection of over 500,000 items including art, fine...

NIA National Indoor Arena

When construction of the National Indoor Arena (NIA) was completed in 1991 it was the largest in the UK. Primarily an indoor entertainment and sporting arena, the NIA has hosted a wide range of events including athletics, indoor rowing, concerts, business...

The Electric Cinema

The oldest working cinema in the UK and the only independent cinema still left in Birmingham City, The Electric Cinema has undergone many name changes in its lifetime, and was at one time in its long history, one of over 100 cinemas in Birmingham.

The first show commenced on December 27th 1909 and the cinema continued in operation until the 14th of November 1937, when it closed and became an amusement arcade.

The cinema once again opened its doors in 1970, renamed The Jacey. 1980 saw the addition of a second screen upstairs. In 1993 the cinema once again became The Electric Cinema.

The cinema was purchased in 2004 by Tom Lawes, a local entrepreneur, who has now updated it to include luxury sofa style seating, full service bar and waiter service, with mainstream and independent films being shown 7 nights a week. The cinema retains its original 1930's Art Deco style.

The Electric Cinema also boasts a 96 channel recording studio and dubbing theatre used by film and TV companies.

Parking in Hinkley Street, Queens Drive and New Street Station.

Royal Birmingham Society of Artists

The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) is an artist-led charity which supports artists and promotes engagement with the visual arts through a range of activities: exhibitions, workshops and demonstrations.

The RBSA gallery has a changing programme of exhibitions on two floors of gallery space. This programme includes four open submission exhibitions: all artists can enter work for selection to these exhibitions. The ground floor has space for solo shows as well as a Craft Gallery, which has established a reputation as the place to find exciting and unique contemporary craft.

The Pen Room Museum

Located in the centre of Birmingham, The Pen Room Museum is set within a former pen factory, an intersting museum for people of all ages.

With exhibits portraying the history of a variety of pens and writing implements manufactured around the Jewellery Quarter, this was a very important trade in Birmingham. At one time there were over 100 companies involved in pen manufacture, exporting their wares all over the world. This manufacturing trade made an immense contribution to the world of literacy.

Fascinating displays of quills, nibs and steel pens, set out in a Victorian factory atmosphere. Learn how the modern pen has evolved through the different manufacturing processes. Displays of early Braille writing machines and typewriters.

Entrance is Free, but donations are welcome for the upkeep of the museum.

Birmingham Back to Backs

Birmingham's 19th century courtyard, street and Back to Back houses, reflecting the lives of working people during the 1840's to 1977. Located next to Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre and near to the Bullring Centre, these historic houses escaped demolition,...

Museum for the Jewellery Quarter

The Hockley area of Birmingham has, for over 2 centuries, been synonymous with the manufacture of jewellery and known as the Jewellery Quarter.

Smith and Pepper, jewellery makers in Birmingham since 1899, retired from the familly-owned business in...

Thinktank

Birmingham's Thinktank at Millenium Point is a must for anyone interested not only in science, but also technology and learning. Have a fun packed day exploring, past, present and future with over 200 hands-on displays. Opened in 2001, Thinktank was designed by Nicholas Grinshaw and Partners, costing £114 million to build. Exhibitions include space exploration, steam engines, trains and cars. Learn about the human body, medicine, and wild life. See historic artifacts and machinery from the past. Genetics and robotics are also explained.

The digital Planetarium employs a dome projector to throw images onto a 360 degree ceiling, displaying astronomy and events that occurred up to 150 million years ago.

Thinktank also incorporates an Imax cinema, boasting the Midlands largest screen which is as high as a five storey building and as wide as four buses! A 42 speaker, 15,000 watt sound system really brings the Imax 3D movies to life. To project such a huge image, Imax projectors are the most powerful in the world, generating so much heat, that they are actually water cooled. Contact the box office on 0121 202 2222.

10 minutes walk from Moor Street station and the Bull Ring. 15 minutes walk from New Street station.

The Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House

The Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House museum, houses a collection of unique and historical documents and artifacts on gun barrel proofing. Proofing was a testing of a firearm for its calibre, level of pressure and standard of the weapon fit for service, and was awarded a Proof Mark.

By 1767 Birmingham was supplying the entire country with guns and had 35 gun and pistol manufacturers, along with 8 gun barrel maker and filers. There were gun polishers and finishers, 11 gun lock makers, and 3 gun swivel and stock makers, Birmingham had very reputable makers with high standards of material and workmanship.

By Act of Parliament in 1813, the Proof House in Birmingham was established. Until this time proof had not been compulsory. The proof house was opened by John Horton in 1813. The Jacobean gateway was a later addition in 1883 to the now Grade ll listed building.

The Arms collection is housed in four rooms with various specimens of fire arms made in Birmingham The Black Museum exhibits weapons which have been blown up, highlighting the dangers to the shooter if defects in weaponry occur. The Harding Ammunition set out over three rooms with a collection of cartridges in use over the years.

Organised tours only arranged by the Proof Master for minimum of 4 to 10 people, pre-booked due to the Proof House being a working establishment.

Edgbaston Watersports

Specialist water sports centre based close to Birmingham and offer canoeing, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing and power boating.

Activities for adults and children include: School/education trips, Junior academy, School holiday programmes, Private tuition for all levels, Adult only groups, Courses for families, friends and societies, Birthday parties, Stag/hen parties and Corporate training days.

All specialist equipment is provided and you will be looked after by experienced and professional instructors.

Fun and adventure right in the heart of the city.