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Birmingham offers so much in its centre. But it’s also a great base to explore the rich cultural opportunities throughout the Midlands. For example, Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon is a short hop away. Below are a few ideas for some of the wonderful theatres, galleries, museums and cultural attractions right on Birmingham’s doorstep.
Arts
Outside London, Warwick Arts Centre is the UK's largest arts and entertainment complex. Based at the University of Warwick, it offers a truly diverse and ever-changing range of cultural attractions. Enjoy the mix of six outstanding spaces on the same site; a concert hall, two theatres, a cinema, gallery, conference room as well as hospitality suites, a restaurant, cafe, shops and two bars.
Theatre
The Royal Shakespeare Company - (one of the most acclaimed classical theatre companies in the world) has three theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon - the town where William Shakespeare was born and died. Within an hour from Birmingham city centre, Stratford attracts the world's finest actors as well as millions of visitors from around the globe. The Belgrade in Coventry, which was the first civic theatre to be built after the war, remains one of the largest regional producing theatres in the country.
Museums
The area around Birmingham has a remarkable cultural and industrial heritage. This rich history is reflected in the many great museums that highlight various aspects.
The Black Country Living Museum has 26 acres where historic buildings have been authentically rebuilt at the Museum. Many costumed demonstrators and working craftsmen provide an insight into the traditional skills of the people that once lived in the heart of industrial Britain. Electric tramcars and trolleybuses transport visitors back in time. Ironbridge Gorge is a World Heritage site that features ten award-winning Museums spread along the valley beside the wild River Severn - still spanned by the world's first Iron Bridge. Cosford Air MuseumNational Cold War Exhibition offers a chance to see what life was like behind the Iron Curtain. The National Motorcycle Museum has long been recognised as the finest and largest motorcycle museum in the world. in Shropshire is just north of Birmingham. Its home to 70 planes and has remarkable collections covering War Planes, Missiles, Transport & Training and Research & Development while the new
Galleries
Masterpieces from some of the world’s best artists are all around. The New Art Gallery Walsall is an exciting and architecturally outstanding multimillion-pound landmark building. It is home to the prestigious Garman Ryan collection as well as works by artists as diverse as William Blake, Van Gogh and Picasso. With the largest collection of contemporary Pop Art outside London, Wolverhampton Art Gallery is a must to visit.