Things to do in the West Midlands: Summer holidays 2025
With the West Midlands summer holidays 2025 rapidly approaching, it’s time for a list of things to do in the area. Lots of attractions have events taking place this year, both indoors and outside. From family trails to fun days and activity camps, there’s lots to see and do around the West Midlands. If you’re on a budget, check out my post about free things to do in the West Midlands as well.
This post covers the West Midlands County area only. If you are looking for days out in nearby counties during the summer holidays, please see below:
Bear Grylls Adventure West Midlands Summer Holidays 2025
Whilst there is no specific summer holidays event taking place at Bear Grylls Adventure, there are plenty of exciting indoor and outdoor activities to fill a day out. Choose from:
- Axe Throwing
- Archery
- iFly indoor skydive
- High ropes course
- Shooting
- Climbing
- Cage snorkelling
- Shark dive
- Escape rooms
Website: Bear Grylls Adventure.
Black Country Living Museum (BCLM)
The Black Country Living Museum is open throughout the summer holidays. They also have Summer Lates taking place every friday evening in August. They extend their opening hours until 8 pm and visitors who arrive after 4 pm only pay £8.50, or free with their UnChained Annual Pass. Look out for retro drinks, Black Country food, live music and fairground rides.
Summer holidays dates: 19th July to 31st August 2025.
Summer Lates: 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th August 2025.
Website: Black Country Living Museum
Review: Plutonium Sox review of the Black Country Living Museum.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Follow a pollinator trail around Birmingham Botanical Gardens to learn some fascinating facts about insect pollinators. The trail will teach visitors about the importance of pollinators, their decline in recent years and the importance of protecting them. The trail is recommended for children aged 6 and over and costs an additional £2 on top of the admission price.
Dates: 18th July to 7th September 2025.
Website: Botanical Gardens.
Cadbury World
Freddo is hosting a Festival of Fun during the school holidays. This live show is a musical exploration of rock, pop and country music. Complete with excitement, magic and dance. The show is included in the entry price and visitors can also enjoy the rest of the Cadbury World experience.
Dates: 19th July to 31st August 2025.
Website: Cadbury World
Review: Plutonium Sox review of a family day out at Cadbury World.
Cannon Hill Park West Midlands Summer Holidays 2025
Whilst no specific event takes place at Cannon Hill Park during summer holidays, it’s always a great day out with plenty to do for all ages. Toilet facilities are available and you can purchase food and drink or enjoy a picnic. Activities include:
- Fun Park: The fun park has rides, activities and games for children aged up to 10 years old.
- Golden Putter: 36-hole mini golf.
- Land Train: Tour the park on the land train.
- Swan Lake Boating: Hire a pedal boat and relax in the park’s lake.
- MAC Birmingham: Check out the exhibitions, galleries, theatre, cinema, crafts and workshops.
- Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park: Visit animals including red pandas, monkeys and reptiles and meet the keepers to learn more about them.
- Sports Facilities: Participate in tennis, fishing, running, cycling and walking.
Website: Cannon Hill Park.
Coventry Transport Museum
Tinker, make and play this Summer at the Coventry Transport Museum on Thursdays and Saturdays. Activities include:
- Tinker: Hands-on exploration of what things are made of and how they work.
- Make: Create something from the random selection of materials and tools in the workshop.
- Play: Embrace an open play environment with a choice of engineering-related play-things.
- Tinker, make, play engineers: Attend a workshop with a grown-up and use real tools to make things and take things apart. Learn engineering skills while you’re at it.
Dates: Thursdays and Saturdays from 31st July to 30th August 2025.
Website: Transport Museum.
Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust
The “From Navvies to Skippers” event at the Dudley Canal & Caverns explores the making of the canals, as well as the people that keep them flowing. Trips run multiple times per day, and it’s cheaper to book in advance.
Dates: 17th July to 31st August 2025.
Website: Canal and Tunnel Trust.
Herbert Art Gallery and Museum West Midlands Summer Holidays 2025
Numerous events take place at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum this Summer on various dates. I recommend checking the website and picking your favourite before you decide when to attend. Activities include:
Doze under Dippy: Children aged 6 to 11 years old and their families can sleep under the 26-foot Diplodocus. This event also includes a torchlight tour of the museum, arts and crafts and learning about Dippy.
Date: 16th August 2025.
The Great Coventry Time Trek: A medieval guide in costume will show you around and talk you through Coventry’s rich and dramatic history.
Dates: Tuesday to Friday 11th June to 20th August 2025.
Don’t forget to book a ticket in advance to visit Dippy in Coventry and also pay a visit to the Lego replica of Coventry Cathedral while you are at the museum.
Website: Herbert Art Gallery & Museum.
Legoland Discovery Centre
There doesn’t seem to be a specific event happening at the Legoland Discovery Centre for West Midlands summer holidays 2025. However, visitors booking a standard play session can enjoy the ultimate indoor Lego experience. Create a masterpiece at a build station, check out the mini Midlands, have fun in soft play and take advantage of the 4D cinema and two rides.
If you decide to visit the National Sea Life Centre, Cadbury World or Warwick Castle as well, you can buy a combined ticket online to save money.
Website: Legoland Discovery Centre.
National Sea Life Centre
There’s a Pirate Treasure Hunt at the National Sea Life Centre this summer. Dive into the high seas for a swashbuckling adventure. Look out for the clues and you might receive a prize of treasure at the end.
Dates: 12th July to 7th September 2025.
Website: National Sea Life Centre Birmingham
Review: Plutonium Sox review of a previous mermaid event at the National Sea Life Centre.
Sandwell Valley Country Park West Midlands Summer Holidays 2025
No specific event takes place for West Midlands summer holidays 2025 at Sandwell Valley. However, this is always a good option for a budget-friendly day out and they do have a few one-off events that get listed on their Facebook page. Enjoy this outdoor space with great bird watching, and a Green Flag award-winning park. A traditional farmyard, walled kitchen gardens, a small museum, and award-winning tea rooms are all part of the fully restored working Victorian farm. Additionally, Forge Mill Farm has a farm store, a small animal area, a farm trail, and a playground for kids. There’s even an aerial assault course if you’re feeling adventurous. Football fields, crazy golf, tennis courts and pitch-and-put are also available for visitors.
Website: Sandwell Borough Council.
The Wave
The Wave is one of the UK’s largest and newest indoor waterparks, located in Coventry city centre. Whilst it doesn’t have a specific event taking place during the summer holidays, it’s always worth a visit. It features six epic slides, a large splash pad, the Wave Pool, Mana Spa, a 120 station gym, a 25m swimming pool, a class studio and squash courts. If you’re heading there for a day out during half term, look out for the Torrent with its disappearing floor, the cascade with its exciting plunge pool and a roller coaster ride on the rapids. Little ones will enjoy the splash pad and if you’d rather chill out, the lazy river is for you.
Website: The Wave Coventry.
Think Tank Museum West Midlands Summer Holidays 2025
At present, there’s a Space Vault exhibition that showcases the largest private collection of space artefacts. It includes rare objects from Apollo missions, the Soviet space era, Russian and American space shuttle programmes, the International Space Station and SpaceX. The dates of this exhibition are not clear from the website.
Dates: Open daily in the summer holidays until 31st August 2025.
Website: thinktank Birmingham Science Museum.
