Things to do in the West Midlands: Summer holidays 2024
With the West Midlands summer holidays 2024 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 2024
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 for the summer but there are no details of a specific daytime summer holidays event. However, they do 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.
Dates: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23d and 30th August 2024.
Website: Black Country Living Museum
Review: Plutonium Sox review of the Black Country Living Museum.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Whilst there’s no specific event for the West Midlands summer holidays 2024 at the Botanical Gardens, there’s still lots going on. Events taking place on specific dates include outdoor theatre and live music as well as children’s activities on specific dates.
Website: Botanical Gardens.
Cadbury World
No specific event is listed for Cadbury World this Summer, but there is usually a show taking place during school holidays so it’s worth checking their website closer to the time. Visitors will be able to tour the factory, enjoying their ride, sampling chocolate and learning all about its history. Cadbury characters will also be on hand to meet and greet their young fans.
Website: Cadbury World
Review: Plutonium Sox review of a family day out at Cadbury World.
Cannon Hill Park West Midlands Summer Holidays 2024
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: July 20th, 25th and 27th and August 1st, 3rd, 8th, 10th, 15th, 17th, 22nd, 24th, 29th and 31st.
Website: Transport Museum.
Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust
Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust have a summer holiday event with a very cute name – Little Skippers. Their craft events take place on various dates during the holidays. Children can have a go at fishing, help to fill the aquarium wall and head to the craft room to make a mythical creature of the sea. There’s also a children’s trail and a play park. They suggest adding a 45 minute boat trip to a Little Skippers experience.
Website: Canal and Tunnel Trust.
Herbert Art Gallery and Museum West Midlands Summer Holidays 2024
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.
- Joy Inspired by Nature: An exhibition full of colour and joyful, larger than life designs and installations
- Jurassic Playground: Sensory artwork aimed at 0-4 year olds.
- Jurassic Crafts: Different crafts take place each week of the holidays. Each has the aim of empowering children to rewild and reconnect.
Don’t forget to book a ticket in advance to visit Dippy in Coventry 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 2024. 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
Join the merpeople on a fun journey to discover the creatures that live in the ocean they protect. See the animals through the merpeople’s eyes and find out how you can protect the oceans yourself. Activities include:
- Hunt for mermaid treasure around the Sea Life Centre
- Meet the mer-people and their friends for a photo
- Make an ocean friendship band
- Enjoy a creative colouring station
Dates: 20th July to 1st September 2024
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 2024
No specific event takes place for West Midlands summer holidays 2024 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.
Selly Manor
LEGO fans are in for a treat at Selly Manor during the West Midlands summer holidays 2024. For two weeks in August, help to build a miniature Bournville by adding your LEGO model to the village. The creation station will inspire you to build your dream house. Take on a building challenge and see what mischief the mini-figures are up to in the museum. This is suitable for all ages, with Duplo available for younger visitors.
Dates: 12th to 28th August 2024.
Website: Selly Manor website.
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 2024
There are quite a few things going on at Thinktank during the school summer holidays. Some are ongoing exhibitions, while others are specifically for the holidays. Look out for the following when you visit:
- Makers and machines: Learn about local coders and find out the history of coding.
- Planetarium Weekend Shows
- Weekend Science Busking: Hands-on science activities
Other events take place for just a day or two at a time so it is worth checking their website for those.
Website: thinktank Birmingham Science Museum.
