Top 10 Free Things to do in West Midlands, England

From Renaissance masterpieces and cutting edge contemporary art to Egyptian mummies and the iconic HP factory sign, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery showcases a world class collection and offers fascinating glimpses into Birmingham's rich and vibrant past. Highlights include the finest collection of Pre-Raphaelite art in the world and the largest find of Anglo-Saxon gold ever discovered - the Staffordshire Hoard. Don't miss the Birmingham History Galleries - packed with artefacts, local treasures and interactive displays that reveal captivating stories of Birmingham from the last 500 years.

This park features historic gardens that have been influenced by the gardenesque style of planting, which features exotic plants brought to the British Isles from all parts of the world.

For a family day out, or a quiet little picnic in the open air, visit Coombe Abbey Park. It offers 500 acres of beautiful gardens, woodland, lakeside walks, and bird watching. Visitor Centre: Shop, Information Centre, Cafe, Toilets, Baby Changing Facilities, Discovery Centre, Education Rooms, Conference and Event Facilities, Disabled Access Park Facilities: Picnic/BBQ Areas, Play Areas (Climbing Forest and Playground), Formal Gardens, Fishery, Bide Hide and SSSI, Duck and Swan Feeding, Pond Dipping Platforms, Woodland Trails, Birthday Parties, Family Events and Activities throughout the year - see our website for more details. Coombe Abbey Park is also home to Go Ape! Parking charges apply from as little as £1 for a 1 hour stay to £5 all day (over 4 hours). Annual car park season tickets are also available and represent excellent value for money.

Once a thriving port, this area where several canals meet offers colorful canal boats, bars, cafes and restaurants.

Investigate the natural world, modern art, and the Old Masters. Wander through dazzling interactive displays, and enjoy the latest exhibitions while admiring the building’s unique architecture. As well as the art gallery’s ever-changing displays which are often created in partnership with national museums, the Herbert offers a wide range of detailed talks, fantastic events and inventive workshops for adults and families. The Herbert Art Gallery encourages creativity, exploration and fun. Gain a fresh perspective on the legend of Lady Godiva, discover your ancestors’ history in the Coventry Archives, and explore British & European paintings from the 1500s onwards. All of this is just a stone’s throw away from Coventry Cathedral.

If you're looking for a truly unique day out for all the family, you can't beat Coventry Transport Museum. In the heart of Coventry city centre, this huge Museum is home to the world's largest collection of British road transport in public ownership. You'll discover the stories behind the people who made Coventry the centre of the world's motor and cycle industries, and get up close and personal with the actual vehicles that defined some of history's most important moments. The Museum is laid out as a journey through time - you'll wander 19th Century streets and discover the first bicycles, carriages and cars, then explore the first car factories and gasp as you witness their wartime destruction in the Blitz Experience. Moving through the rise and fall of the city's largest industry, you will come face to face with the world's fastest car - Thrust SSC. No where else on Earth will you find such a unique experience for the whole family.

The Oak House was built in the 1620s/30s with the brick extension at the back, the belvedere (tower), chimney stacks and old barn being added in the 1650s. The house is furnished in period style and has a wide range of events, activities, community groups and school holiday fun all year around.

Delivering a sense of wilderness within an urban environment, visitors to Sutton Park can enjoy the captivating scenery, using an accessible network of paths.There are opportunities to enjoy walking, jogging, angling, nature watching, orienteering, play areas, restaurants and use bridle paths and cycling routes in the Park. Car parks are located at all the main entrances and the Park is linked to a variety of public transport routes.Sutton Park is an historic landscape that covers an area of over 2,000 acres and attracts over two million visits every year.In 1997, English Nature designated Sutton Park a National Nature Reserve and it is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).Lying six miles to the north of Birmingham City Centre this landscape is a mosaic of open heathland, woodlands, wetlands, marshes and seven lakes each with their own rich variety of plants and wildlife, some rarely seen in the region. It is an important site for wildlife and conservation, containing fine examples of natural countryside that have survived for hundreds of years. These habitats are part of a working grazed landscape where cattle and wild ponies can be seen grazing during the year.This park is a natural area where animals roam freely. Please wash your hands with soap and water before eating or drinking.

Walsall Leather Museum is a welcoming and friendly attraction housed in a restored Victorian factory building. We offer a fascinating insight into the story of Walsall's famous leatherworking trade. There are regular guided ours and demonstrations of leather crafts, and lively programme of events and activities throughout the year, including changing exhibitions. Beautiful gardens planted with traditional tanning trees and shrubs. The museum has an excellent shop specialising in Walsall-made leathergoods.