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Free things to do in Birmingham this week: Parks, galleries and city walks
From museum open days to walking tours, there’s no shortage of no-cost culture and green space across the city.
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Want to enjoy Birmingham without spending a penny? This week has plenty to offer. The city’s museums, galleries and parks are all running free activities, and with summer temperatures hovering around 22°C, it’s a good time to get out.
The Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery on Chamberlain Square remains open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free admission to its permanent collections. That includes the Staffordshire Hoard gallery, which displays the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver ever found, more than 4,000 objects. No ticket needed, just turn up.
Green spaces and guided walks
Cannon Hill Park, the city’s largest park at 250 acres, is hosting free guided nature walks every Tuesday and Thursday at 11 a.m. The walks start at the park’s visitor centre and last about an hour. No booking is required, though the park advises arriving ten minutes early.
For a longer stroll, the Birmingham Canal Walk stretches 26 miles through the city’s historic network of waterways. The stretch from Gas Street Basin to the Mailbox is particularly popular, with benches and cafés along the way, but you can bring your own flask and keep it free.
The Library of Birmingham, on Centenary Square, offers free access to its roof-top garden and panoramic views of the city skyline. The garden is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. It’s a quiet spot for reading or sketching.
Cultural institutions and community events
Ikon Gallery on Brindleyplace is free entry every day, with its current exhibition running until August 30. The gallery’s exhibition spaces are open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday. Donations are welcome but not required.
Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum charges for general admission, but its outdoor Science Garden is free to enter on the last Sunday of every month, that’s July 26 this month. The garden has hands-on exhibits on sound, light and mechanics.
Several local libraries are running free workshops this week. The Yardley Wood Library on High Street hosts a coding club for children aged 8-14 every Saturday at 10 a.m. No equipment needed, laptops are provided.
For those looking to plan ahead, the Birmingham City Council website lists all free events across the city’s parks and libraries. Most summer activities run through mid-September.