Many people might be looking for places to head out of Birmingham during the Spring Bank Holiday and summer. However, if you don’t have any concrete plans and are still scoping out a destination, there are many places you can visit on a short notice.
We had a look at the bus network branching out of Birmingham city centre to find you a list of options for family-friendly outings. From Hagley Hall to Dudley Castle, from wide open parks to cosmopolitan towns with historic beginnings, there’s much to explore outdoors and indoors.
Whether you are looking for a relaxing day out in nature or a cultural fix or even a mini city break away from Birmingham - all of it can be done in a day, and all you need is to be equipped with is the latest bus timetable.
If you are traveling solo, the £2 fare cap also makes it lighter on your pocket than taking a train journey. For groups, getting a group day ticket might be the best option for a full day of bus journeys.
So, here are nine great places to head out to on a bus from Birmingham:
1. Hagley in Stourbridge
Hagley village in Stourbridge is on the edge of Birmingham but is a beautiful place to live in. The bus ride from Birmingham city centre takes almost an hour. You take the number 9 from Colmore Row. Then the Number 192 in Halesowen. Hagley Hall in the village is Grade I listed 18th-century house - where the Lyttelton family used to live. The iconic home is open to the public for tours and teas, and has a lush park great for spending summers in. Hagley Hall will be re-opening to the public from Thursday 18th May to Thursday 25th May 2023. Guided house tour begins at 11am. (Photo - Wikimedia Commons)
2. Dudley Zoo and Castle
The bus ride from Birmingham to Dudley Castle will take a little more than an hour. You will need to hop on the X8 at Colmore Row. The zoo is located on the castle grounds. Dudley Castle is a ruined fortification in Dudley. It was originally a wooden motte and bailey castle built soon after the Norman Conquest, and was rebuilt as a stone fortification during the twelfth century but subsequently demolished on the orders of Henry II of England. The zoo is open everyday from 10.00 am (except Christmas Day). (Photo - padmak - stock.adobe.com)
3. Sarehole Mill Museum, near Moseley
Sarehole Mill Museum has been around since 1542, and the current building dates from the mid-18th century. In the 1850s a steam engine was installed and the chimney – which provides its distinctive silhouette – was built. The mill is also connected to J.R.R. Tolkein and you can get tours around the site on booking. The opening timings: The Shop (11am - 4pm) and Pizza in the Courtyard (12noon - 3pm) are Wednesday to Sunday. The Mill is open for guided tours on Friday and Saturday (11.30am and 1.30pm) and Sunday (1.30pm). On the first Saturday of the month the Mill is open 11am - 4pm for you to explore the mill at your leisure without a guided tour. Pre-booking advised. It’s a short bus ride from Birmingham city centre. You can pick up the number 5 at Moor Street Queensway. (Photo - Oosoom/Wikimedia Commons)
4. Woodgate Valley Country Park, Bartley Green
Woodgate Valley Country Park is accessible by bus from Birmingham. It is a 450 acre area of countryside in the centre of Bartley Green and Quinton. There are many mixed, mature hedgerows, meadows, woodland, and small ponds. The Bournbrook runs through the park. It has over 250 species of plants while the damp meadow areas are rich and produce wonderful displays of wild flowers in spring and summer. The meadows also attract many kinds of butterflies and over 90 species of birds have been recorded in the park. It’s a half an hour journey from Birmingham city centre on the bus. You can get the number 10 at Colmore Row. (Photo - Phil Champion / Footbridge and ford across the Bourn Brook, Woodgate Valley Country Park / CC BY-SA 2.0)