Summer is a great time to head out and explore the many attractions and go on picnics in a park. There are several places in Birmingham and nearby towns and villages that offer a location where both can be done on a day out.
Several of the incredible historic homes in Birmingham have a large garden or parkland or both attached to them and they’re happy to welcome the public.
If you are a history buff, a visit to these homes, many of which are also museums, would tell you about what life in the West Midlands used to be like in the times gone by.
And, if you want to visit just to have a great day out in the sun, these places will also give you access to the manicured lawns and gardens, and the parklands to explore nature.
Many of these homes also host activities to keep the little ones engaged - making these sites perfect for a day out with children in and around your home city.
If you have been looking for places to head out to with your family and friends on a short notice - these historic houses are a great place to start.
So, here are 14 historic homes to visit on a day out in and near Birmingham:
5. Blakesley Hall, Yardley, Birmingham
Blakesley Hall, a grade II* listed building is a Tudor hall on Blakesley Road in Yardley. One of the oldest buildings in Birmingham, it is a typical example of Tudor architecture with the use of darkened timber and wattle-and-daub infill, with an external lime render which is painted white. It is now a museum and can be visited by the public when it reopens on June 1. (Photo - Altin Osmanaj - stock.adobe.com) | Altin Osmanaj - stock.adobe.com
6. Highbury Hall, Moseley, Birmingham
Highbury Hall in Moseley is a Grade II* listed building that was commissioned by Joseph Chamberlain in 1878, two years after he became member of parliament for Birmingham. It took its name from the Highbury area of London, where Chamberlain had lived as a child. The hall is now an elegant wedding venue but can be visited during open days only. The information is available on The Chamberlain Highbury Trust website. (Photo - Bs0u10e01/ Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International) | Bs0u10e01/ Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
7. Hagley Hall, Stourbridge
Hagley village in Stourbridge is on the edge of Birmingham but is a beautiful place to live in. It has the Grade I listed 18th-century house - Hagley Hall, the home of the Lyttelton family. 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) | Wikimedia Commons
8. Castle Bromwich Hall Hotel, Birmingham
This is a Grade I listed building that was built between 1557 and 1585 by Sir Edward Devereux, 1st Baronet of Castle Bromwich, MP for Tamworth in Staffordshire. The Hall is famous for having twelve windows (one for each Apostle) and four dormers above (one for each Evangelist). It has been turned into a hotel but a tour of the gardens is open to the public. The gardens are open from Wednesday to Sunday 10:30am – 4:30pm usually but might change during winters. Photo - TrueMan/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported) | TrueMan/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported