What to do in Birmingham when it rains
Birmingham's museums, big covered shopping and a city-centre aquarium mean a wet day need never be a wasted one.
Museums
Spend a few hours in the city's museums — many are free, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to take your time.
- Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery Chamberlain Sq, Birmingham B3 3DH, UK
- Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum Millennium Point, Curzon St, Birmingham B4 7XG, UK
- National Trust - Birmingham Back to Backs 50-54, 55-63 Inge St, Hurst St, Birmingham B5 4TE, UK
- Aston Hall Trinity Rd, Birmingham B6 6JD, UK
- The Coffin Works Unit 2, Coffin Works, 13-15 Fleet St, Birmingham B3 1JP, UK
- West Midlands Police Museum The Lock-up, 40 Steelhouse Ln, Birmingham B4 6BJ, UK
- Pen Museum The Argent Centre, 60 Frederick St, Birmingham B1 3HS, UK
- Blakesley Hall Museum Blakesley Hall, Blakesley Rd, Birmingham B25 8RN, UK
Art galleries
Duck into the art galleries; they're quiet, warm and rarely busier than on a wet day.
- Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery Chamberlain Sq, Birmingham B3 3DH, UK
- Centrala Unit 4, Minerva Works, 158 Fazeley St, Birmingham B5 5RT, UK
- RBSA Gallery 4 Brook St, Birmingham B3 1SA, UK
- Minerva Works Warwick Bar, 158 Fazeley Street, Birmingham, Digbeth B5 5RS, UK
- Castle Fine Art, Birmingham - Mailbox The Mailbox, Level 2, 5 Wharfside St, Birmingham B1 1RD, UK
- Eastside Projects 86 Heath Mill Ln, Deritend, Birmingham B9 4AR, UK
- Stryx Play Gallery Cafe 90 Vyse St, Birmingham B18 6JZ, UK
- Clarendon Fine Art Birmingham 9 Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 2BJ, UK
Indoor shopping
Hit the covered shopping streets and centres — everything under one roof.
- Bullring Moor St, Birmingham B5 4BU, UK
- One Stop Shopping 2 Walsall Rd, Perry Barr, Birmingham B42 1AA, UK
- Mailbox Birmingham Royal Mail St, Birmingham B1 1RS, UK
- The Fort Shopping Park 20 Fort Pkwy, Birmingham B24 9FP, UK
- Swan Shopping Centre 20 Church Rd, Birmingham B26 1AD, UK
- Grand Central Shopping Centre 68A Ellis Mews, Birmingham B2 4BF, UK
- Newtown Shopping Centre 15 Newtown Shopping Centre, Birmingham B19 2SA, UK
- The Arcadian by M 70 Hurst St, Birmingham B5 4TD, UK
Food halls
Settle into a food hall and work your way around the stalls while the rain blows over.
- Tesco Superstore 299 Aston Ln, Aston, Birmingham B6 6QR, UK
- Frankfurt Christmas Market Birmingham Victoria Square, Birmingham, Birmingham B3 3AA, UK
- Tesco Extra Swan shopping centre, Coventry Rd, Birmingham B26 1AD, UK
- Tesco Superstore Tesco, Coleshill Rd, Ward End, Birmingham B36 8DT, UK
- Bullring Open Market 5BB, Edgbaston St, Birmingham B5 4SH, UK
- Red Brick Market Red Brick Market, 119 Floodgate St, Deritend, Birmingham B5 5SU, UK
- Tesco Express Caxton Gate, New St, Birmingham B2 5AE, UK
- Tesco Express Hurst St, Birmingham B5 4TP, UK
Aquarium
The aquarium is a reliable rainy-day winner, especially with kids.
- Clearseal - Bespoke Aquarium Manufacturers Unit 5, Phoenix Industrial Park, Avenue Cl, Aston, Birmingham B7 4NU, UK
Venue suggestions powered by Google — tap a name for the map, and always check opening times before you go. 33 places listed; the list refreshes regularly.