More Days Out News
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WV Active launch activities for overs 60s
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Half-season tickets now on sale for Aston Villa Women
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Smethwick Puppetry Festival returns in February
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Check out our selection of things to do in the Midlands during the next few weeks.
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION WEEKENDS
Just as you’d expect, festive celebrations are in full swing at Cadbury World this month. The popular visitor attraction is presenting a whole host of seasonal activities for families to enjoy, all of which come complete with that ever-important chocolately twist.
Among the highlights are daily performances of the Santa Show (included in the ticket price), during which super-helpful elf Jingle will be handing out a chocolate treat to little ones. Then, before heading home, be sure to swing by the world’s biggest Cadbury shop to pick up some handmade Christmas treats.
Cadbury World, Bournville, weekends until Sunday 22 December, plus Monday 23 & Tuesday 24 December
THE POLAR EXPRESS ™ TRAIN RIDE
Much-loved 2004 film THE POLAR EXPRESS™ is being theatrically recreated this festive season to provide families with a memorable Christmas experience.
Departing from Birmingham Moor Street, passengers will be fully immersed in the sights, sounds and intrigue of the classic children’s tale.
Families are encouraged to wear their pyjamas onboard, as they tuck into a hot chocolate and cookie while the magic unfolds around them. And as you might expect, there’ll be the not-to-be-missed chance to say a big hello to Santa Claus!
Birmingham Moor Street Station, on selected dates until Monday 23 December
VISIT SANTA: VINTAGE SLEIGH EXPERIENCE
The Vintage Sleigh Ride experience returns to Coventry Transport Museum this month.
Wander through a magical winter wonderland of festive activities and snowy scenes before taking a ride on an enchanting vintage sleigh pulled by two trusty reindeer. Your next stop? Lapland. Meet Santa, tell him your Christmas wishes and collect a special gift!... The Vintage Sleigh Ride experience includes museum admission tickets for the day of your visit.
Coventry Transport Museum, until Monday 23 December
BIRMINGHAM FRANKFURT CHRISTMAS MARKET
A firm favourite in Birmingham’s annual events calendar, the Frankfurt Market this month returns to the city to offer some atmospheric festive cheer in the run-up to Christmas. Filling Victoria Square and running along New Street, the market features a wide variety of stalls selling a tempting array of food & drink, traditional toys, ornaments and gifts.
Birmingham City Centre, until Tuesday 24 December
ICE SKATE BIRMINGHAM
As 2025 gets under way, Ice Skate Birmingham and the Big Wheel remain available to experience until the first weekend of January. While the wheel offers the opportunity to enjoy fantastic views across the city, the weather-proofed ice rink accommodates up to 300 people per session... And when skaters have finished their Torvill & Dean routine, they can warm themselves up with some festive fare in the nearby Ice Lounge and double deck rooftop bar.
Centenary Square, Birmingham, until Sunday 5 January
WINTERLAND WOLVERHAMPTON
Wolverhampton’s Market Square has been transformed into a magical Christmas experience for the duration of the festive season.
Winterland Wolverhampton features a real full-sized ice rink, a winter-themed funfair and European food & drink stalls, including a German-style sausage swing grill.
Admission is free, but ice skating time slots need to be booked online for a fee.
Market Square, Wolverhampton, until Sunday 5 January
WINTER WONDERLAND STOKE-ON-TRENT
Winter Wonderland Stoke-on-Trent comes complete with a real ice rink, funfair rides, lots of games and an array of food & drink.
The event also features brand-new addition The Santa Express Experience, a virtual journey to Lapland that offers participants the chance to say hello to the main man himself and meet his elves!
The event is free to enter, but it’s best to pre-book the Santa Express Experience and ice skating, as slots fill up fast. Other rides can be purchased on a pay-as-you-go basis, or by buying a best-value-for-money unlimited-ride wristband lasting for four hours.
Lichfield Street, Stoke-on-Trent City Centre, until Sunday 5 January
CHRISTMAS ON THE FARM
Cotswold Farm Park is hosting two festive events this year, with Father Christmas experiences taking place by day and families being invited to check out an enchanted (and for the first time ever, dog-friendly) light trail by night.
Daytime visitors can attend a Make-A-Bear workshop with the elves, decorate gingerbread, meet the farmyard animals and receive a special gift from Father Christmas in his cosy grotto.
Cotswold Farm Park, Cheltenham, Friday 6 - Sunday 8, Friday 13 - Sunday 15 & Wednesday 18 - Monday 23 December
CHRISTMAS AT THINKTANK
Located in Birmingham city centre, Thinktank offers a great day out for visitors of all ages.
From steam engines and talking robots through to gurgling guts and a chocolate-wrapping machine, the venue features more than 200 hands-on science & technology displays. Highlights include MiniBrum - an interactive mini city for under-eights - a 4k planetarium and a science garden.
This month, visitors can help find the elves who’ve escaped from Santa’s workshop and are hiding somewhere along the Elf Trail...
Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum
CHRISTMAS AT COMPTON VERNEY
Compton Verney is hosting a variety of seasonal events in the lead-up to Christmas.
An illuminated Christmas Present Trail takes over the galleries and grounds (from Saturday 14 December to Sunday 5 January), with a sweet-treat reward available for any visitors who successfully find all the lost presents.
Then, from Friday the 20th to Sunday the 22nd, Kate’s Storytree will be on-site with solstice-themed tales and family-focused crafts.
And come Christmas Eve, Santa will be having some fun by hiding in places around the grounds - but will your youngster(s) be able to spot him?
Compton Verney, Warwickshire, throughout December
SANTA TRAINS
Experience a magical rail journey courtesy of Severn Valley Railway’s Santa Trains.
After walking through a winter wonderland at Kidderminster station, board the steam train for a journey to Arley station.
Once there, enjoy a live panto stage show, featuring a host of festive characters appearing alongside Father Christmas as he prepares for the biggest night of the year.
The train journey back to Kidderminster comes complete with a ‘present-shaped surprise’ for every child.
New for 2024, selected trains will offer the chance to break the return journey with a stop at Bewdley, to enjoy all that the riverside town has to offer.
Severn Valley Railway, Kidderminster, weekends until Tuesday 24 December
WINTER FUNLAND
Described as a ‘full-on festive extravaganza’, Winter Funland is home to the UK’s largest indoor Christmas funfair.
Attractions include a giant ice rink, a 1,200-seater circus, a motorbike stunt show, the chance to enjoy unlimited funfair rides and a mouthwatering selection of festive food & drink.
NEC, Birmingham, until Wednesday 1 January
MICROWORLD COVENTRY
Touring exhibition Microworld is described as an immersive art space filled with digital creatures that respond to the audience in a variety of ways... The popular show - it’s proved a major hit on its travels around Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia - is fully immersive, interactive and adaptive; a ‘living’ space that provides families with the opportunity to create art together...
The project is produced by Lumen Studios and designed and programmed by UK-based collective Genetic Moo, whose art is inspired by ecology, artificial life and evolution.
Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, until Sunday 23 February
GLAD TIDINGS
Kickstart your Christmas celebrations by getting along to one of the Black Country Living Museum’s after-hours Glad Tidings events. Visitors can gather around open fires, sing along to familiar carols, meet costumed characters, enjoy performances by talented street entertainers and sample traditional Christmas treats.
Black Country Living Museum, Dudley, Friday 13 & Saturday 14, Friday 20 - Monday 23 December
FESTIVE FUN AT THE POLICE MUSEUM LOCK UP
For one weekend only, the lock-up at West Midlands Police Museum is being given a festive makeover.
Visitors can follow a family-friendly trail and discover what the naughty elves have been up to, take part in some festive crafts, write a letter to Father Christmas and then meet the great man himself in his festive grotto.
West Midlands Police Museum, Birmingham, Saturday 14 & Sunday 15 December
CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW
Lichfield Cathedral’s annual Christmas Light Show makes a welcome return mid-month and is once again being presented by acclaimed animation team Illuminos.
Tickets to the event include after-hours access to the Christmas Tree Festival, the cathedral's gift shop and crib.
The light show is available to enjoy (from 5.30pm) from the 16th to the 18th and the 20th to the 22nd.
Two outdoor-only, limited-number, dedicated ‘relaxed’ sessions - with quieter volumes - will take place on Thursday the 19th.
Lichfield Cathedral, Monday 16 - Sunday 22 December
WINTER STEAM GALA
If a cosy train ride spent admiring the winter landscape of the Severn Valley sounds right up your street (or should that be ‘right along your railway track’?), then look no further than the Winter Steam Gala.
Back by popular demand, the event will see six locomotives in service and operating a busy timetable. One of them, the GWR Auto Tank 1450, is returning after an overhaul. The Engine House at Highley will be open throughout the gala weekend, as will gift shops along the line - the perfect place for fans of steam to spend their Christmas dosh!
Severn Valley Railway, Bewdley, nr Kidderminster, Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 January
AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL
Europe’s biggest dedicated motorsport exhibition is celebrating 75 years of F1 with a series of special features. Anniversary highlights include the appearance of a MoneyGram Haas F1 car and a contribution from driver Oliver Bearman, who will be chatting about his grand prix preparations.
Numerous motorsport clubs and an assortment of cars also feature, as does the 5,000-seat Live Action Arena, providing visitors with the chance to enjoy ‘smoking stunts, deafening drifting and racing thrills’.
NEC, Birmingham, Thursday 9 - Sunday 12 January
THE RUNNING SHOW
On your marks... Get set... Go!
The National Running Show caters for a runner’s every need and features cutting-edge technology and the latest in kit and nutrition products. Visitors can get tips from expert coaches and gain inspiration from an impressive line-up of speakers across the weekend, including Chris Thompson, Colin Jackson CBE and Dame Denise Lewis DBE.
NEC, Birmingham, Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 January
SUPER LEAGUE BASKETBALL TROPHY FINALS
The Super League Basketball Trophy Finals make a welcome return to Birmingham’s Utilita Arena late this month.
Four of the biggest professional teams in UK basketball will be going all out for glory as they bid to secure the Super League men’s and women’s trophies.
In between the two finals, fans will be treated to a slam dunk contest and a variety of other ‘top-class entertainment’.
Utilita Arena Birmingham, Sunday 26 January
SEVERN VALLEY RAILWAY
Operating mainly steam-hauled passenger trains between Bridgnorth, Bewdley and Kidderminster, this much-loved railway transports visitors on a route of about 16 miles along the beautiful Severn Valley.
The journey includes a stop-off at the Engine House Visitor Centre at Highley, where passengers can check out massive locomotives and enjoy themed exhibitions of unique railway vehicles.
Those starting their journey at Bridgnorth will also have the option of stop-offs at Bewdley and Kidderminster, the latter of which boasts a railway museum.
Kidderminster: Station Dr, Kidderminster, DY10 1QX; Bridgnorth: 2 Hollybush Road, Bridgnorth, WV16 4AX Freedom Of The Line adult tickets £25, child (four - 17-year-olds) £16.50, Small Family Saver (one adult and up to two children) £50, Large Family Saver (two adults and up to four children) £75
BIRMINGHAM CATHEDRAL
Birmingham Cathedral is the oldest building in the city centre still used for its original purpose. The cathedral has four stained-glass windows, designed by Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones, which were fully conserved and returned to their original glory last year.
Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 2QB. Free to visit
THE BLACK COUNTRY LIVING MUSEUM
Get stuck into some good old-fashioned fun at the Black Country Living Museum this summer holiday. The award-winning venue boasts more than 50 period shops and houses to explore. It also features a host of famous characters, to help bring the region’s fascinating history to life, from the 1850s up to the 1960s.
Visitors can leave the 21st century behind and take part in old-fashioned street games, head underground for a glimpse of life as an 1850s miner, or take a stroll down the museum’s new high street and check out some 1950s trends.
Pay for one visit and the museum will give you a BCLM UnChained Annual Pass, valid for 12 months.
Tipton Rd, Dudley, DY1 4SQ. Adults £25.95, Children (3-15yrs) £12.95
ROUNDHOUSE BIRMINGHAM
A unique Grade II listed building at the heart of Birmingham’s canal network, The Roundhouse is dedicated to sharing stories of the city’s industrial heritage in new and imaginative ways. Attractions include walks, cycle tours, boat trips and a range of kayak and paddleboarding tours.
1 Sheepcote St, Birmingham, B16 8AE. Activities range in price
THE ROYAL AIR FORCE MUSEUM MIDLANDS
Telling the story of aviation history and housing one of the largest collections of its kind in the UK, RAF Museum Midlands is home to more than 75 historic aircraft displayed in three wartime hangars on an active airfield.
The museum boasts a variety of exhibitions and displays. One of the most popular is a collection of aircraft from the Battle of Britain era, featuring a Hurricane and Boulton Paul Defiant - built in the West Midlands - alongside the oldest surviving Spitfire.
Virtual tours, hands-on fun’n’flight activities, an aviation-themed playground and dedicated conservation and exhibition areas further add to the venue’s impressive offer.
RAF Museum Midlands, Lysander Avenue, Cosford, TF11 8UP. Free to visit
SUDELEY CASTLE
Walk in the footsteps of notable characters from the mists of time at Sudeley Castle. Boasting a fascinating history stretching back over 1,000 years, the castle is surrounded by 10 award-winning gardens. There’s also an adventure playground and a fun fort for younger visitors to enjoy.
Winchcombe, Cheltenham, GL54 5JD. Adults £22, Children (3-15yrs) £10
THINKTANK BIRMINGHAM SCIENCE MUSEUM
Located in Birmingham city centre, Thinktank offers a great day out for visitors of all ages.
From steam engines and talking robots through to gurgling guts and a chocolate-wrapping machine, the venue features more than 200 hands-on science & technology displays.
Highlights include MiniBrum - an interactive mini city for under-eights - a 4k planetarium and a science garden.
Millennium Point, Curzon St, Birmingham, B4 7XG. Adults from £15.50, Children (3-15yrs) from £7.50
COTSWOLD FARM PARK
Cotswold Farm Park is home to more than 50 flocks and herds of farm animals, provides visitors with the chance to learn about farming past and present, and features an adventure playground, a farm safari, a maze, sandpits, jumping pillows and plenty more.
Guiting Power, Cheltenham, GL54 5FL. Adults £17.50, Children (4-15yrs) £15.50
BRITISH MOTOR MUSEUM
Home to the world’s largest collection of historic British vehicles, the British Motor Museum tells the stories of the people and places behind the cars.
Themed trails, touch-screen exhibits, an interactive zone, costumed guided tours, and a varied programme of themed activities make for an inspiring day out.
A new feature exhibition, From Sketch To Street, will launch on Friday 19 July, exploring the transformative nature of car design across four key themes from the motor industry’s design world.
Banbury Rd, Gaydon, CV35 0BJ. Adults £16, Children £9 (pre-booked online)
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON BUTTERFLY FARM
Stratford Butterfly Farm is home to hundreds of the world’s most spectacular butterflies. The popular venue features a ‘discovery zone’ - inhabited by giant silkmoths and their cocoons - and the Minibeast Metropolis - home to snakes, reptiles, amphibians and other invertebrates.
The Butterfly Farm’s connections to the rainforests of Belize and the Maya civilisation are also in evidence, with more than 30 replicated ancient Maya artefacts on display throughout the attraction.
Swan’s Nest Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 7LS. Adults £8.95, Children (3-16yrs) £7.95
WEST MIDLANDS POLICE MUSEUM
Set in a Victorian lock-up, the West Midlands Police Museum showcases more than 200 years of policing history.
The lock-up was built in 1891, and during its time housed a total of more than one million prisoners, with the cell doors closing for the final time in 2016. As well as bringing together an unrivalled collection of police artefacts, the museum also offers a range of hands-on activities, providing visitors with the opportunity to play the role of detective at a crime scene, examine evidence in a forensics lab, take their own police ‘mugshot’ and dress up in police uniforms from years gone by.
Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, B4 6BJ. Adults £10, Children (3-15yrs) £6
WESTON PARK
Boasting 1,000 acres of beautiful Capability Brown-landscaped parkland, Weston Park is the perfect destination for long walks, lazy lunches and fun days out with the kids.
The venue is also home to a nationally important art collection, a restaurant, a woodland adventure playground, a miniature railway, a deer park and luxurious holiday cottages.
Weston-under-Lizard, Shifnal, TF11 8LE. Adults £8.80, Children £5.20 (pre-booked online) You can purchase entry on arrival at Weston Park, with prices as follows: Adult £11, seniors (65+) £10, child (four - 14-year-olds) £6.50, and family (two adults & three children) £37.
