Many tourists flock to Britain’s second largest city every year. They come to enjoy the culture that the city has to offer, such as the nightlife and many restaurants. The best place to explore the city’s culture is in its many museums, and here is a list of the best.
Birmingham museum and art gallery
This should be the first port of call to every new visitor to the city. The museum opened in 1885 and has 40 separate galleries to view. The galleries contain exhibits from a range of disciplines, including art, social history, archaeology and ethnography. Learn about the history of the area and enjoy free musical performances. Consult the website for current exhibitions.
Thinktank
This is an interactive museum aimed at all ages, although it may coax out your inner child. It is a scientific museum arranged over four floors, with a planetarium on the top floor. Find out about Birmingham’s industrial past and get involved in the many workshops operating throughout the museum. Dive under the ocean and even travel through the human body.
Soho House
Every house has a history, even the serviced apartments in Birmingham, such as http://birminghamservicedapartments.co.uk/premium-1-bedroom-birmingham-serviced-apartments/. Soho House is the former home of industrialist, Matthew Boulton. His Georgian mansion was used as a meeting place for famous scientists, such as Erasmus Darwin, the inventor James Watt, as well as theologian Joseph Priestley. If walls could talk, you would learn a lot by visiting this house. The house has been a hotel and a police station, and you can find out about its past by participating in one of the special tours provided.
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Museum of the Jewellery Quarter
The jewellery industry in Birmingham is responsible for manufacturing 40% of the jewellery in the UK. As Birmingham had such a dominant position in the industry, this museum is worth visiting for its history and how it contributed to the development of the city. Set in an original manufacturing firm, you can see how jewellery was made and the tools the makers used. Book a guided tour.
The coffin works
If you enjoy quirky industrial history, this is the museum for you. The Newman brothers opened their coffin works in 1894 and made coffin fittings for Queen Victoria and Winston Churchill. Explore the machinery used in this industry.