Cheap Things to do in Birmingham

Birmingham is one of the country's biggest cities and is jam-packed with cultural offerings and things to do. But, whilst some of the best things in the city can often set you back a pretty penny and a lot of the free things to do often revolve around museums and walking around (which can be amazing, but sometimes you're after a bit more); we want to let you in on some of our favourite things to do at the lower price points. 

So whether you want to laugh the night away at some of the city's finest comedians, explore the local history through a Peaky Blinders inspired tour, or maybe you want to sample the iconic local dish that is the Chicken Balti. There's an array of incredible opportunities awaiting you in Birmingham, so have a scroll and start planning your next trip! 

Catch the next big thing at The Sunflower Lounge

Price: Tickets are usually under £15, but will vary depending on the artist

Where: 76 Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham B5 4EG

Live music is one of the best things that life can offer us, don't you think? But, whilst you may love going to see the bands that pepper your Spotify playlists, going and seeing the up-and-comers is a great way to support both the venues and artists within the grassroots scene. When in Birmingham, there are few better places to do this than The Sunflower Lounge. The venue is one of the cornerstones of the Brum live scene, and with tickets usually being around the £10-£15 mark (will be more expensive for the more established names, but that isn't what this is about), it's a proper good option when looking for cheap things to do in Birmingham. Just make sure you get your tickets on Skiddle...

Find tickets for events at The Sunflower Lounge - here

Laugh your socks off at the Birmingham Glee Club

Price: For Thursday Night Comedy Carousel tickets are £12.50 Standard, £6.50 Student

Where: The Arcadian, 70 Hurst St, Birmingham B5 4TD

Who doesn't love a good laugh eh? Well, there's only one place in Birmingham at you should be going to see live comedy, and that is the Glee. The night in particular we recommend is their Thursday Night Comedy Carousel, This is where loads of the best up-and-coming comedic talent in the country come and smash it every week, all for just £12.50 and even cheaper for students! It's an amazing deal, and you get the chance to see some of the stars of tomorrow, every single one of your favourite comics has played the Glee at some point, and who knows who'll be there when you go? 

Find tickets for events at Birmingham Glee Club - here

Discover scientific wonders at Thinktank

Price: Adult £14, Child £10.25, Concessions £12

Where: Millennium Point, Curzon St, Birmingham B4 7XG

For the more puzzle minds amongst you, there are few better places to get the brain juices flowing than Thinktank. Amongst the cheap things to do in Birmingham, it is definitely among the more educational, but with its intriguing collection of interactive exhibits and experiments, you'll never get bored. One for the kids as well as the adults too, with a whole outdoor science play area for the little un's to work out at their own pace. A quality day out with family. 

Find tickets for events at Thinktank - here

Explore the animal kingdom of Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park

Price: Adults £7.50, Children (3 - 15) £3.75, Concessions £5.70

Where: Pershore Rd, Birmingham B5 7RL

When you think of Zoos, you think of elephants and lions and maybe even monkeys, but, have you ever visited a Conservation park? you may be thinking: Eh? What's one of them? Well, it's so much cooler than it sounds. Birmingham Wildlife and Conservation Park is an absolute gem, with a range of animals not usually seen in your average zoo, like Red Pandas, Otters, and a range of endangered reptiles, all with the focus on the conservation and good treatment of the animals; what's not to love? It's an incredible day out with the kids and provides amazing value with all tickets less than a tenner. It's quite funny seeing tropical animals in Birmingham, but it sure is amazing!

Find tickets for events at Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park - here

Try a Balti in its home town at Shabab's

When: Baltis are around the £10 mark

Where: 163-165 Ladypool Rd., Sparkbrook, Birmingham B12 8LQ

Now, who among us hasn't chowed down on the deliciousness that is a chicken Balti? well, we have had more than our fair share for sure. But, what many of you may not know is that it is an English dish, not an Indian one, and it was actually created right here in Birmingham. The city has its infamous Balti Triangle, an area of the city full of restaurants that specialise in the dish. Our choice of the bunch however is Shababs. the restaurant is a veteran in the Balti game and has been serving up the spiced delight for over 30 years. Plus, with very reasonable pricing, with the dish being around £10, it's one of the best value meals you're ever likely to devour.

Chill in one of the city's Beer Gardens or Rooftop Terraces

Where: Check out our lists below for all the best places to go

For those of you more inclined to chill out and have a boozing session when you're visiting another city, then, when looking for cheap things to do in Birmingham, there are few better things to do than relax in one of its rooftop gardens, or beer gardens. Whether you're after stunning skyline views of the city, a bevvy by the canal, or a sprawling outdoor drinking complex, Birmingham has you covered. It's the perfect place to either head to for pres before heading out to one of the many nightclubs on offer, or to just relax for an afternoon and then realise quite just how much you've had to drink when you eventually stand up and it all rushes to your head. 

Find our list of the best Rooftop Bars in Birmingham - here

Find our list of the best Beer Gardens in Birmingham - here

Jazz up your night at The Jam House

Price: Tickets are usually around the £5 mark

Where: 3-5 St Paul's Square, Birmingham B3 1QU

Where to start with this awesome establishment in Brum?  for years The Jam House has been serving up a sumptuous selection of different Jazz, Soul and Blues vibes for their adoring Brummy punters, and it really is one of the best cheap things to do in Birmingham when looking for live music. Some nights get people up and dancing on tables, and others have you swirling whiskey to a passionate and introspective musical display. The venue is a must-visit in the city, and whilst drinks can be on the more expensive side, the entry fee is the same as a pint, and it's more than worth it for the wonderful array of local and regional musicians they have on here.

Find tickets for events at The Jam House - here

Become a Peaky Blinder at Black Country Living Museum

Price: Adult £19.95, Child £9.95, Concession £16.95

Where: Tipton Rd, Dudley DY1 4SQ

Now, this last one is a bit more expensive than the other, but, for what it provides, the value is incredible. They'll be a lot of you reading this that don't know much about Birmingham past the exploits of Tommy Shelby, and well, this one is for you. Black Country Living Museum is an entire complex dedicated to showing the Brum of old, and what the lives of the people there were like. From old-timey cinemas to street games to weird and wonderful treatments of the past in their chemist. But, its best attraction is the Peaky Blinders night tours, which explore the lives of the characters and some filming locations. A brilliant day out, even if a tad more expensive than others on the list!

Find tickets for events at Black Country Living Museum - here

Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.