What are the top accessible attractions to visit in Birmingham?

Birmingham is the second-largest city in the UK and there are lots of attractions and things to do in this iconic city.

Everyone should be able to enjoy the best Birmingham has to offer, but sometimes access can make it difficult for people with mobility problems to enjoy the highlights of the city.

In this guide, we look at some of the most accessible attractions in Birmingham and look at what makes them mobility-friendly by listing features such as accessible toilets, modern and new stair lifts and disabled parking spaces.

Birmingham’s accessible attractions

Severn Valley Railway

The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway that offers visitors great insight into the history of Birmingham and the surrounding area.

The attraction is accessible to all visitors with mobility problems as all trains have disabled access with some trains even having a disabled saloon carriage suitable for up to four wheelchairs at once.

A spokesperson for the Severn Valley Railway recommends people with mobility difficulties to come for a ride on the train.

“The Severn Valley Railway is an iconic attraction with a history dating back to the industrial revolution. Today, the Railway meanders alongside the River Severn in the stunning Severn Valley with spectacular views, historic station stops, historic carriages, a vast Visitor Centre where you can get up close to a number of engines and access to the picturesque towns of Bewdley and Bridgnorth.”

West Midland Safari Park

The West Midland Safari Park is one of the major attractions in the region and here, you can take a self-guided tour through a range of animal enclosures without needing to step outside your car.

Visitors can see over 140 different animals. These include cheetahs, lions, elephants, giraffes, rhinos and other big cats as well.

The safari is, of course, the main draw for many, but there is a Land of Dinosaurs animatronic exhibit and other attractions within the park.

The safari park is accessible to all as pathways are all tarmacked and are wheelchair accessible. There is wheelchairs available to hire, and parking spaces on offer to people with mobility problems as well as disabled toilets. Carers can also enter the West Midland Safari Park for free.

Thinktank

This famous science museum is a great place to visit if you are in Birmingham with your grandchildren as there are lots of hands-on exhibits for all ages and abilities.

Thinktank is a fun-packed day out for the family with steam engines, talking robots, gurgling guts and a chocolate wrapping machine just some of the 300 displays you can see.

The award-winning museum is also one of the city’s most accessible with lifts to all floors inside the Millennium Point building, wheelchairs available to hire, accessible toilets on every level and for blind visitors guide dogs are allowed inside the museum.

For parking, there is a multi-storey car park behind Thinktank and there is free parking available to blue badge holders.

Cadbury World

One of the most iconic attractions in Birmingham is also one of the city’s most accessible.

Here visitors can get a fascinating insight into Birmingham’s famous chocolate factory through interactive exhibits, demonstrations and 4D cinema experiences.

On the Cadbury World website, Gerrard Baldwin, the General Manager, says, “We want to create moments of pleasure for all our visitors and lasting memories of a wonderful day out; with this in mind, Cadbury World’s visitor safety and enjoyment is paramount and central to how we operate. We strive to offer an inclusive experience for everybody and regularly carry out reviews and risk assessments to ensure the expected high standards are maintained.”

Cadbury World offers extensive parking facilities near its entrance with a low-level reception counter and low-level exhibits in certain zones. The accessibility features don’t stop there as there are ramps placed throughout the factory, lift access where available, accessible toilets on each floor and wheelchair spaces in the 4D Chocolate Adventure cinema.

Bullring & Grand Central

If you love your shopping, then the Bullring and Grand Central is the must-visit place for you to head to.

At the Bullring, shoppers will find stores selling homeware, electricals, fashion, cafés and restaurants. Top brands located here include Accessorize, All Saints, Ben Sherman, The Body Shop, Boots, Cath Kidston, Debenhams, H&M, Hobbs, Hotel Chocolat, John Lewis, Lacoste and River Island

Shoppers who have mobility problems or are disabled can still enjoy all the amazing shops and restaurants that are located here as it is accessible to all.

On level 1 of the Bullring Centre Car Park, visitors can hire electric scooters, electric wheelchairs and manual wheelchairs to get around. The hire prices range from as little as £2-£3.

There is step-free access to all floors of the Bull Ring with lifts available to all shopping levels and there are accessible toilets located throughout the shopping centre, automatic doors at most shops and lower information counters for wheelchair users.

As we’ve mentioned, Birmingham has lots of accessible attractions you can visit and here we list the ones we’ve already mentioned as well as other accessible attractions:

•Severn Valley Railway

•West Midland Safari Park

•Thinktank

•Cadbury World

•Bull Ring & Grand Central

•Herbert Art Gallery and Museum

•MAD Museum

•Twycross Zoo

•Birmingham Symphony Hall

•Winterbourne House and Gardens

•National Motorcycle Museum

•Electric Cinema