With a history dating back to 1779, the Birmingham & Midland Institute has been dedicated to education and learning for centuries. Today, housed in a Grade II-listed building in Birmingham’s city center, the venue houses the BMI Library (home to more than 120,000 volumes) and hosts various exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and other cultural programming.
An 18th-century Palladian villa surrounded by 66 acres (26 hectares) of riverside parkland, Marble Hill House is the epitome of elegance. You can spend hours exploring the woodlands and gardens around the pristine white mansion, while the house’s Georgian-style interior transports you back to the 1700s with its lavishly decorated rooms.
Coventry's Herbert Art Gallery & Museum is an expansive art and history museum that features a mix of permanent and temporary exhibits, interactive workshops, and educational talks. It's a fantastic place to learn about the history of Coventry from the Middle Ages to the modern day.
A curiously named peninsula that extends into the Thames, the Isle of Dogs is one of East London’s most distinctive areas. Originating as marshland that was later carved out into the Docklands—the heart of British maritime might for centuries—today the former industrial area presents a contrast between the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf and peaceful residential streets.
Famed for its tribute to Birmingham-born comedian Tony Hancock and murals that tell the story of the city’s history, Old Square offers space for a relaxing break. With benches, greenery, and interesting sculptures, it’s not only one of the city’s oldest squares, but also a gateway to the Steelhouse Conservation Area.
The 227-acre (92-hectare) Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve is a natural wetland with a number of bird and animal-watching hides, as well as hiking trails. You can spot kingfishers, foxes, otters, and muntjac deer here, among other wildlife. The reserve’s visitor center also offers fun activities for kids, such as education and sensory gardens and drawing sheets.
This volunteer-run music museum focuses largely, but not exclusively, on 2-Tone music, a subgenre of ska that’s associated with Coventry. It's a great place to learn about Coventry's music scene, and about the history of the ska, reggae, and rocksteady genres.
