Find the perfect family staycation activities in the West Midlands.
Following a long year at school, your kids will want a relaxed summer of doing nothing, right? Of course not – we know what the youngsters are like! Summer staycations are the perfect way to get the whole family off on holiday, without the faff of airport queues, cancelled flights and Dad being too hot on a 35°C beach.
Our guide shows you some of the best family days out and activities from the UK, with 2FOR1 offers to keep all the family entertained, so you can simply Book it. Train it. Love it!
Staycation ideas in Birmingham
Aston Hall
- Closest station: Aston Station, 15 minute walk
- 2FOR1 offer
Transport your family back to the gripping Seventeenth century at Aston Hall. The remarkable mansion is a beautiful pocket of history, with fun activities for everyone. Hear interactive folk tales of magical beasts, create portraits with wax, and even dress up as a monarch. There are also outdoor events around the scenic gardens, such as nature hunts like the BioBlitz!
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
- Closest station: Five Ways, 20 minutes walk
Calling the whole family! Get your backpacks on at Birmingham’s favourite gardens and start your day of fun. Available to hire from the Botanical Gardens’ Main Reception for just £2 each, their family activity backpacks are filled with captivating tasks and useful resources to help you explore. Pick between their four educational themes: Amazing Plants, Brilliant Birds, Bugs and Beasties or Tremendous Trees, and begin your tropical adventure.
Cadbury World
- Closest station: Bournville, 12 minute walk (13 minute train journey onwards from Birmingham New Street via WMR)
- 20% offer
It’s always useful to save an indoorsy plan for a rainy day, and nothing makes kids happier than chocolate tasting! Cadbury World is a twelve minute walk from Bournville Station , and has lots of joyous chocolate-filled activities to enjoy. Whether the little ones want to ride the magical Cadabra ride, experience the 4D cinema adventure or make their own chocolate, an afternoon here promises a happy family.
National SEA LIFE Centre
- Closest Station: Birmingham New Street, 20 minute walk
- Discounted entry offer
Aquariums are always a hit with the little ones, but Birmingham National SEA LIFE Centre takes it to a whole new level. Spend the afternoon here and dive into an aquatic adventure with sharks, penguins, sea otters, turtles and much more. This summer, even Peppa Pig will be visiting! So, if your kids are fans of her, be sure to pop along for the fun activity trail.
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
- Closest Station: Birmingham New Street, 18 minute walk
- Discounted entry offer
Visit the ultimate indoor playground - LEGOLAND Discovery Centre has everything from an amazing soft play area, a Kingdom Quest and a jaw-dropping 4D cinema. A favourite attraction from the venue is Miniland, an interactive miniature city made from over 1.5 million Lego bricks.
Multi-Attraction Tickets are also available for LEGOLAND Discovery Centre and National SEA LIFE Centre or Warwick Castle from £28.30, or for £43.30 you can have access to all three attractions. Save up to 39%, and extend your adventure to visit these amazing venues together.
Staycation ideas in Stratford-Upon-Avon
The MAD (Mechanical Art and Design Museum)
- Closest station: Stratford-Upon-Avon Station, 12 minute walk
For a sensory afternoon of arts and crafts, be sure to visit the MAD Museum. Ignite your child’s creative spark and interact with the machines and gizmos used in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Wallace and Gromit and more favourites. There are activities, contraptions and artworks to entertain kids of all ages —and children aged 5 years or under can attend completely free! Experience the unique myriad of sculptures and sounds in the UK’s only permanent venue for mechanical art.
Stratford-Upon-Avon Butterfly Farm
- Closest station: Stratford-Upon-Avon Station, 20 minute walk
This tropical haven is a true delight! Discover hundreds of the world’s most beautiful butterflies in a picturesque environment of waterfalls and fish pools. The landscaped tropical greenhouse is the largest tropical butterfly display in the UK, with many other unique experiences to be had. Observe the life cycle of a butterfly in the Discovery Zone, or go on a history hunt to discover the secret connection between Stratford-Upon-Avon Butterfly Farm and the ancient Maya civilisation.
For more great ideas on things to do in Stratford-Upon-Avon, see our full guide on the town here !
Staycation ideas in Shrewsbury
The Quarry Park
- Closest station: Shrewsbury Station, 15 minute walk
The delightful gardens and green space around The Quarry Park in Shrewsbury is the perfect spot for the whole family. Towering trees provide plenty of shade around the park, so bring a picnic and let the kids burn off some steam. The playground will keep them entertained for hours, alongside the children’s waterpark and ice cream van to cool down afterwards—good behaviour permitting of course!
Labyrinth brings Harry Potter to Shrewsbury
- Closest station: Shrewsbury Station, 10 minute walk
We’re betting that there’s at least one Harry Potter fanatic in the family, and this will be their dream come true! There you can browse the gift shop, let your wand choose you, and dress as your favourite characters, but look out for Voldemort— he can often be spotted there…
Staycation ideas in Wolverhampton
Canon Raceway
- Closest station: Coseley Station, 6 minute walk
Put your pedal to the metal and take on the family at Canon Raceway, with their 500-metre indoor go-karting race circuit. The “Ultimate Track” will test your driving skills as you find out who is the boss in the family with their time tracking system recording up to a 1000th of a second. If your family are fans of Mario Kart, this will be the perfect activity to bring it to life, in 200cc Race Biz karts.
Staycation ideas in Coventry
The Wave
- Closest station: Coventry, 8 minute walk
Just a short walk from the Coventry station, The Wave promises an afternoon of thrills, spills and chill for the whole family. Choose a range of thrilling rides like The Riptide, where riders are launched on tyres down an almost 90 degree angled slope—this one isn’t for the faint-hearted! Their five other major slides provide fun for the whole afternoon, while the wave pool and lazy river provide some relaxation time if you’ve successfully fulfilled your adrenaline fix.
Coventry Transport Museum
- Closest station: Coventry, 15 minute walk
- 2FOR1 offer
Located in the heart of Coventry city centre, this museum holds the world’s largest collection of British road transport in public ownership. Among their array you’ll find the world’s fastest car, the first bicycles and many more historic creations. They also have dozens of events for children of all ages, from trial and play, fun stop-motion animations, electronics and construction building - anything you can think of!
Wherever your summer staycation takes you, relax in the knowledge that exciting activities and days out are just a train journey away. Holidays don’t have to be expensive to be great, so get out there and enjoy the parks, gardens, museums and go karting that the UK has to offer.