New Attractions to Visit in Birmingham This Summer
Birmingham is buzzing with new attractions for summer 2026. NEC Lakeside offers a children's play area, activity trail, picnic seating with food and drink stalls, and a huge outdoor screen showing free outdoor films. Peppa Pig Space Adventure has opened at Birmingham NEC and runs through November, featuring a walk-through experience inspired by Peppa's space adventure. Escape Hunt opens on Cannon Street in late July, offering indoor and outdoor escape challenges.
Saltwich Splash, a £550,000 water play area, has opened at Droitwich Lido Park with nature-themed water sprays, a tipper bucket, and water run. The X Tower at Aqualand in Tamworth, opened in June, is the UK's first tower of its kind with a 12-metre inflatable slide. Talbot Park in Kidderminster is a brand new park near Weavers Wharf, which also has a new Nando's. Hockerhill Playbarn is installing a new outdoor toddler play area with slides and musical instruments, due to open mid-July.
Free Things to Do Around Birmingham This Summer
A new tennis club in Erdington offers free tennis for women and kids through the Rally Together initiative by Sparks Active, encouraging children to invite female relatives to play weekly. Stourport-on-Sevrn offers seaside fun without the beach, with a fairground, fish and chips, arcades, parks, and a riverside setting. Free festivals include the Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival from July 24 to August 2, England's longest established jazz and blues festival, and Birmingham Weekender from August 29 to 31 with free performances and pop-up experiences. The Bring it On Brum! holiday activity programme provides free holiday clubs for children. Telford Hot Air Balloon Fiesta runs from August 28 to 30 with colourful balloons.
Splash Pads and Paddling Pools
Willenhall Memorial Park Splash Pad features a café, play area, skate park, and outdoor gym. Brinton Park Splash Pad in Kidderminster has jets, slides, water cannons, and a boat. Riverside Paddling Pool in Stourport-on-Severn returns after two years as a free facility. For a full list, see our guide to splash pads in the West Midlands.
Outdoor Pools and Aqua Parks
Droitwich Spa Lido is a 40-metre pool in art deco surroundings with a Wet Play Area. The Severn Centre Outdoor Pool in Highley offers a 25-metre heated pool with music and toys. Ashby-de-la-Zouch's lido, known as Ashby-by-the-Sea, has a sand pit. Aqualand at Cliff Lakes in Tamworth, 40 minutes from Birmingham, has five obstacle courses. Aztec Adventure near Bromsgrove features trampolines, climbing walls, and ropes. For more, see our guide to outdoor pools around Birmingham.
Beaches Within Reach of Birmingham
Rutland Water Park, a Blue Flag beach 90 minutes away, offers lake swimming, paddling, and sandcastle building. Cotswold Country Park and Beach, also 90 minutes away, is the UK's biggest inland beach with swimming, pedalos, and minigolf. For coastal beaches, see our guide to Blue Flag beaches within two to three hours' drive.
Family Events and Festivals
The Just So Festival returns August 21 to 23 at Rode Hall Estate in Stoke on Trent with music, dancing, and 13 new festival spaces. Free city centre events include the Women's T20 World Cup, European Athletics Championships at Alexander Stadium, and Birmingham Triathlon in Sutton Park. West Midlands Safari Park hosts K-Pop Summer in August with live shows.
Rainy Day Ideas
Bullring has new shops including Subdued, Moida, Podur, and Joe and the Juice cafe, plus Lululemon and New Balance. Merry's Hill has a new beauty and toy store. Weaver's Wharf has a role play village with a pretend American diner. For indoor play, see our guide to the best soft play centres in the West Midlands.
