The UK is getting its greatest solar eclipse since 1999 this Wednesday – here are the 9 best spots in Birmingham to watch the 92% coverage, including a secret roof garden and a 24th-floor skyline bar

For an away-from-the-crowds spot in the heart of the city to watch the solar eclipse, climb to the seventh level of the Library of Birmingham to find a surprisingly quiet rooftop garden with greenery, winding paths and unbeatable city views. Borrow a book and settle in the sunshine for a peaceful escape above the city while the sky show unfolds.

If you want to turn your eclipse watch into an unforgettable experience, dive into natural lakes at Midlands Open Water — where an extra special eclipse social paddle. With tickets from £15, you will ned to bring your own paddleboard, but you may be able to rent one!

978 ft above sea level, Lickey Hills will provide epic, elevated views of the partial solar eclispe awy from the hustle and bustle if Birmingham. Climb up Beacon Hill, where this legendary viewpoint rises boasts expansive sightsstretching as far as Sugar Loaf in Wales. There’s even a toposcope in a small “castle” on the top of the hill (a popular site for UFO hunters) that points out notable landscapes.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’d know The Exchange is currently home to Bristol artist Luke Jerram’s latest installation, Helios, a 5 metre replica of our Sun. To celebrate the solar eclipse on August 12, a special listening party will accompany the installation,  with a surround-sound composition that blends fire and heat, NASA recordings, the dawn chorus, a summer beach, Sun- and light-related festivals, and uplifting ambient music. The 30-minute soundtrack will play on loop throughout the evening (6 pm to 8 pm).

If you want a spacious place to set up for the solar eclipse—ideally with plenty of room to spread out—Birmingham’s Sutton Park is a strong pick. Spanning over 2,400 acres, it offers a variety of landscapes and wide-open skies, making it perfect for sky-watching. It will also be good for watching the Perseids, which peak that very night, with up to 150 meteors per hour. The best time to spot the meteors is from around midnight to 5:30 am.

While there are several rooftop bars to choose from in Birmingham, only in 24 Stories will you find 360° city views—where else would you rather be during the eclipse? The high-end restaurant and bar on the 24th floor of 103 Colmore Row offering modern French dining and panoramic, restaurant-in-the-sky views, whether you’re stopping by for crafted cocktails or a three-course meal above the city.

This is one of the highest points in the West Midlands. Barr Beacon offers spectacular, panoramics views, with sights of the Wrekin, Cannock Chase, Lichfield Cathedral, Birmingham, and the Lickey Hills, meaning you should have a good vantage point to see the eclipse in the West from here.

Aston Hall—the 17th-century Jacobean masterpiece full of history, striking interiors, and hauntings—is hosting Birmingham’s most unique solar eclipse viewing session. Birmingham Astronomical Society will be brining specialist solar telescopes and sun spotters, for an up-close view of this natural phenomenon, while giving hands-on explainations of what causes eclipses and answering your questions. This event is sold out, but if you can find a way to go, grab it.

It may not be as elevated as other locations, but for a spacious green space to settle in that is actually near the centre of Birmingham, Cannon Hill Park is the place to spend the eclipse.