April is upon us, spring is in full swing, and the days are getting longer (cue gorgeous sunsets). And as Birmingham kicks back into glorious life, there’s a wicked lineup of things to do this April—from cherry blossoms and candlelight concerts to new restaurants and returning activities. So here are the most brilliant things to do in Birmingham this April.
Watch Cinderella like never before in this unique dance and light show. Ballet of Lights tells the timeless tale of evil stepsisters, an opulent ball, and the heartwarming romance of the Prince. With fibre-optic costumes lighting up the stage, this beloved classic is reinterpreted through a unique fusion of traditional dance and modern technology. Catch pirouettes and gravity-defying leaps and a cast of kaleidoscopic colours.
If you’re planning a foodie day out this April, Cheese Fest returns to the Uffculme Centre in Moseley for a one-day pop-up festival offering cheese-based street food, artisan cheesemongers, local drinks and two timed sessions across the day. Just some of Birmingham’s cheesiest traders stopping by include That’s Mature Toasties, Melting Wheel Pasta and, for those with a sweet tooth, Urban Cheesecake.
The Heath Bookshop returns with a biannual Literature and Music Festival this April while competing for Independent Bookshop of the Year. Working with other local independent businesses like children’s bookshop How Brave is the Wren and music pub the Hare and Hounds, it’s showcasing local talent and established artists in Kings Heath.
Just a few of the festival highlights include: a radical new dance adaptation of Max Porter’s award-winning novel, ‘Grief Is The Thing With Feathers’ (Saturday, April 18), the festival’s first-ever Open Mic Competition (Sunday, April 19), and the Carnival of the Animals (Saturday, April 18) with quintet Sennet Brass and local children, who have created masks and instruments through workshops
Blacklock opens in Birmingham this April. If you’re planning a foodie day out, this 100-seat chophouse at the historic St Philip’s House overlooking Cathedral Square is bringing its charcoal-cooked chops, dry-aged steaks and exclusive Birmingham dishes. The restaurant will also offer an award-winning Sunday roast, tableside white chocolate cheesecake, cocktails, wines on tap and Blacklock Brews.
Meet lambs, goats and the Easter Bunny for just £2 this Easter at Little Twinnies Farm. If you’re after a family-friendly day out in April, the budget petting farm in the Black Country reopens for Easter. Visitors can meet lambs, goats, rabbits and more, enjoy holiday games, free chocolate, an Easter Bunny visit and browse the on-site farm shop.
Whatever sort of music fan you are, there’s a Candlelight concert for you in Birmingham this April. Fleetwood Mac? Adele? What about Linkin Park? Settle down in Birmingham’s most beautiful building, lit by hundreds of flickering candles, and listen to a four-string quartet perform all your favourite tunes!
Showcasing over 750,000 vibrant tulips across over 100 varieties, Tulleys Tulip Garden opens near Birmingham this April. You will be free to wander vibrant fields of scenic pathways, floral installations and Instagram-ready photo spots (like the charming windmill). If that wasn’t enough, enjoy Dutch-inspired street food, roaming live musicians, or take a break at the Tulip Coffee House. And, so no two visits are ever the same, early, mid and late-flowering tulips ensure waves of colour throughout the season.
It’s one of the Black Country’s most special experiences already. But this Easter, Dudley Canal & Caverns is launching its very own floating time machine and travelling back 420 million years for a dino and fossil hunt adventure. You’ll experience a sound and light show inside the echoing caverns; float through the Castle Mill Basin Dinosaur Graveyard; solve puzzles within the tunnels; and visit the Explorers Lab, where you can create your own fossils! To learn more head here.
If you love high-octane live shows, this is your chance to see the debut of Rhinomite and fan-favourite trucks like Mega Wrex and Bone Shaker in action. Get ready for the adrenaline-pumping Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live show with jaw-dropping stunts, FMX riders, and a unique pre-show party experience, including autographs and a backstage tour.
Explore the best cherry blossom spots in Birmingham
Spring is finally here, which means warmer weather, the smell of dew in the morning, and, of course, the most beautiful of all, pink cherry blossoms. If you’re looking for a new walk or day trip out, then these beautiful flowers are the perfect excuse. From the beautiful Oozells Square to the quaint corners of Birmingham Botanical Gardens, cherry blossoms are abundant in Birmingham, but blink, and you’ll miss them!
Nestled in leafy Edgbaston, the Edwardian Winterbourne House is decorated in an Arts and Crafts style and best seen in the spring. You can also explore the magnificent gardens, designed by Margaret Nettlefold, which are spread across seven acres. There you’ll find rare plants and exotic species in the rock garden, subtropical terrace, and other parts of this vast garden. Make sure to treat yourself to something from the tea room after all that strolling for a refreshing day out of the city.
Take a ride around the city on a bicycle
What’s Brat-green, electric and about to be everywhere? No, not a lizard struck by lightning. It’s a Lime bike in Birmingham. The cycle hire provider that has taken over London is about to arrive in the West Midlands. With more than 2,000 new bikes and e-scooters about to flood the streets, there’s never been a better time to ditch the car for a cycle.
If you’re after a calmer moment among Birmingham’s busy April happenings, head up to the Library of Birmingham—the UK’s largest public library, spread across ten levels, packed with extensive archives, rare books and cultural spaces. It also has two public outdoor terraces: the lively Level 3 overlooking Centenary Square, and the quieter, event-ready Level 7 secret garden, where you can take in excellent city views.
Love courtroom dramas? Turn off the TV and step into your very own high-stakes trial. A disgraced ex-driver stands trial for stealing global superstar Lana Tonneti’s $20m necklace. But is Lana telling the truth? Throughout the live theatre courtroom drama, The Jury Experience has you answer complex questions, analyse witness testimonies and forensic evidence, and cast the vote that determines the fate of the accused.
Then watch the greatest courtroom story of all time
Aaron Sorkin has breathed new life into the seminal American novel about racial injustice and childhood innocence. Now, the award-winning stage adaptation of this thrilling courtroom drama comes to Birmingham Hippodrome. To Kill A Mockingbird sees Atticus Finch, who encourages kindness and empathy in his children, but is pushed to his limits of these qualities himself. You can learn more here.
