The month before the big one, aka Christmas. Yet as tempting as it is to retreat inside and curl up under a blanket, there is still plenty on this November. This month, we’ll see old and new arrive in the city, like the long-awaited Christmas market and the opening of new restaurants! So, it’s time to wrap up, explore the city and beyond, and check out our guide to the best things to do in Birmingham this November to make for an unbelievably fab month.
1. Sip on glühwein at Birmingham Christmas Market
The city’s popular Frankfurt Christmas Market is back this month with hundreds of stalls in the city centre. Returning to Victoria Square and New Street, Brummies and visitors alike will be able to grab anything from mulled wine and bratwurst to handcrafted wooden decorations and glass baubles. Plus, plenty more Xmas goodies to bring the festive cheer!
The largest authentic German Christmas market outside of Germany and Austria will open from November 1 to December 23. Also making a comeback on the same day is the ice skating rink at Centenary Square, alongside its iconic Big Wheel. Christmas is here!
2. Watch fantastic fireworks displays on Guy Fawkes Night
Bonfire Night (Wednesday, November 5), the quintessential British holiday, is certain to go off with a bang in Birmingham this year. The biggest Guy Fawkes firework display in Birmingham will take place on October 29 at the Lea Marston eboot site, but there are plenty more in November, too. Just some local events include Weoley Hill Bonfire and Fireworks and Wythall Community Association Bonfire and Fireworks (Saturday, November 1), and Four Oaks Bonfire and Fireworks (Saturday, November 8).
3. See drones light up the sky
Forget about fireworks, the Birmingham night sky is about to come alive with drones on November 7 & 8. WILD: The Drone Light Show welcomes you to an eco-friendly, world-class drone light experience above Edgabston Stadium. From dramatic deserts to icy oceans, journey through five breathtaking worlds of wildlife for a 40-minute show with hundreds of high-quality drones soaring in perfect harmony. It’s the pet-, child- and ear-friendly alternative to fireworks the whole family can enjoy! To get your tickets to WILD: The Drone Light Show, head here.
4. Glide into winter by going ice skating
With the return of the markets, we’ll be embracing everything Christmassy this November—including mulled wine, mince pies and ice skating! Alongside the return of Ice Skate Birmingham on November 1, Tamworth Snowdome is transforming into Santa’s Winter Wonderland on November 15, and Warwick Castle launches its open-air ice rink underneath its towers and turrets on November 22. Just remember, if you get knocked down, get up again!
5. Listen to a magical Candlelight concert
Picture this: A four-string quartet with a performance of your favourite artists in one of Birmingham’s most beautiful buildings. Oh, and all under the gentle glow of candlelight. That sounds pretty special, right? Plus, there’s something for every type of music fan, too! On November 14, discover the best of Bollywood, or how about a tribute to ABBA on November 22? And fans of The Beatles, Hans Zimmer or Coldplay and Ed Sheeran cannot miss out on these candlelight performances.
6. Have ‘a most magical Christmas’ at Selfridges
Disney is back at the Bullring! Teaming up with Selfridges, Disney will open a limited-time store for the festive season, full of Disney Parks treasures. This is part of a wider ‘A Most Magical Christmas’ collaboration that kicks off on November 6—with 18 enchanting Disney windows, over 60 brand collaborations, two bespoke Disney iterations of the iconic Selfridges yellow bag, and a truly unmissable façade that will bring the irresistible magic of Disney to Birmingham. Oh boy!
7. Tuck into this carbonara pizza (with real spaghetti)
The Neapolitan pizza specialists, Pizza Pilgrims, are heading to the West Midlands for their very first Birmingham pizzeria at Grand Central. Tuck into pillowy-crusted Margheritas, fan-favourite Double Pepperoni & Spicy Honey, quirky classics like the Carbonara pizza (yes, with real spaghetti), and the oozy, outrageous 8 Cheese pizza from Monday, November 3.
8. Ride aboard The Polar Express
Hop aboard this immersive Polar Express experience leaving from Birmingham Moor Street. The 1.5-hour-long Christmas train ride lets you relive all the action and adventure of this 2004 children’s classic, theatrically re-created from November 22 until December 23. Come dressed in PJs and see the glowing ‘Northern Lights’, meet Santa and receive your first Christmas gift of the year!
9. See Christmas come alive at Birmingham Cathedral
If the Frankfurt Christmas Market wasn’t enough to get you in the festive mood, head down to Birmingham Cathedral from November 7 to December 24. Christmas in Cathedral Square provides several stalls for crafts, gifts, food and drink from local suppliers at this festive market. Plus, ride on a helter-skelter and grab a pint at the Pigeon in the Park Pub
10. Pick up some Christmas cooking gifts and tips
Just in time for Christmas, The Good Food Show Winter will be at the NEC in Birmingham with a star-studded line-up. Taste seasonal delights, shop for unique gifts, and watch your favourite chefs bring festive recipes to life on stage—including the likes of James Martin, Si King, Lisa Faulkner and Michel Roux. Plus, it’ll be chock-full of British artisanal food and goodies to buy from November 27 to 30.
11. Head to a ballet like you’ve never seen before
Experience ‘Sleeping Beauty’ like never before in this extra special dance and light show featuring dancers in glow-in-the-dark costumes. We call it Ballet fuses classical ballet and modern technology in a timeless tale of the cursed princess awakened by her true love’s kiss. Lighting up the stage (literally), enjoy a kaleidoscope cast of colours defying gravity with leaps and pirouettes in a beautiful production! Get your tickets now for We call it Ballet here.
12. See the most beautiful light trails in and around Birmingham
The “UK’s number one festive light trail” is back at Birmingham Botanical Gardens from Friday, November 28, to Thursday, January 1. Light up your ever-darkening winter evenings with an illuminated journey like no other in the Second City. But from Warwick Castle (November 22) to Trentham Gardens and Winter Glow (November 21), there’s plenty of festive light trails to discover just beyond Birmingham.
13. Travel to Vietnam with this incredible production
In the last days of the Vietnam War, 17 year-old Kim meets and falls in love with an American GI but they are torn apart by the fall of Saigon. For the next three years, she must fight her way back to him, who has no idea he’s fathered a son. This new production of Boublil and Schönberg’s legendary musical, ‘Miss Saigon’, head to The Alexandra in Birmingham from November 18 to 29. The soaring score features original hit songs including: ‘The Heat is On in Saigon’, ‘The Movie in My Mind’, ‘Last Night of the World’ and ‘The American Dream’. To learn more, head here.
14. Listen to the leaves crunch in these local woodlands
In need of a change of scenery? Why not take a trip out and switch off from the world within a woodland blanketed with leaves, with a ton of beautiful routes right on our doorsteps? With around 20 woods recorded by the Woodland Trust within a five-mile radius of Birmingham, there are a ton of beautiful routes right on our doorsteps.
Whether you want to stay nearer the city or head a tad further afield for some stunning sights, there are plenty of woodland walks brimming with shades of auburn and earthy tones for you to explore near Birmingham this autumn. Check out the best woodland walks near Birmingham here.
15. Head to the movies for FREE
The 10-day international film celebration, Birmingham Film Festival, showcases professional and independent films from around the world, comprising a wide range of genres, styles, budgets and topics (November 14 to 23). Better yet, films are screened to the public at Millennium Point or Omniplex for FREE. The best films are then nominated for a range of awards, of which there are over 30 categories, including young filmmakers, local filmmakers and international filmmakers. To learn more about the film festival and what’s showing, head here.
16. Watch the world premiere of a new Andrew Lloyd Webber comedy musical
With original songs by the legendary Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, ‘Sherlock Holmes and the Twelve Days of Christmas’ will make its world premiere at the Birmingham Rep this month (November 14 to January 11). Set in Victorian London, a flurry of performers are suddenly dying mid-scene in the West End. Scotland Yard rules out foul play, but when Sherlock Holmes discovers an intriguing link to The Twelve Days of Christmas, the game is afoot!
17. Creep along to the candlelight tour of the Coffin Works
Halloween may be an October thing, but don’t skip this one-off candlelight tour of the creepy Coffin Works this November 13. Preserving the former Newman Brothers’ manufactory, which produced fittings for the funerals of Winston Churchill, the Queen Mother and Princess Diana, you can explore the museum after hours. To learn more, head here.