Are you looking at places to visit with your children over Easter? Then look no further! I’ve compiled a super handy list of 25 places to visit across the West Midlands that are accessible by National Express West Midlands Buses!
National Express West Midlands
With National Express West Midlands, travelling by bus has never been easier! Gone are the days of solely relying on bus timetables at bus stops (although you can still do this!). On the National Express West Midlands website and mTicket app, you can plan your journey with ease.
All you have to do is type in your postcode and where you plan to go and the website will plan your journey for you. It will even show you how long your journey will take, which bus and what bus stop to get on and get off, and the times of the buses.
With the mTicket app, you no longer need to remember the correct change or keep a tight hold of your paper bus ticket, the app (which is available on IOS and Andriod) allows you to buy and store your bus tickets with ease. When you are ready to travel, all you have to do is select your ticket on the mTicket app, press activate, and show the ticket to the driver. It’s as simple as that!
Bus travel is cheap and convenient, it’s no wonder many families choose to travel by bus rather than a car - particularly if you want to avoid clean air charges, parking fees, and fuel costs. Group Day Savers for up to 5 people travelling together are priced at just £7. Or if you have a travel card or buy an adult West Midlands Day Saver (after 9.30am), up to three children can travel with you for just £1 each! This offer is valid at weekends and after 9.30am Monday to Friday. For more information click here!
Below are some Easter events, activities, and days out that can be accessed by a National Express West Midlands bus.
Birmingham
Cadbury World
Cadbury World, the home of chocolate, are hosting their Freddo’s Easter Egg-Stravaganza from the 2nd of April to the 24th of April. As well as discovering the magic of Cadbury, exploring the origins of cocoa beans and how chocolate is made, riding on the Cadabra ride, and of course, tasting chocolate, join in with Freddo’s brand new live show and complete the chocolately challenge set by Caramel Bunny to receive a mystery prize!
Website: https://www.cadburyworld.co.uk/
Top Tip: When you travel by National Express West Midland Bus, you can save 20% off admission at Cadbury World. Click here for more info!
Price: £21 per adult and £15.50 per child (4-15 years), under 4s free. Family tickets are also available.
Location: Linden Rd, Birmingham B30 1JR.
Bus Route: 61 from Birmingham City Centre then 11A Outer Circle to Woodbrooke Road.
Selly Manor Museum
Selly Manor is a lovely timber-framed Tudor building in the heart of Bournville village, which was once occupied by chocolate manufacturer George Cadbury.
From the 11th of April 2022 to the 22nd of April 2022, Selly Manor is hosting some Easter fun with their “The Great Selly Manor Easter Egg Hunt” event. You and your children can eggsplore the garden and take part in an egg hunt and Easter-themed crafts and games.
Find more information about the event on their website: https://sellymanormuseum.org.uk/events/2022-04-11/the-great-selly-manor-easter-egg-hunt
Website: https://sellymanormuseum.org.uk/
Price: Admission price is £5 per adult, £3 per child (4-16 years), under 4s free. Family tickets £15. Booking required.
Location: Maple Road, Bournville, Birmingham, B30 2AE.
Bus Route: 61 from Birmingham City Centre then 11A Outer Circle to Woodbrooke Road.
Blakesley Hall
Blakesley Hall is a grade ll listed Tudor Hall with beautiful gardens in Yardley and is one of the oldest buildings in Birmingham. On Thursday 14th April between 12pm and 4pm, your children can join in with decorating their own Easter eggs using craft materials. And between the 20th and 24th of April, Blakesley Hall is also hosting an eggs-citing Easter Egg Hunt Trail. Additional charges apply.
Website: https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/blakesley/
Price: £7 per adult, £3 per child (aged 3-15), under 3s free. The Easter activities are an extra £2 per child.
Location: Blakesley Road, Birmingham B25 8RN.
Bus Route: 97 from Birmingham City Centre.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
The Birmingham Botanical Gardens is a 15-acre botanical garden. This Easter they have two exciting events running. From the 15th to the 18th of April, Birmingham Botanical Gardens have a brand new Easter Egg Hunt, a selection of Easter-themed crafts, and a special visit from Wonderland’s very own Alice for a story and sing-a-long!
As well as this, from the 21st to the 23rd of April, Birmingham Botanical Gardens are hosting “Peter Rabbit – The Immersive Adventure”. The experience is an hour long and features dance, puppetry, music, and comedy.
For more information about what’s on at Birmingham Botanical Gardens this Easter head to their website: https://www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk/whatson/
Website: https://www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk/
Price: Admission is £6.75 per adult, under 5s free. Family ticket £19.80. Easter events are an additional charge.
Location: Westbourne Rd, Birmingham B15 3TR.
Bus Route: 24 Platinum from Birmingham City Centre.
Wild Imaginations
Wild Imaginations is an outdoor stay and playgroup based in Harborne, Birmingham. The activities are all child-led so your little ones can have fun exploring the mud kitchen, water walls, musical stations, and more! They are hosting special Easter sessions this Easter on Monday 11th and Friday 15th. The sessions last an hour and a half and the session includes all activities, entry for up to two adults with a hot drink each, and a themed photo from a professional photographer.
Website: https://wildimaginations.co.uk/
Price: £10 per child, 50% discount for siblings. Baby in arms free.
Location: Grove Tennants Hall, 99 Grove Lane, Harborne, B17 0QT.
Bus Route: X22 from Birmingham City Centre.
Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum
Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum is an award-winning science museum in the heart of Birmingham City Centre. The museum has lots of exciting exhibits including MiniBrum, a 4k Planetarium (£2.50 per person per show in addition to admission price), a Science Garden, and so much more!
Website: https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank
Price: £14 per adult (16+), £10.25 per child (3-15 years), free for under 3s.
Top Tip: Until the 31st December 2022, you can get 2 for 1 entry at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum when you travel by National Express bus. Click here to find out more about the offer.
Location: Millennium Point, Curzon Street Birmingham, B4 7XG.
Bus Route: 87 Platinum from Dudley Town Centre. Or X51 Platinum from Walsall.
LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre
There are eight family attractions and two rides at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Birmingham. Your children will love exploring MINILAND®, the 4D Cinema, riding on Kingdom Quest and Merlin’s Apprentice, playing on the soft play, and of course, making lots of LEGO creations.
Website: https://www.legolanddiscoverycentre.com/birmingham/
Price: See website for details.
Top Tip: Tickets are cheaper when you book online and if you would like multi-attraction tickets for LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre and SEA LIFE Birmingham.
Location: LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Arena, King Edwards Road, Birmingham B1 2AA.
Bus Route: 24 Platinum from Birmingham City Centre.
National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham
National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham is a popular family attraction. The aquarium has the UK’s only 360° Ocean Tunnel where you and your children can spot sharks, stingrays, turtles, and tropical fish swimming overhead and underneath. SEA LIFE Birmingham is also the first UK attraction to have sea otters! As well as this, you can explore the penguins, interactive rock pool, and marine habitats and displays. There are also lots of cool photo opportunities throughout.
Website: https://www.visitsealife.com/birmingham/
Price: See website for details.
Top Tip: Tickets are cheaper when you book online and if you would like multi-attraction tickets for LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre and SEA LIFE Birmingham.
Location: Eleven Brindley Place, The Water's Edge, Birmingham B1 2HL.
Bus Route: 24 Platinum from Birmingham City Centre.
Sandwell & Dudley
New Square Shopping Centre
The New Square Shopping Centre in West Bromwich is holding an Easter Bunny Bakery on Thursday 14th April 2022 from 11am to 4pm. This is a free activity where your children can create their own bunny cookies before embarking on an Easter egg hunt with a tasty chocolate reward!
Not far from the New Square Shopping Centre is Sandwell Valley Country Park, so you could do both!
Website: https://www.newsquarewb.com/
Price: FREE
Location: 1b New Square, Cronehills Linkway, West Bromwich, B70 7PP.
Bus Route: 74 Bus from Dudley.
Forge Mill Farm
Forge Mill Farm is relaunching on the 9th of April – just in time for the Easter half term. The relaunch will include a new accessible and interactive farm trail, new farm animals, new events, and a straw bale adventure zone.
Website: https://www.sandwell.gov.uk/info/200341/sandwell_valley/742/forge_mill_farm
Price: TBC
Location: Forge Lane, West Bromwich B71 3SZ.
Bus Route: 16 Platinum from Birmingham Moor Street Station. Or 74 from Dudley then 46 from West Bromwich Bus Station.
Sandwell Valley Country Park
Sandwell Valley Country Park is hosting their “Easter at the Valley” event throughout the Easter half term (9th – 24th April). The event includes the new Rabbit Village at Sandwell Valley Visitor Centre where you can meet their rescue bunnies in their brand new beautiful village homes, as well as the opportunity to meet the Easter Bunny, and enjoy entertainment and crafts!
Website: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/sandwell
Price: £6 per adult, £8 per child (2-12 years), under 2s £4. But if you would prefer your children not to have an Easter Bunny visit or chocolate gift, prices are £4 per child and free for under 2s.
Location: Salter's Lane, West Bromwich B71 4BG.
Bus Route: 45 from West Bromwich Bus Station. Or 4M from Walsall Saddlers Centre to Hargate Arms. Or 16 Platinum from Birmingham Moor Street Station.
Wren’s Nest Nature Reserve
Wren’s Nest Nature Reserve is a nature reserve in Dudley covering 101 acres. The geological site is considered the most diverse fossil site in Britain, with over 700 types of fossils discovered. Your children can learn how Dudley used to be a tropic sea, explore plants, flowers, trees, butterflies, insects, and even go fossil hunting!
Website: https://www.dudley.gov.uk/things-to-do/nature-reserves/wrens-nest-national-nature-reserve/
Price: FREE
Location: Wrens Hill Road, Dudley DY1 3SB.
Bus Route: 2 from Dudley Town Centre. Or 8 Platinum from Wolverhampton.
Dudley Canal & Tunnel Trust
Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust is a boat trip that takes you on a journey through 428 million years of history.
On the 10th, 11th, 12th,19th, 20th, and 21st of April, Dudley Canal and Tunnel Trust are hosting some fun-filled Easter crafts in their Little Skipper’s craft room. Activities include hand-printed bunnies, Easter Egg cards, a puppet theatre to play with, and lollipop characters. The volunteers will also be reading stories and sharing tales of Easter adventures!
Tickets for the Little Skipper’s craft room are £3.00 per child, adults and under 1s are free! If you’d like to add on a 45-minute boat trip, Little Skippers visitors will receive a discounted price of £1.00 off per person!
On the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th of April 2022, they are also running Alice in Wonderland-themed boat trips. Alice and characters will be there to entertain your children and the boat trip will take you through the tunnels and caverns where you can spot the hidden Easter eggs and win a prize! The cost of this is £10.00 per person. Under 3’s go free.
Website: https://dudleycanaltrust.org.uk/
Location: The Portal Building, Birmingham New Road, Dudley DY1 4SB.
Bus Route: 11 from Dudley Town Centre to Tipton Cross Roads. Or Bus 11 from Walsall to Newport Street.
Sycamore Adventure
Sycamore Adventure is an adventure playground in Dudley with lots of play equipment including climbing frames, swings, and slides, tricycles and cozy coupes, a sandpit, a mud kitchen, water play, and so much more. Sycamore Adventure has different play sessions available, including family sessions, 8-13-year-old only sessions, and sessions for children and young people with additional needs.
I would definitely recommend Sycamore Adventure if you are local to Dudley or Wolverhampton.
Website: https://www.sycamoreadventure.co.uk/
Price: £4 donation per child if you visit during the school holidays. There’s no need to prebook but you do need to register on their website if it is your first visit.
Location: Sycamore Green, Dudley DY1 3QE.
Bus Route: 2 from Dudley Town Centre. Or 1 from Wolverhampton Police Station.
Sedgley Adventure Centre
Sedgley Adventure Centre is a small petting farm that regularly holds great events and activities for families. They have lots of activities running over the Easter half term.
On the 9th and 10th of April, Sedgley Adventure Centre is hosting a “Bunnies Adventures” event which includes an adventure trail, entrance to the farm, meet a mascot character, and more! This is priced at £15 per child, adults £2 each, or a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) for £25.
On the 11th, 13th, and 15th of April, there is an Easter egg hunt which involves an Easter egg hunt in the woods to find chocolate eggs, collect and paint your very own egg that has been laid by their very own chickens, and more! The prices for this particular event are £9 per child and £3 per adult. Booking essential.
Website: https://sedgleyadventurecentre.co.uk/
Location: Sedgley Golf Club, Sandyfields Road, Sedgley, Dudley DY3 3DL.
Bus Route: 27 from Dudley. Or 27 from Wolverhampton.
Easter Trail at Mary Stevens Park
Mary Stevens Park is a very popular Victorian Park in Stourbridge. There is a newly renovated playground, fitness area, a big lake to walk around and feed the ducks, as well as a splash pad. You can even enjoy an ice cream from the tea room.
On the 9th and 10th of April, Mary Stevens Park has organised an Easter Trail in aid of Mary Stevens Hospice. The Easter trail involves a train ride, trail map, Easter craft station, sack race, meet and greet with a furry friend, Alice in Wonderland Dance, and a gift from the Easter Bunny.
Website: To book tickets click here.
Price: £7 per child and £3 per adult.
Location: Mary Stevens Park, Stourbridge, DY8 2AA.
Bus Route: 7 from Stourbridge Town Centre. Or 6 from Dudley Town Centre.
Brockswood Animal Sanctuary
Brockswood Animal Sanctuary is reopening on 9th April – just in time for Easter half term. The animals at Brockswood Animal Sanctuary are rescued. The sanctuary is home to sheep, goats, ponies, pigs, birds of prey, turtles, emu, raccoons, rabbits, and more but these animals vary depending on what animals the sanctuary has taken in.
On the 9th of April 10-12, there is also a Bushcraft and Nature Fun session taking place, which is run with Wild Times Adventure School, Here your children can explore a range of nature themes such as shelter building, fire lighting, natural navigation, animal tracking, and using tools. This session is aimed at children aged 6 and over and is priced at £6.50 per child.
Website: https://www.brockswood.org.uk/
Price: TBC
Location: Catholic Lane, Sedgley, DY3 3YE.
Bus Route: 1 from Dudley Town Centre.
Black Country Living Museum
The Black Country Living Museum is an open-air living museum in Dudley. Covering 26 acres, you can discover over 300 years of history with reconstructed shops and houses, take part in live demonstrations, old-fashioned street games, visit the vintage cinema and old sweet shop, and of course, taste traditional Black Country fish and chips!
Website: https://bclm.com/
Price: £19.95 per adult, £9.95 per child (3-5 years old). Family tickets are available.
Top Tip: When you travel by National Express West Midland Bus, you can save 25% off admission to the Black Country Living Museum. Click here for more info.
Location: Tipton Road, Dudley DY1 4SQ.
Bus Route: 11A from Dudley Town Centre.
Wolverhampton
Wightwick Manor & Gardens
Part of the National Trust, Wightwick Manor is a Victorian timber-framed manor house set in 17 acres of gardens. Between Saturday 9th April and Monday 18th April from 10am-4pm, Wightwick Manor and Gardens have an Easter Trail running around the gardens. The cost for the Trail is £3 per child which includes a trail sheet, pencil, and chocolate egg at the end. Admission costs also apply.
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wightwick-manor-and-gardens
Price: Admission is £13 per adult, £6.50 per child (over 5), family tickets are available. Free entry for National Trust members and under 5's. The Easter Egg Trail pack is £3.
Location: Wightwick Bank, Wolverhampton WV6 8EE.
Bus Route: 8 Platinum from Dudley Town Centre then 9 from Wolverhampton Bus Station to Wightwick Bank.
Wolverhampton Adventure Golf
Located just outside of Wolverhampton City Centre is Wolverhampton Adventure Golf.
The 18-hole dinosaur-themed outdoor golf course is perfect for Dino fans! With waterfalls, crashed cars, rapids, and escaped raptors there is something to see around every corner.
Website: https://www.wolverhamptonadventuregolf.co.uk/
Price: Ticket prices are available here.
Location: Wrottesley Park Road, Perton, Wolverhampton WV6 7HL.
Bus Route: 10 from Wolverhampton Bus Station.
Wolves Play Café
Wolves Play Café runs regular stay and play sessions at the Mander Centre Community Hub, the Gatis Community Centre, and Boundary Way Community Garden in Wolverhampton. Wolves Play Café holds Early Explorers sessions for children from birth to four years of age, as well as Wolves in the Woods outdoor sessions for under 7s where children can explore varied natural play activities to support their development.
Website: https://www.wolvesplaycafe.org/
Price: See website for details.
Location: Mander Centre Community Hub
Bus Route: All session locations are accessible by bus. See National Express West Midlands Journey Planner for more information.
Coventry
The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum
The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum is the perfect place for you and your children to learn more about the history of Coventry and immerse yourself in some art and culture. After all, Coventry is the UK’s City of Culture this year.
Website: https://www.theherbert.org/
Price: FREE
Location: Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Jordan Well, Coventry CV1 5QP.
Kenilworth Castle
Kenilworth Castle is a vast medieval fortress first built in the 1120s. The site is among Britain’s biggest historical sites! From the 2nd to 24th of April, Kenilworth Castle is hosting an Easter Adventure Quest. You and your children can explore Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Gardens, hunt for clues, and discover traditional Easter games like egg and spoon races and egg rolling. Track down the Easter eggs to claim your chocolate treat and certificate. The Easter Adventure Quest costs £1.50 per child in addition to admission.
Price: £14.20 per adult, £8.50 per child. Family ticket £36.90.
Location: Castle Green, Off Castle Road, Kenilworth CV8 1NG.
Bus Route: 12X Platinum from Coventry Town Centre then 11 Platinum to Abbey Fields.
Coventry Transport Museum
Coventry Transport Museum has the largest publicly owned collection of British vehicles, including the two fastest cars on the planet. Located in Coventry City Centre, the museum is a great place for car enthusiasts and history buffs to learn about British engineering
Website: https://www.transport-museum.com/
Price: £14 per adult, £7 per child, under 4s free. Family tickets are available.
Location: Millennium Place, Hales Street, Coventry CV1 1JD.
Bus Route: X1 Platinum from Birmingham Airport.
Albany Theatre
The Albany Theatre has some amazing family-friendly performances this Easter half term. Your children can meet life-like Dinosaurs face-to-face in the new Dinosaur Adventure Live on the 14th of April. On the 16th of April, there are two performances of the ever-popular fairytale, Rapunzel. Then between the 21st and 23rd of April, Wing-It Theatre returns to the Albany Theatre with a spectacular stage version of the Disney classic, The Little Mermaid.
Website: https://www.albanytheatre.co.uk/
Price: Prices vary depending on the show.
Location: Albany Road, Coventry CV5 6JQ.
Bus Route: X1 Platinum from Birmingham Airport.
There are so many great events and activities happening this Easter. There really is something for everyone! Travelling by National Express West Midlands buses has never been easier so hop on and let them take care of you this Easter!
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Disclaimer: This is a paid post in collaboration with National Express West Midlands.
*All information correct at time of posting.