Take the train to the purple station to discover the village that chocolate built and everything this leafy, history-steeped area of the city has to offer.
Smell chocolate in the breeze
A guide to Bournville without a mention of Cadbury World would be nothing short of criminal. Known as the home of Chocolate, the Cadbury brothers first moved here in 1879 and the brand has been growing ever since. On your visit you’ll find out how chocolate is made, see the factory in action and enjoy a few freebies while you’re at it. But if that’s not enough, it’s also home to the world’s largest Cadbury shop, where you can buy all the wonky bars on the cheap, so fill your boots!
Drink in one of the UK's best pubs
Head over to Attic Brew Co., winner of the West Midlands' Best Pub at the National Pub and Bar Awards 2023, and enjoy a few of their lagers and IPAs brewed on site. They're fast becoming a community favourite, regularly hosting comedy nights and artisan markets packed with local designers, artists and makers. (And, we know, it's technically in Stirchley but what's a few hundred metres between friends?)
Street food Fridays at Rowheath Pavilion
This Grade II listed building is a longstanding focal point of the local area. Since it was built in the late 1920s, Rowheath Pavilion has served as home to local sports clubs and community groups, but in recent years it’s come into its own by hosting seasonal markets, outdoor cinema screenings and Street Food Fridays – where you’ll find a whole host of tasty vendors each and every week.
Take a break from adulting
Just down the road lives RUSH UK, a huge playground for kids and adults alike. Let off steam with a bounce around 300 square feet of trampolines featuring tumble lanes, dodgeball courts, huge foam pits and giant assault courses.
Pose with King Kong
Your eyes are not deceiving you. Sitting atop JJs Carpet Shop on the Pershore Road (between Bournville and Stirchley) is indeed a giant 10ft gorilla statue. The landmark pays homage to a much-loved King Kong statue that once lived outside the Bull Ring four decades ago. Don’t ask questions.
Music from the Carillion
This impressive looking landmark doubles as one of the finest and largest instruments of its kind in Great Britain. The Carillon – which is essentially a keyboard attached to series of suspended cast-bronze bells - is played regularly throughout the year. Expect tunes on Saturdays between February and December at midday and 3pm.
Get some fresh air
Bournville Park is a slice of tranquillity that lies at the heart of the village. The park has been central to community life since the Village Trust first agreed for space either side of the Bourn Brook (the village’s namesake) to become a park in 1906.
For walks that combine pleasant stretches of Birmingham’s famous waterways with park land and city streets, Bournville is the perfect starting place. Feeling active? There’s a 13-mile circular route that takes in Birmingham’s IKON gallery, Gas Street Basin, Cadbury World and the Rea Valley.
Test your grey matter
For just £1 per player you can take part in one of the most popular pub quizzes in all of Birmingham. The Country Girl has a good reputation for quizzes that really test your grey matter. We’re not kidding about its acclaim - get there early, or you might not get a seat! Search ‘The Country Girl quiz’ on Facebook for full details.
