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Half Term comes to Paradise

By Caroline Rudge, Estate Operations Manager, Paradise Birmingham

We know it can be hard trying to find a city centre base from which you can entertain, feed and inspire your kids all at the same time.

But this is why we’re promoting Paradise as one of the best family-friendly destinations in the city for this coming half-term holidays.

With easy access, including public transport with tram, train and bus connections, the estate lies at the very heart of Birmingham and is ready to welcome you with plenty of places to eat, relax and have fun between the events going on around the city.

This includes our own unique leisure activities like F1®Arcade which welcomes 7 to 17 year olds throughout the day until 6pm, with value for money family experience packages available as well as plenty of satisfying food and refreshing mocktails.

Alternatively, while you’re in and around the Paradise estate, don’t forget to check out our full range of great family-friendly restaurants: New restaurants & bars in Birmingham – Paradise Birmingham

With several great restaurants and cafés, as well as world-class venues all close by, you won’t need to travel far to find something amazing for you and your family to enjoy – with most of the major attractions around us free to enter.

So, what exactly is happening during this autumn half-term week?

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

One of the finest art galleries in the UK that tells the story of our great city as well as hosting the world’s finest collection of Pre-Raphaelite art, there’s plenty of cool sights to catch at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery on Chamberlain Square this week, including:

Town Hall & Symphony Hall

At the city’s famous Grade I listed Town Hall (Chamberlain Square) and award-winning Symphony Hall (Centenary Square), two blockbuster venues are offering a whole number of events over half term, all of which can be booked at Home | B:Music

  • Swan Lake Family Fun with Birmingham Royal Ballet on Saturday 24 October (tickets Symphony Hall/B:Music) in Symphony Hall’s Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space
  • A unique showing of How To Train Your Dragon 2 on the big screen on Saturday 24 October with its symphonic score played live by the City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (tickets from Symphony Hall/B:Music)
  • Classical Organ music with Thomas Trotter at the Town Hall on Monday 26 October at 1pm (tickets from the Town Hall/B:Music)
  • Jazz Friday (free) at 5pm on Friday 30 October, featuring Kolosso, in Symphony Hall

 

University of Birmingham Exchange

This is a great venue on Broad Street that has a large café as well as exhibition space (including the amazing basement full of old bank vaults and safe rooms) that is open every day during half term with a number of family friendly events. Find out more: The Exchange – Events. Exhibition. Cafe. – University of Birmingham

  • Rise of the Phoenix: Fantasy Family Day on Saturday 24 October from 11am to 3pm, free of charge. A great, hands-on event for 5-10 year olds.
  • Make Your Bed event from 9am to 12pm on Wednesday 28 October. Uncover the stories that can be found in our own bedrooms at this creative workshop! £5 per child.
  • Halloween Event: Everyday to Eerie is a spooky event for all the family from 10:30am to 12pm on Saturday 31 October, £5 per child. Scary fancy dress welcome!

Library of Birmingham

Birmingham’s landmark library on Centenary Square is more than just a repository of books: with its cutting edge architecture it is an attraction in its own right, and is one of the top ten most visited buildings in the UK.

With outstanding views from its two garden terraces looking out over the city, it’s also home to the Shakespeare Memorial Room, encased by its own golden rotunda, which dates back to 1882.

Home to the largest collection of Shakespeare first editions and international editions in the world, it helps bring the story of literature and the stage to life.

This half term the library is hosting a number of children’s authors visits, including:

Serena Patel, author of the Anisha Accidental Detective series, visits on Friday 30 October between 2:00pm to 3:00pm and again between 3:15pm to 4:15pm.

Catherine Barr, author of Cities Going Wild, visits on Saturday 31 October from 1:00pm to 1:45pm.

Make your way to the Children’s Library on the lower ground floor for these free sessions.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre

Next door to the Library of Birmingham, the city’s top-class producing theatre has an all-round schedule that caters to a diversity of tastes throughout the autumn and winter.

Enjoy a truly magical production of Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman for all the family, on every day from Saturday 20 October until Sunday 1

November with plenty of matinee showings available (tickets from £25).

Find out more: Home Page | Birmingham Rep

And while you’re in and around Paradise, check out our full range of great family-friendly restaurants and cafés, including the soon to open Stick ‘n’ Sushi: New restaurants & bars in Birmingham – Paradise Birmingham