School’s out for the summer, and whether you have kids or not, the longer days and (hopefully) better weather give us all the opportunity to get out and about and explore our region. Here are our top picks for fun-filled summer days.
Shropshire Petal Fields
Located outside Newport, this Instagrammable attraction boasts acres of flower fields to look at, smell, and pose in front of! They have a huge array of different blooms, plus a woodland walk and a café where you can relax with a drink and a snack if you don’t want to bring your own picnic. Purchase a morning or afternoon ticket, but once you’re in you can stay all day. Don’t forget to buy a bouquet of freshly cut flowers on your way out! https://www.shropshirepetalfields.co.uk/
Wild Zoological Park
Located on a vineyard (yes you read that correctly!) in South Staffordshire, what this zoo lacks in size it makes up for in quality of the animal interactions. You can enter Wallaby, Emu, Lorekeet and Meerkat enclosures self-guided, or attend a keepers’ talk or animal handling at the other exhibits. Plus they have fantastic animal shows throughout the day, including the UK’s largest and most spectacular bird show featuring birds of prey, storks, parrots and many other birds. It’s also possible to book a Zoo Keeper Experience where you can feed the animals, or even host a kids’ birthday party there! https://www.wildzoo.co.uk/
Droitwich Lido
One of the jewels of the West Midlands has got to be Droitwich Lido, one of the UK’s last remaining inland, open-air, saltwater swimming pool. Stretch your muscles in the 40m pool, dash through the spray in the wet play area, and grab some lunch from the excellent Little Al’s café. Book in advance via their website. https://www.riversfitness.co.uk/droitwichlido
Open Air Theatre
A great British tradition going back centuries, nothing says summer like an evening watching theatre in the outdoors, accompanied by a picnic and a chilled bottle of wine. Almost all the National Trust and other similar properties in the West Midlands have outdoor theatre events planned between now and September. Just remember to take your camping chairs, and a variety of outfit options to cover all weather eventualities, as the performances tend to go on regardless of rain! https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/whats-on/outdoor-spots-for-theatre-music-and-film
Animal Sculpture Hunts
Both Birmingham and Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton Coldfield are hosting animal themed art trails this summer. Birmingham has Bears dotted all over the city centre, and Lichfield, Tamworth and Sutton have 60 elephants scattered across the three towns. These trails are a great way to get some steps in and explore these areas, plus there’s the option to purchase one of the sculptures in a charity auction once the trail closes. https://www.marchoftheelephants.co.uk/art-trail/
Birmingham Restaurant Tour
For the foodies among you, the Restaurant Tour is a great way to sample the highlights of Birmingham’s dining scene. Taking place on various Sundays throughout the year, you pay £79 per person which gets you a small plate and matching wine at 6 different restaurants. Then you simply stroll between them along your personalised pre-arranged route (to avoid everyone arriving at the same restaurant at the same time!) between the hours of 12 and 5pm. The summer dates are 28th July for restaurants in the Colmore Business District, or 25th August for restaurants in and around The Mailbox. https://www.restauranttour.co.uk/
