Business Details
Explore Birmingham's History & Culture at Our Museums
Birmingham Museums is a charitable trust dedicated to preserving and sharing Birmingham's cultural heritage through nine historic venues and a collection of over one million objects. Our mission combines educational outreach, community engagement, and conservation expertise to make history accessible to all. With a legacy spanning centuries, we curate immersive exhibitions that showcase Pre-Raphaelite art, industrial innovation, and local archaeology. Our team of specialists delivers tailored school programs, venue hire services, and conservation consultancy while maintaining rigorous standards in collections management.Through community projects and digital initiatives, we ensure our collections remain a dynamic resource for learning and creativity. Our commitment to accessibility includes sensory-friendly facilities and flexible programming for diverse audiences. As stewards of Birmingham's cultural assets, we balance heritage preservation with contemporary relevance through partnerships and public programming.
Services
Museum Exhibitions
Educational Programs
Venue Hire
Conservation Services
Community Projects
Highlights and features
- We offer access to over 1 million historical objects across 9 venues
- Our venues host unique events in historic settings
- We provide educational programs for schools and community groups
- Our conservation team preserves cultural heritage with specialist expertise
- We support community projects with local engagement initiatives
Services
Museum Exhibitions
Our nine venues showcase Birmingham's heritage through permanent and temporary exhibitions. Thinktank Science Museum features 200+ interactive displays, while Aston Hall preserves Jacobean architecture and ghost stories. The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter highlights industrial history, and Sarehole Mill connects to Tolkien's literary legacy. All exhibitions combine educational content with visitor engagement.
Educational Programs
We deliver curriculum-linked workshops at multiple venues and provide Museum in a Box loans containing 200+ artefact collections. On-site teaching accommodates all key stages, with specialist sessions in art, history, and science. Resources include digital archives and teacher support materials, while our education newsletter keeps schools informed about new offerings.
Venue Hire
Historic venues accommodate events from 14 to 250 guests. Thinktank offers modern conference facilities while Aston Hall provides Jacobean grandeur. Pricing varies by venue with special rates for community organisations. Services include AV equipment, catering options, and event coordination support for weddings, conferences, and private functions.
Conservation Services
Our accredited conservators provide investigative conservation, collections care, and archaeological archiving. Services include condition assessments, treatment plans, and preventive conservation strategies. We offer training programs for professionals and bespoke solutions for museums, galleries, and private collectors seeking expert preservation of cultural materials.
Community Projects
We develop participatory programs that empower communities to shape our work. Initiatives include the Citizens' Jury decision-making forum, community room hire subsidies, and collaborative exhibition development. Projects focus on wellbeing improvement, story-sharing, and diversifying museum narratives through grassroots partnerships with local organisations and charities.
Questions
What are Birmingham Museums' opening hours?
Most venues operate Wednesday-Sunday 10am-5pm. Thinktank opens daily during school holidays. Check individual venue pages for specific closures and event-day schedules.
Are tickets free for all museums?
General admission is free for members. Standard tickets apply for some venues like Aston Hall. Pre-booking is recommended for guaranteed entry during busy periods.
Can I host a wedding at Birmingham Museums?
Yes, we offer civil ceremonies at Aston Hall, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, and Blakesley Hall. Reception capacities range from 40-120 guests across our venues.
Do you offer educational resources for schools?
We provide curriculum-linked workshops, Museum in a Box loans with 200+ artefact collections, and digital resources. Bookings can be made via our dedicated education team.
How can I access the museum collection?
The collection of 800,000 objects is accessible through exhibitions, research appointments, and our digital asset library. Contact us for specific object inquiries or archive access.
Are there conservation services available for private collections?
Our professional conservators offer services including condition assessments, treatment plans, and preventive conservation for both institutional and private collections.
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Reviews (7)
Suleman
Aug 24, 2021
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A great museum. Went here on a Saturday afternoon and whilst it was quite busy, the layout meant there was still lots of space and also there are more than enough members of staff around. There is a very nice cafe/ tearoom to purchase food and drinks. Again lots of staff meaning customers get great service.
Madrassati - Tanger
Apr 27, 2021
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I used to go there often. Lost of things to see if you take time to analyse each thing. sometimes they have dedicated exhibits. The entrance is free of charge.
Darren O'Byrne
Nov 07, 2020
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Something for everyone here. Magical place with ever changing exhibitions and displays. Lots to learn and enjoy, any ages, any interests. Accessibe, free (some side exhibitions cost extra) and right in the heart of the action in the city centre. Would recommend to anyone.
Patricia Vallely
Jul 27, 2020
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What fantastic afternoon, we spent there! Beautiful building, inside and out! Lots to see especially this week as it's half term. Saw stuff they were showing the children that were part of my childhood my kids were bright eyed over the exhibits and were interested to see and hear what the staff was explaining to them. The cafe was absolutely beautiful, and tastefully furnished. The whole place was a joy to go through and the kids enjoyed it as much as me!there was lots of exhibits to see and some to interact with, they also had a room for the kids to play in. The staff were fantastic and
Hannah Trotter
Jul 24, 2020
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This museum was massive! The building itself is beautiful and inside there is so much to explore. Art and photography from beautiful to confusing to fun. If you like art there's bound to be something here you'll enjoy. I had a great time and would definitely come back again as I didn't have enough time to explore it all.
Cartoony Gaz
Jul 21, 2020
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Such a beautiful place to visit if you appreciate ancient relics and old buildings, as well as fascinating art. Sumerian clay work, Anglo-Saxon jewellery and an Egyptian mummy have captured me. These objects are priceless and older than many would believe. The art is mind blowing. Especially the Lucifer statue. There is much more to see. Give yourself time to enjoy this place. Savour it.
J. Bruce
Sep 21, 2019
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Great museum in the centre of Birmingham. Basic coffee shop inside but staffed by a lovely girl. Brilliant little section on Egyptians & an interesting temporary exhibit on the sinister aggression of cuteness. Lots of art works - well restored and looked after. I enjoy take photos of these for classical art memes. Pics attached; have fun captioning then!
