Free things to see & do by bus

Who said fun had to be expensive?

Everyone loves a good day out, but isn’t it so much better when it’s free? With people watching their wallets a little more carefully these days, we’ve put together a list of amazing free things to do across the West Midlands and Coventry.

Discover amazing works of art

It's great to experience the peace and quiet of a gallery. And luckily, Birmingham and the surrounding areas have plenty of them to enjoy.

The Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery has been a staple in the city centre for decades and features a line-up of activities and exhibitions that are sure to please the whole family. Watch out for Wonderland: Birmingham’s Cinema Stories coming at the end of April.

Alternatively there’s Ikon Gallery in Brindley Place, which also features some fantastic workshops and events. (accessible on many city centre routes, including the 23 and 24 Platinum services).

Meanwhile in Walsall, The New Art Gallery is a beautifully modern space that has a range of great exhibits and ways to get involved. Check out Sketching Sundays, an afternoon of relaxed drawings based on the gallery’s collections. (accessible on the 41 and 529 routes)

Explore the world of literature

The Library of Birmingham, one of the city’s most recognisable buildings, is floor after floor of incredible literature. And best of all it’s free for you to wander at your heart’s content. The library also offers excellent work spaces and amazing views of the entire city centre.

Don’t miss out on a great chance to find your next favourite book for free!

Relax in your favourite park

Of course popping over to your favourite park is free, but you may not realise how many facilities they can offer you. (Although some may come with a small charge).

Moseley’s Cannon Hill Park is full of things to do for kids and adults alike. From riding around in a giant swan boat to tennis and mini golf, there’s a lot to enjoy for a very small fee. What is free, however, is access to The MAC (Midlands Arts Centre) a great gallery, cinema and events space that always has a full schedule planned. (accessible on the 1, 1S, 35 and 41 services).

Other parks you should visit for a great time outdoors include War Memorial Park in Coventry, which hosts a free weekly parkrun on Saturday mornings and the kids’ Splash 'n' Play Park in the summer months. (accessible on the 9 Platinum, 12X Platinum, 9S, 24, 25 and 25A services). As well as West Park, one of the most popular in Wolverhampton. (accessible on the 6, 6A and 76 services).

Get creative for a good cause

When it comes to free things to do it’s always good to give back when you can. Birmingham Open Media (BOM) brings together art, science and technology to offer great exhibitions, workshops and education for adults and kids.

Meanwhile, Eastside Projects is a non-profit organisation and free gallery that allows people to get involved in public art projects and create together as a community.

Support independent markets

While you might not get any freebies whilst walking around, visiting an independent market is a great way to support local businesses, even if all you can do is help spread the word.

Red Brick Market in Digbeth encourages sustainability and social responsibility, aiding in dozens of small businesses getting their start and selling amazing products on site. The market is a labyrinth of artwork, jewellery, homeware and more, set to a soundtrack of classic tunes. (accessible on many city centre routes including the 2, 3, 4, 5, 60 and 6 Platinum).

Elsewhere, Coventry’s Fargo Village has become one of the most beloved areas of the city. Catch one of the regular events such as their weekly games night or musical performances, or just browse local favourites like Stripclub Streetfood or Just Dropped In Records. (accessible on the 4, 74A, 74B. 74S services).

Learn all about our favourite thing, transport!

We might be biased but we think this museum is pretty great. Since 1980, Coventry Transport Museum has been one of the city’s main attractions.

Your free entry will gain you access to a huge collection of classic cars, motorcycles and more! Plus, there are fantastic events for families. We recommend the Women in Motorsport exhibition which runs to the end of May, and the Make & Play engineering series.

The Transport Museum benefits from it’s city centre location, a stones throw from Pool Meadow Bus Station. The Station is a stop on most Coventry routes and even coaches from further afield.

Have anything you love to see and do for free in the West Midlands? We’d love to hear more, so tag us in our socials below today.