West Midlands family days out with Stacey and three 🚌

West Midlands family days out with Stacey and three 🚌 

It’s that time of year again, the schools have closed their doors for six whole weeks and us parents have to think about things to do each day to keep the little ones occupied. With that in mind and the fact we are currently living in crazy times with fuel prices rising, it’s definitely time to start using the bus more, and National Express West Midlands has you covered! 

I am here to give you a run down of budget friendly and free activities you can enjoy as a family in the West Midlands, making the most of all the bus routes on offer using their fab Group Day Saver. I’ll cover a range of options so there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Coventry

A great area in the West Midlands to have some family fun is Coventry, which can easily be reached by hopping on the X1.

First up is a super fun activity running this summer which will only cost £9.99 for a family. The Coventry Spy Mission Treasure Trail will have you code busting and clue cracking all over Coventry city centre. Trails are self-guided and can be instantly downloaded from the Treasure Trail website. Follow the Trail, solve the clues and see the sights of the town!

Once you complete that you can stop off at their world class Transport Museum. It’s home to the largest collection of British Road Transport in the world with over 230 cars and commercial vehicles, 250 cycles and 100 motorcycles. Fun for all the family and only £7 for 5-16 year olds, 4 and under go free! 

Finally if you are after a beautiful park setting to enjoy for the day then take a trip on the number 85 and head to Coombe Abbey Park. It offers 500 acres of beautiful gardens, woodland, lakeside walks, and bird watching. Perfect for picnics, games and family fun!

Birmingham 

A great spot to visit in the city is Moseley Bog & Joys Woods, the childhood playground of The Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien, who lived nearby. It’s a beautiful place where children can explore fields, woods and of course the Moseley Bog itself. It’s open at all times and is free to enjoy. 

A short walk away is Sarehole Mill, which is a 250 year old watermill, famous for its association with author J.R.R Tolkien. The mill is open on Friday and Saturdays and admission tickets are for guided tours. You can also enjoy yummy pizza in the Courtyard. During the summer holidays they are also running Nature Explores. From pond dipping to tree rubbing each session will involve different activities and is just £5.

Another must visit is one of my favourite little spots in Birmingham, Martineau Gardens. It’s a beautiful community garden and charity, meaning it’s run by donations. It’s a great outdoor escape to let little ones blow off some steam with two and a half acres of land. Bring a picnic and let them enjoy the play area whilst you enjoy a hot brew.

A few short stops away from here is Birmingham Botanical Gardens which has a range of activities throughout the summer such as The Jungle Book Experience and Pirates of Penzance - it really is a must visit for families. Highlights of the gardens include the stunning glasshouses, awesome adventure playground, tearoom and the beautiful Japanese Gardens.

Stourbridge

Last up is Stourbridge, the number 9 will take you there and you can enjoy a family day out as there’s plenty to do! 

Mary Stevens Park is a great place to visit as they have activities all year round including a fab water play area in the warmer months. There is a large play area and cute café in the tea gardens. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic and some sun and won’t cost you anything.

If you have younger ones up to the age of 11 that need to blow off some steam whilst you enjoy a cuppa then head over to Chilly Kiddy's. It’s one of biggest soft play areas in the West Midlands, with over 8,000 square feet of endless fun! Prices start from just £1 so let them go crazy whilst you relax (until they drag you in!)

Last but not least is Crystal Leisure Centre. If you are looking for a family friendly swimming session this is the place to go. 

It offers plenty of fun for the whole family. With waves, rapids, slides, fan sprays and other water features you're guaranteed to have a splashing good time.

Value for money

My girls really enjoy traveling on the bus, we play lots of games and they enjoy visiting new places in their hometown. We love to use the West Midlands Day Saver as it allows you to add a child for just £1!

With the money we save by using the bus we can enjoy more fun days out. I think it’s definitely time to dump the pump, and avoid the race for a parking space when out and about and enjoy where National Express West Midlands buses can take you.