The Vine

Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum

Digbeth · 1.2 miles

Thinktank, Birmingham is a science museum in Birmingham, England. Opened in 2001, it is part of Birmingham Museums Trust and is located within the Millennium Point complex on Curzon Street, Digbeth.

Eastside City Park

Digbeth · 1.2 miles

Eastside City Park is a 6.75 acre urban park located in the Eastside district of Birmingham City Centre. Designed by architects Patel taylor with landscape architect Allain Provost, the park was opened to the public on 5 December 2012 at a cost of £11.75 million. Lining the frontage of Millennium Point, the park provides 14,300 square metres of landscaped green space, 310 trees, a 110 metres (360 ft) canal water feature and a public square incorporating 21 jet fountains.

Chamberlain Memorial Fountain

Chinese Quarter · 1.9 miles

The Chamberlain Memorial, also known as the Chamberlain Memorial Fountain, is a monument in Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, England, erected in 1880 to commemorate the public service of Joseph Chamberlain (1836–1914), Birmingham businessman, councillor, mayor, Member of Parliament, and statesman. An inauguration ceremony was held on 20 October 1880, when Chamberlain himself was present.

Back To Backs

Chinese Quarter · 1.9 miles

The city’s only surviving court of back-to-back houses offers a rare glimpse of the cramped, courtyard-based terraces that once housed thousands of industrial workers. Set on 50–54 Inge Street and 55–63 Hurst Street, the court lies adjacent to Birmingham’s Chinese Quarter and is run as a historic house museum by the National Trust, with an admission charge required. Inside, four separate dwellings have been restored and furnished to represent distinct periods – the 1840s, 1870s, 1930s and 1970s – illustrating how living conditions and interiors evolved over a century and a half. The original occupants were skilled artisans such as button makers, glassworkers, jewellers and tailors, many of whom worked from home; records show over 500 families lived in Court 15. By the early 20th century the ground floors had been converted into shops, later including a tailor’s premises once owned by George Saunders, whose voice now narrates his story in a recorded exhibit. The court received Grade II listed status in 1988, was surveyed by the City of Hereford Archaeological Unit in 1995, and was restored by the Birmingham Conservation Trust before opening to visitors on 21 July 2004. Visitors reach the site on foot from the Chinese Quarter; the museum is operated by the National Trust and charges an entry fee. No additional facilities are detailed in the source material.

Edgbaston Reservoir Local Nature Reserve

Ladywood · 3.1 miles

70 acre site, less than two miles from the City centre is a site of historic importance, designed and built by Thomas Telford in 1827 to supply his new Main Line Canal. Friends of the Reservoir came together in 1990 to protect and promote the site.

Forge Mill Lake

Newton · 3.7 miles

A 63-hectare wetland reserve on the edge of West Bromwich provides a mix of open water, wildflower meadows and planted woodland, all linked by a network of footpaths, a cycleway and a bridleway. The lake, also known as Sandwell Valley Storage Lake, lies alongside the River Tame and was completed in 1981 as part of flood-alleviation works; its original capacity was 498,000 m³. Managed by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, the site was designated a local nature reserve in 1991, and a portion—including one of the two islands—is overseen by the RSPB as part of the adjacent Sandwell Valley RSPB reserve. A visitor centre at Forge Mill Farm offers information for those exploring the area. Wildfowl are a regular feature, with winter sightings that can include wigeon, snipe and water rail, while spring and autumn migrations bring a variety of rarer birds through the lake. The reservoir continues to be altered; as of 2020 work was under way to remodel the lake and increase its capacity within the Perry Barr and Witton flood risk management scheme. Access is straightforward from the nearby town of Newton, and the surrounding pathways make it suitable for walkers, cyclists and horse riders seeking a natural setting within Sandwell Valley Country Park.