Swannington attractions

At the National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham you'll encounter more than 2,000 sea creatures, including the UK’s first and only sea otters, Ozzy and Ola. You’ll get close to their playful personalities and see their expressive faces up close. Along the way you can meet a cheeky colony of Gentoo penguins and spend time at the interactive rockpool, where you’ll learn about marine life and may even stroke a starfish. As you move through the centre you’ll immerse yourself in the UK’s only 360° Ocean Tunnel. Sharks, rays and the giant green sea turtle, Mo, swim around and above you, creating an all‑around marine experience. The layout and exhibits let you explore a variety of habitats and species while learning more about the creatures on display.

At Drayton Manor you'll find one of the UK’s most popular family attractions, with over 50 rides and attractions across the park. You’ll explore Europe’s only Thomas Land, which features 21 rides inspired by the TV series Thomas and Friends. Along the way you can ride Bertie Bus, practise at Terence’s Driving School and try Thomas & Percy’s Submarine Splash. Thomas Land also offers a variety of themed entertainment, including a singalong show, and you’ll find the UK’s largest Thomas Land Gift Shop for souvenirs. Beyond the themed area, you’ll be able to enjoy the wider park and its 15-acre zoo. You can take a quieter moment wandering the zoo paths and admire animals such as Red Pandas, Andean Bears and Slender-tailed Meerkats, among others. The mix of family rides, live entertainment and animal exhibits gives you plenty to see and explore during your visit.

The Alton Towers Resort is one of the United Kingdom's most beloved attractions with over 40 rides, attractions and shows to keep thrill-seekers, families and kids alike entertained. This admission ticket will give you full-day access to the park, and you'll be able to enjoy riding world-class roller coasters such as the wooden Wicker Man, the exhilarating Nemesis and the vertical drop of Oblivion. You'll also be able to ride The Smiler, the world's first 14 loop roller coaster, as well as Rita: Queen of Speed which launches riders round a track at speeds of up to 62 mph. For younger visitors, there are numerous rides and shows in CBeebies Land and in The World of David Walliams. Alton Towers Resort, known as Britain’s Greatest Escape, is the perfect destination for a day of endless fun and laughter for thrill-seekers, families and kids alike with its rides, attractions and entertainment. Get ready to explore over 900 acres of parkland and more than 40 rides! Experience seven world-class rollercoasters including Wicker Man, Nemesis with its iconic twists and turns, Oblivion’s vertical drop and The Smiler’s world-record 14 inversions. For those with little ones, CBeebies Land is the perfect place to explore and meet some of your favorite CBeebies friends including the Teletubbies, Peter RabbitTM and Postman Pat. Theres something for everyone!

The UK's Number 1 Theme Park, based in Staffordshire, England, offers a full day of rides and attractions that appeal to all age groups. You will find family-friendly areas and attractions aimed at younger children alongside high-thrill experiences. As you move through the park, you’ll encounter a range of activities that cater to both little ones and older visitors. Along the way you will see interactive and gentle rides for the youngest guests as well as world-first roller coasters that attract older age groups. The mix of quieter family attractions and headline coasters creates a varied experience, so you can explore different parts of the park at your own pace. Whether you are visiting with children or planning to seek out the most intense rides, the park’s layout and attractions will offer something for everyone.

This walk around Birmingham focuses on the city's slogging gangs and the real stories behind them. Starting and finishing at Aston University, the tour explores historical gang territories and traces how these groups influenced the city in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Along the way, you'll learn about well-known figures such as Billy Kimber, Alfie Solomon and the Italian Mob, and hear how their real actions and reputations compare with portrayals in popular culture. The experience is led by Edward Shelby, a member of the slogging gangs, and is offered by Top Tours Global. As you move through the streets where these gangs once operated, the guide will explain cultural and historical context and share local anecdotes. There will be two stops at nearby pubs, where you may buy a drink while listening to more about Birmingham’s gang history.

At Alton Towers Waterpark you'll find a mix of interactive water features and high-speed slides designed for family fun. The indoor waterpark is open all year round and includes fast water slides and hands-on play areas. You can float along lazy rivers, drift at your own pace and relax, or splash and paddle in Little Leak, which features a brand new water ball. Along the way you'll encounter crazy cannons that soak you and the sensational speed of the Master Blaster water coaster if you want a thrill. In the summer months the experience extends into an outdoor pool area where you can enjoy the Bubbly Wubbly bubble pool and ride the Flash Floods flume in the sunshine. The wet and wild waterpark offers bucket-loads of fun for all ages, with quieter spots for gentle play and faster attractions for more adventurous visitors.

Plan your visit to a magnificent estate centred around a grand Regency castle. You will step inside the castle’s opulent rooms and learn about its history and interiors that helped make it a filming location for The Crown. As you move through the house, you will see the rooms and decorative details that reflect its Regency character. Afterwards, you will wander through acres of landscaped gardens laid out by the legendary Capability Brown. You will stroll along sweeping lawns, past planted vistas and designed views that shaped the estate’s parkland. To finish, you will spend time in a charming artisan retail village on the grounds. There you will find unique gifts, local produce and a range of food and drink to enjoy before you leave.

This admission ticket gives you access to the National Sea Life Center in Birmingham, where you can see a wide range of marine species across themed exhibits. Inside, you'll encounter animals such as sea otters, penguins, sharks, rays and a green sea turtle. You can explore different areas including an interactive rockpool and a 360-degree ocean tunnel, where marine life moves around you. The experience offers a structured way to observe aquatic species and learn about marine environments through a series of indoor exhibits.

This day tour from Birmingham takes you into the heart of the Cotswolds. You will travel in an air-conditioned coach along country lanes, enjoying breath-taking views as the vehicle winds through rolling hills and picture‑perfect countryside. Along the way you'll get a sense of the region’s history and rural character. You will visit four quaint villages and have free time to explore each one at your own pace. As you walk through the lanes and village streets you may take photos, browse local sights and soak up the atmosphere. The itinerary gives you opportunities to capture memorable scenes and to enjoy the simple charm of England’s countryside.

See Birmingham through a true Brummie’s eyes on a guided walking tour that brings the city’s past and present to life. As you move through central streets and along the canals, you'll trace Birmingham’s story from the days of Norman nobility to the titans of the Industrial Revolution, and follow its development into a city of innovation and the UK’s second-largest city. Along the way, you’ll hear how the nickname “city of a thousand trades” reflects its diverse industrial past. You’ll visit key historic sights such as Birmingham Cathedral, Chamberlain Square and the canals, uncovering the people and events linked to each place. Guides share local knowledge and personal stories, so you’ll also gain insight into life in Birmingham today as well as its historical landmarks. The focus is on the city’s characters, innovations and the everyday stories that shaped it.

Explore Nottingham’s historic heart with a local guide who brings the city’s surprising past to life. Beneath the streets lie ancient caves; above them stand medieval churches and the notorious inn linked to colourful local stories. Along the way you’ll sense how Nottingham was reshaped by the Industrial Revolution and why its streets still hold so many secrets. You’ll wander some of the oldest streets and uncover tales of Anglo‑Saxon settlers, medieval merchants and daring outlaws. As you move through the city, your guide will explain the cave system beneath Nottingham and share stories connected to Robin Hood, body snatchers and the revolutionary entrepreneurs who changed the course of local history. The narrative mixes social, architectural and underground history to give a rounded picture of the city’s evolution, all told by a passionate local guide.

Alton Towers Resort has more than 50 rides and attractions and is home to seven world‑first rollercoasters. Along the way you’ll encounter Nemesis, which delivers G‑forces greater than a space shuttle, and Oblivion with its famous vertical drop. The Smiler offers a unique experience with 14 loops, Rita answers any need for speed, and Wicker Man was added to the line‑up in 2018. Together these coasters provide a mix of high thrills and distinctive designs to explore. Younger visitors will enjoy CBeebies Land, where interactive fun and shows are aimed at little ones. At The Furchester Hotel Live Show you can join characters such as Phoebe, Funella, Furgus, Elmo and Cookie Monster, or take the controls on the Go Jetters Vroomster Zoom ride. Other family attractions include Postman Pat Parcel Post, Mr Bloom’s Allotment, Justin’s House Pie‑O‑Matic Factory and the In The Night Garden Magical Boat Ride. The ticket admits you to the Resort on two consecutive days in the 2019 season, giving time to experience both big coasters and family areas.

At LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Birmingham you'll find an indoor playground built around hands-on LEGO fun for children and big kids alike. Along the way you can build in themed play areas packed with bricks, try DUPLO and Friends zones, explore soft play, and perfect your skills alongside the Master Model Builder in regular workshops. There are Build & Test zones where you can race creations on tracks, and Heartlake City scenes to join the characters for more play. Your visit includes attractions such as the Kingdom Quest laser ride, where you save the princess as you battle through the course, and MINILAND, which showcases 45 of Birmingham’s finest landmarks made from over 5 million bricks — look out for mischievous Minifigures hidden around the models. You can also watch LEGO adventures in the 4D cinema, where you’ll feel wind, rain and snow, and see effects linked to films like Ninjago. If you wish, you may upgrade your ticket to include Sea Life Birmingham, which is just a two-minute walk away.

Your visit begins in the visitors' barn with an introduction to the alpacas, their fleeces, the farm’s breeding programmes and the aims you’ve set out to achieve. Along the way you’ll also meet guinea pigs, donkeys and other animals kept on the farm, so you’ll get a rounded sense of life here and how the herd is cared for. After the barn session, you’ll be taken to meet the fluffy alpacas and given a harness to fit your own. A very leisurely stroll around the land follows, either with Norman, Jon Snow, Dark Knight or another member of the herd. There will be plenty of time to stop for photos and those all-important selfies. On weekends in December, Santa visits for the kids are available as part of the seasonal offering.

LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Birmingham is an indoor playground for children and big kids at heart. You’ll explore LEGO‑themed play areas filled with bricks where hands‑on building and creative play are at the centre of the experience. Along the way you’ll find Build & Test zones, DUPLO and Friends areas and soft play sections designed for different ages. You can perfect your building skills alongside the centre’s Master Model Builder and join regular Master Model Builder workshops. There’s also a 4D cinema where short films include special effects — watch out for the ninja warriors in Ninjago.