Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Birmingham Botanical Gardens packs a lot into 15 acres about a mile and a half south-west of the city centre. The layout still follows the 1829 design by John Claudius Loudon, and the site keeps the feel of a Victorian public garden, with a terrace looking over the Main Lawn, shrubberies round the edges and a network of paths leading off to smaller gardens.

The glasshouses are the natural starting point. There are four, each with a different climate: tropical, with crops such as rice, cocoa, sugar cane and cotton; subtropical, with orchids, ferns and carnivorous plants; Mediterranean, with citrus; and arid, with cacti and aloes. A major restoration of the historic glasshouses is planned over several years, so check the official site for what is open before you go. Outside, look for the sunken Rose Garden, the Herbaceous Border, the Pinetum, the Rhododendron Walk, the Ernest Wilson Border and the 1895 rock garden and pool.

For home gardeners, the National Bonsai Collection is a highlight, with trees in many styles, including a juniper said to be around 250 years old. The Alan King alpine garden and its tufa house are good for anyone growing alpines in pots or troughs. Families will find two play areas and a children's discovery garden, and there is a tea room, gift shop and plant sales area. The bird collection and aviary that older visitors may remember have gone, with the birds rehomed in 2024.