Accessible Birmingham

Birmingham, or Brum to the locals, is a city of canals, culture, big shopping centres and even bigger personalities. Once known as the ‘city of 1,001 trades’, its industrial past is still written into the streets, but today you’ll find galleries, theatres, museums, restaurants and creative spaces alongside the old factories and workshops.

There’s plenty to keep you busy here. You can browse the Bullring, wander along the canals, catch a show, explore Birmingham’s art scene or spend an afternoon discovering the city’s history. And, of course, there’s always time for a good cup of tea.

For disabled visitors, Birmingham has an extensive public transport network and plenty of accessible attractions, although access can vary considerably between venues. Reviews on Euan’s Guide can help you work out the practical details before you set off, from which entrance to use to whether there’s actually enough room to turn your wheelchair around.

Here's what Joe, our Community Manger, has to say about exploring Birmingham: "..."

What would a Brummie say?

The local lingo is part of the fun of visiting Birmingham. If you come across somewhere that’s really fantastic, you might describe it as ‘bostin’. Something particularly surprising could have you saying, ‘I’ll go to the foot of our stairs’.

If things aren’t quite so good, someone in a bad mood might be described as having ‘a face as long as Livery Street’, or simply being ‘mardy’. When the sky turns dark, it’s ‘black over Bill’s mother’, while a chilly day is ‘parky’. Better get your ‘donnies’ on.

Any-road-up, this is a travel guide and we’re going round the Wrekin, so read on for some recommendations on accessible things to do and see in Birmingham. It’ll be bostin.

Arriving in Birmingham

Birmingham is well connected by train, coach, bus and tram, making it relatively straightforward to reach the city from elsewhere in the UK.

Birmingham New Street Station

Birmingham New Street is the city’s main railway station and feels “more like a space station than a train station” thanks to its high ceilings, wide arches and enormous main foyer. There’s even a 33-foot-tall metal bull called Ozzy, created for the 2022 Commonwealth Games celebrations and saved from being scrapped after public demand.

Access inside the station is generally good. There is level and step-free access, automatic sliding doors at the entrances, accessible ticket gates and plenty of seating throughout the station, including a spacious accessibility lounge with a lowered counter and induction loop. Lifts have Braille buttons and hearing loops, while tactile paving is provided along the platforms. Station staff have also received particularly strong feedback for their helpful approach, including when passengers need assistance boarding.

There is an accessible toilet near the bridge area, which requires a RADAR key, as well as a Changing Places toilet elsewhere in the station. The accessible toilet can become busy, and the toilet in the accessibility lounge is not suitable for wheelchair users, so it is worth knowing where the other facilities are before you arrive.

Birmingham Coach Station

Travelling by coach? Birmingham Coach Station is a little outside the city centre and has 16 stances serving destinations across the UK and Ireland.

The station has automatic entrance doors, level platforms, ramps and tactile strips. There’s plenty of seating, a dropped section at the service desk and an induction loop. Taxis, including some accessible vehicles, can be found at the Mill Lane entrance.

The accessible toilet is less impressive. It requires a RADAR key and has left-side transfer space, but two bins obstruct the transfer area, making it particularly difficult for powerchair users. There is also a busy turnstile close to the toilet door.

Getting around Birmingham

The West Midlands Metro makes getting around the city centre easier, with accessible tram stops including Town Hall and Bull Street. Both have level access, tactile paving and clearly marked boarding areas for disabled passengers. Town Hall is particularly useful for reaching Victoria Square, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, the Library of Birmingham and The Exchange.

There are some quirks to be aware of. Ticket machines are generally at a suitable height for wheelchair users, but Braille and headphone jacks are not consistently available. Birmingham’s streets can also be busy, particularly around New Street, where cars and delivery bikes can make some routes more complicated.

Planning your journey? Explore more disabled access reviews of trains, buses, tram stops and transport around Birmingham on Euan’s Guide.

Accessible things to do in Birmingham

Birmingham has plenty to discover during the day, whether you fancy museums, art, gardens or something a little more unexpected. From historic collections and hands-on science to green spaces and cultural landmarks, there are wheelchair accessible things to do in Birmingham for very different kinds of day out.

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

Right beside Victoria Square, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is home to everything from fine art to the city’s industrial and social history. The building has smooth tiled floors, plenty of seating and wheelchairs available to borrow, while the gift shop has a lowered section at the counter.

Access is currently more complicated than the building’s impressive collections might suggest. Only part of the museum was open during the visit covered by the Euan’s Guide review, while a lift in the second building was out of order, leaving some exhibits inaccessible. The accessible toilets also had limitations, including tight turning space and a broken grab rail.

As access and opening arrangements may change while work continues, check the latest information and reviews before travelling.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

For some fresh air, Birmingham Botanical Gardens offers a change of pace from the city centre. The gardens have accessible paths, a ramp into the greenhouses and a large marquee with matting that provides wheelchair access even when the weather turns.

There are ample Blue Badge parking spaces, and staff are praised for their welcoming and helpful approach when supporting groups of disabled visitors and families.

Science, history, art and gardens are only the beginning. Browse more disabled access reviews of Birmingham museums, galleries and attractions on Euan’s Guide.

Accessible shopping in Birmingham: the Bullring

Birmingham’s Bullring is difficult to miss, and even harder to describe as small. The huge shopping centre sits right in the heart of the city, with major high-street names, restaurants and Selfridges all under one roof.

The open walkways provide plenty of room to move around, and mobility aids including wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs and scooters are available free from Shopmobility. Moor Street Station sits directly opposite one entrance, while Birmingham New Street connects to the Bullring via the Bullring Link.

Access isn't without its frustrations. Several automatic doors were out of order during a visit, leaving heavy manual doors as the alternative. The lifts are large enough for powerchairs but lack Braille buttons, audible announcements and hearing loops. The Changing Places toilet was also out of order, while the accessible toilets double as baby-change facilities and can become busy.

Still, with plenty of space inside and transport links close by, the Bullring remains a useful option for a shopping day — just check the latest reviews before you go.

Accessible food and drink in Birmingham

Birmingham is famous for its food, from the Balti Triangle to canal-side restaurants and independent cafés. There are plenty of accessible options to discover, although the practicalities can vary from one venue to another.

200 Degrees Coffee

Close to Birmingham New Street, 200 Degrees is a good place to stop for coffee without venturing far from the station. Described as a “cool, calm coffee spot”, it is an appealing place to pause for a Spanish Latte and a break from the bustle of the city centre.

There are moveable seats and step-free access to most areas on the ground floor, with the accessible toilet also located here. There is no lowered counter, and the outward-opening entrance door can be difficult to manage without assistance, although staff are receptive when access issues are raised.

The accessible toilet itself has room for a powerchair but has some avoidable problems, including bins in the transfer space and an emergency cord tucked behind a pipe. A bell or doorbell at the entrance could also make things easier for visitors who need assistance.

Merlin’s Cafe Bar

For something rather less conventional, Merlin’s Cafe Bar is filled with horror memorabilia, plastic skeletons and other wonderfully spooky décor. It also hosts gigs upstairs, although there is no lift to the upper floor. For a more unusual evening, it certainly has character.

The ground floor has plenty of space to move around and a mixture of seating. The ground floor has plenty of space to move around and a mixture of seating. Staff are friendly and accommodating, moving chairs to create more room where needed and taking orders at the table when the bar itself is difficult to access.

The accessible toilet is small but can accommodate a powerchair and another person. However, the red emergency cord is missing and one of the grab rails appears to have broken away, so there is plenty of room for improvement.

Sky Bar & Restaurant

If you're heading out towards the NEC, afternoon tea at Sky Bar & Restaurant at Resorts World Birmingham could be just the ticket. The comfortable seating, generous space for mobility scooters and level access throughout Resorts World make it a practical option for a leisurely visit.

Lifts connect the car park and different floors, including the fifth-floor Sky Bar, while accessible toilets are described as large, tidy and suitable for larger scooters. Staff also receive particularly positive feedback for their friendly and helpful approach.

Want to try somewhere else? Explore more disabled access reviews of Birmingham restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars on Euan’s Guide.

Accessible Birmingham entertainment

Birmingham has no shortage of ways to spend an afternoon or evening, whether you're after theatre, live music, cinema, exhibitions or something that combines several of them in one visit.

Birmingham Hippodrome

Birmingham Hippodrome is a beautiful historic building that shows what can be done with an older venue.

The entrance is spacious, with seating throughout, and two lifts connect the different levels and are large enough for mobility scooters. One lift was out of order during the visit, but the theatre contacted the visitor the day before to let them know — a small but important example of useful communication.

Accessible toilets are available on all floors and were described as large, well lit and clean. Staff receive particularly positive feedback for their helpful approach, from booking accessible seating through to arranging carer tickets.

Midlands Arts Centre

Over in Cannon Hill Park, Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) brings together exhibitions, cinema, theatre, performance, a café and bar, making it an easy place to build an entire afternoon or evening around.

The main entrance has automatic doors, the welcome desk has a lowered counter and a lift serves the upper floors. Accessible toilets are available throughout the building, alongside a Changing Places toilet.

There are also accessible parking spaces close to the building, while the outdoor performance area and terrace connect towards Cannon Hill Park. One of the nicest approaches is across the covered bridge over the River Rea — a surprisingly scenic way to arrive at an arts centre.

The Exchange

The Exchange occupies a historic former banking building and now hosts exhibitions, events and a café, offering something a little different from Birmingham's more traditional theatres and galleries.

There is ramp access at the entrance and step-free routes through the main café and Banking Hall. The café has plenty of room for mobility devices and a lowered counter, while a lift connects the different floors. A hearing loop is available in the Banking Hall, and the lift has Braille-marked buttons.

The Exchange also has a Changing Places toilet with a ceiling-track hoist, adjustable changing bed, adjustable sink and space for both left- and right-side transfers. The facility requires a RADAR key, although the signage to it was not as clear as it could be. Staff receive particularly warm feedback for their friendly and welcoming approach, including taking the time to chat with visitors and help them get the most from their visit.

Looking for a show, concert, film or performance? Browse more disabled access reviews of Birmingham theatres, cinemas and live entertainment on Euan’s Guide.

Changing Places toilets in Birmingham

For some disabled people, finding a Changing Places toilet can be just as important as finding somewhere to eat or an attraction to visit. Birmingham has facilities in several useful locations around the city and wider visitor area, including the Library of Birmingham, Bullring shopping centre and The Exchange. Further afield, there are options at Cadbury World, Birmingham Airport and the NEC.

The Library of Birmingham is particularly convenient if you're exploring Victoria Square and the surrounding city centre, while the Bullring facility can be useful if you're spending the day shopping, eating or visiting nearby attractions.

Further afield, Changing Places toilets at Cadbury World, Birmingham Airport and the NEC can be particularly useful if you're planning a longer day out or travelling into Birmingham from elsewhere.

Facilities and access arrangements can change, so check the latest information and reviews before travelling if a particular hoist, changing bench, shower, transfer arrangement or opening time is essential to you.

Need to find a toilet while you're out? Browse more accessible toilets and Changing Places facilities around Birmingham on Euan’s Guide.

Accessible accommodation in Birmingham

Whether you're visiting for a weekend or simply want somewhere to rest after a long day exploring, Birmingham has accommodation across the city centre and beyond. Reviews also show why it is worth looking beyond the words ‘accessible room’ and checking the details that matter to you.

Travelodge Birmingham Central

The accessible room at Travelodge Birmingham Central is functional but somewhat dated, with a large accessible bathroom and good turning space. The emergency red cord was correctly positioned and hanging freely.

There were some practical drawbacks, including a lack of plug sockets near the bed, one broken lift and considerable nightlife noise outside the hotel that continued until around 5am. There is no hotel car park, although nearby on-street pay-and-display parking is free for Blue Badge holders.

Premier Inn Birmingham City Centre

For a very central base, Premier Inn Birmingham City Centre is directly accessible from Birmingham New Street via the Bullring Walkway and close to the city's main shopping area.

The hotel has automatic doors and lifts large enough for a powerchair, although the reception desk does not have a lowered section. The available review covers a standard rather than accessible room, so these observations are useful for general access but should not be taken as a description of the hotel's accessible rooms.

The location is particularly convenient if you're travelling by train, but parking is more difficult. The surrounding streets can also be noisy, with buskers, performers and the general bustle of the city continuing into the evening.

The Grand Hotel Birmingham

For something more luxurious, The Grand Hotel is a historic building with plenty of character. The main entrance has steps, but wheelchair users can use an alternative entrance around the corner, leading through the bar and restaurant before taking a lift to the main lobby.

A pre-booking visit found accessible bedrooms spacious enough for manual and powerchair users, with generous wet-room-style bathrooms. The hotel can provide a Deafgard but does not have a hoist, and the exact bedroom layout varies, so it is worth speaking directly to the hotel if you need particular transfer arrangements or equipment.

Staff receive excellent feedback for being welcoming, helpful and willing to make adjustments where necessary.

Hotel ibis Styles Birmingham Centre

Hotel ibis Styles Birmingham Centre offers another central option, with ramp access at the entrance and lifts serving the guest floors.

The accessible room has good space on one side of the bed for transfer, although the opposite side is more restricted. The accessible bathroom has a walk-in shower and grab rails, but the shower curtain reduces transfer space and the emergency cord can be difficult to use because of the room layout.

There are two accessible parking spaces on Lionel Street, while Birmingham New Street is around half a mile away. The route includes some uphill sections, so this is worth factoring into your journey.

Looking for somewhere to stay? Browse more disabled access reviews of hotels and accommodation in Birmingham on Euan’s Guide.

Ready to explore Birmingham?

Birmingham is a city that rewards curiosity. You can start beneath the huge arches of New Street Station, spot Ozzy the bull, wander through the Bullring, stop for coffee, explore a historic bank turned arts venue and finish the day at the theatre.

There are challenges too. Busy streets, hills, heavy doors and inaccessible toilets can all change the shape of a day out, while a venue described as accessible may still have details that make a real difference to whether it works for you.

That is where detailed disabled access reviews can help. They tell you the things a standard accessibility statement often doesn't — which entrance to use, whether a lift is big enough for a powerchair, where the accessible toilet actually is, or whether the route from the station involves a hill.

Explore more disabled access reviews across Birmingham on Euan’s Guide before your visit. And if you discover somewhere brilliant, or come across an access issue that other disabled people should know about, share your experience by writing a review of your own.