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Find your fun in Birmingham this summer

Raise your fun factor this summer with our guide to the best events and activities in town – and how to kick the good times up a notch
Time Out in association with Crocs
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Summer is full of opportunities for adventure – waterways to explore, trails to discover and gorgeous parks to plant yourself in for sunny afternoons (okay, that last one isn’t so adventurous, but we’re totally there). And we love all of that good stuff. This year, though, we want something more, and so Time Out is teaming up with Crocs to say no to standard summers. First, we’re helping you find your fun with dozens of great activities all over Birmingham; then, we’re telling you how to take that fun to the next level. Try these great fun-stuffed activities below and use the hashtag #FindYourFun to show the world your summer of good times.

Photograph: Courtesy Creative Commons/Flickr/SImon Felton

Head to the hills

Escape the bustle of the city and head to the idyllic Lickey Hills on the south-west edge of town for a wander in the woods and incredible views of the city. Look out for the BT Tower and the University of Birmingham’s Old Joe in the distance. (Lickey Hills, Warren Lane, Lickey, Birmingham B45 8ER, www.birmingham.gov.uk/lickeyhills).

Make it more fun Make it more fun Join one of the many well-trodden paths through the woods, or strike out and make a new route for yourself. In your Swiftwater Clogs, you’ll be ready for whatever the hills throw at you. Shop Now.



Grab a Ruby Murray

Birmingham is renowned as the home of some of the best Indian restaurants in the country. Head to the ‘Balti Triangle’ that runs between Ladypool Road, Stoney Lane and Stratford Road around the Sparkhill area and indulge in that great Brummie tradition, a Saturday night curry. Or any other night, for that matter. (Sparkhill, Birmigham B12).

Make it more fun If you’re having a curry in Birmingham, it needs to be a balti – complete with enormous table-smothering naan bread. Wear your super-stylish Leigh Graphic Wedges and feast on everything from chicken pakora and poppadoms to traditional sweets like barfi and jullabi at the popular restaurants Adils, Shababs, or our favourite, Al Frash (186 Ladypool Rd, Birmingham B12 8JS). Shop now.



Laze on the Avon

Catch a train from Snow Hill or Moor Street on the ‘Shakespeare Line’ that connects Birmingham to the Bard’s home town, Stratford-upon-Avon. Home of the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as five incredibly preserved Tudor homes connected with the Shakespeare family, take a day trip to Stratford and immerse yourself in history and culture for the day. (Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, www.visitstratforduponavon.co.uk).

Make it more fun Take a break from the crowds and make your way to Avon Boating (Swan’s Nest Lane, CV37 7LS), on the grassy bank of the River Avon across from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Here you can climb aboard a river cruiser or a gondola – or hire a rowing boat of your own – and see this beautiful historic town from a different perspective in your splash-friendly Karin Floral Clogs. Shop now.


Feast on the street

Join the street food revolution that’s swept the country in the last couple of years at the Digbeth Dining Club. Taking place every Friday from 5.30pm under the archways of Spotlight in Digbeth, a rotating roster of food traders serve up everything from crêpes and curry to pastries and pizza. (Unit 2, Lower Trinity St, Birmingham B9 4AG, www.digbethdiningclub.co.uk).

Make it more fun Digbeth Dining Club is the perfect bridge between after-work drinks and a night on the town. Head there in your Isabella Sandals and you’ll be ready for whatever the night throws at you in the bars and clubs of Digbeth – perhaps a Northern Soul All-Nighter at the Night Owl bar, where soul, jazz, funk and Motown rule the decks. Shop now.


Grab a drink and see a show

Head to The Old Joint Stock on Temple Row for a drink or two, and take a step back in time within the resplendent Victorian surroundings of this Grade II listed Fuller’s pub. The ales and pies are second to none and there’s a busy roster of cabaret, comedy and theatre in the compact performance space out back. (4 Temple Row West, Birmingham B2 5NY, www.oldjointstock.co.uk).

Make it more fun In your Sloane Platform Flips, move from the bar to the boards for an intimate show from touring comedians, local cabaret acts and small-scale theatrical productions in the 100-capacity theatre space. This summer the main attraction is the Broadway and West End hit ‘splash-hit’ musical ‘Urinetown’. Shop Now.



Get arty

From the outside, the Barber Institute of Fine Arts doesn’t look like much. However, inside this unassuming building on Birmingham University’s campus is a wealth of riches from the last 500 years of European art history. There are works from the likes of Boticelli, Van Gogh, Turner and Magritte in the permanent collection, and regular short-term exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. (University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TS, barber.org.uk).

Make it more fun Walk your way through the centuries in your comfy Sienna Flats, moving from displays of pre-Rennaissance works through stunning Impressionism to mind-bending modern pieces. Bring the kids along to the monthly Creative Sunday Workshops (in two age groups, four to eight and eight to 12) where they can learn about and try out a different style or technique each time. Check the website for dates. Shop Now.


Anyone for cricket?

What better way to spend an English summer’s day than catching a game of cricket at the UK’s second largest ground, Edgbaston. Home to Warwickshire County Cricket Club and a regular host of Test. one-day and Twenty20 matches, there’s a game to watch most weekends throughout the warmer months. Hear the Edgbaston roar when England take on Pakistan in the Third Test on August 3-7, and go wild at T20 Finals Day on August 20. (Edgbaston Stadium, Edgbaston Rd, Birmingham B5 7QU, www.edgbaston.com).

Make it more fun If there’s not a game on, or even if there is, strap on your Swiftwater Clogs and make your way to the Visitor Centre, museum and library within the ground for a fascinating insight into the history of the club, the ground and the game of cricket itself. Shop Now.



Put pen to paper

Immerse yourself in the world of pens and calligraphy at the unique Pen Museum in the Jewellery Quarter, dedicated to Birmingham’s once prosperous pen industry. While it might not sound the most exciting of attractions to visit, this is no stuffy museum – interaction is actively encouraged and the knowledgeable guides really bring this charming place to life. The Jewellery Quarter is fascinating to wander round, full of workshops and galleries and a great place to buy handmade pieces direct from the makers. (Unit 3, The Argent Centre, 60 Frederick St, Birmingham B1 3HS, penmuseum.org.uk).

Make it more fun Check the Pen Museum’s website for details of the regular calligraphy classes and demonstrations. In your wipe-clean Karin Floral Clogs, you won’t mind if the odd splash of ink ends up on your feet as you learn this centuries-old skill. Shop Now.



Photograph: Courtesy Creative Commons/Flickr/Amanda Slater

Go classical

Home to the internationally renowned City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the stunning Symphony Hall hosts the top names of not just classical music, but jazz, blues and contemporary, too. You’ll think music has never sounded so good – designed by acoustic engineers and fine-tuned to each style and performer, it’s considered one of the best concert halls in the world. (Broad St, Birmingham B1 2EA, www.thsh.co.uk).

Make it more fun With over 320 performances a year, there’s always something on at Symphony Hall. Slip into your stylish Sienna Flats for a lunchtime concert, or delve into the inner workings of the building with one of the guided backstage tours. Shop Now.



Do Sunday lunch differently

Head to Chinatown for a Sunday lunch with a difference at one of the many great restaurants serving the small shareable plates known as dim sum. The long-running and much-loved original Chung Ying on Wrottesley Street is a popular choice, and for good reason, with over 40 different options to choose from, from wontons and spring rolls to dishes you definitely won’t have sampled before. (16-18 Wrottesley St, Birmingham B5 4RT, www.chungying.co.uk).

Make it more fun This is a good place to sample all those unusual Chinese foods you’ve heard about but never tried, from chicken feet to duck tongues. The good news is, if you’re brave enough, they all taste delicious. With a pair of Sloane Platform Flips on, walk off your lunch with a stroll round the Chinese shops and supermarkets of the nearby Arcadian. Shop Now.



Get out in the garden

Just a few miles from the city centre is Winterbourne House and Gardens. This beautiful Edwardian Arts and Crafts villa and adjoining botanic gardens offer a real sanctuary for those frazzled by the hectic hustle of twenty-first-century Birmingham. Make your way through the house, enjoy a cuppa and a slice of cake in the tea room and maybe even join a calligraphy class or beekeeping workshop. (58 Edgbaston Park Rd, Birmingham B15 2RT, www.winterbourne.org.uk).

Make it more fun With seven acres of botanical gardens to explore in your sturdy Yukon Mesa Clogs, you can marvel at over 6,000 different species of plants, cross the 1930s Japanese bridge and breathe in the nature that surrounds you, all without leaving the city. Shop Now.



Do it all at once

Jump on a train to Birmingham International station and you’re just a few minutes walk away from not only the NEC but the enormous, recently opened pleasureland of Resorts World Birmingham. With an outlet shopping mall, 11-screen cinema, health spa, restaurants, bars and the Genting International Casino, there’s something for everyone here. (Pendigo Way, Birmingham B40 1PU, www.resortsworldbirmingham.co.uk).

Make it more fun With dozens of stores, from famous names to the latest brands, offering up to 70 percent off high street prices, you can afford to do more than just window shop at the outlet mall. Look super-stylish as you go in your Leigh Graphic Wedges and then hit the Sentai Spa for a dose of serious relaxation and rejuvenation. Shop Now.

© Steve Eggleton

Catch a show

There’s no need to head to London to enjoy top-drawer theatre. Birmingham’s theatres are some of the best in the country, showing everything from intimate local performances at the Blue Orange Theatre to touring West End shows at the 2,000-seat Hippodrome. (www.birminghamtheatres.com).

Make it more fun Catch a double-header. See the show inside then head outside for special street-theater performances. Or take in a show in Birmingham’s Theatreland district around the Hippodrome in your Isabella Sandals and then hit some of the fantastic Chinese restaurants in nearby Chinatown for a post-show feast you won’t forget. Shop Now.


Marvel at music history

There’s no shortage of things to keep you busy in the historic Jewellery Quarter, but music memorabilia specialist St Pauls Gallery is a must-visit for anyone looking to own – or simply admire – a piece of rock or pop history. Housing the largest collection of licensed album cover art in the world, including pieces from Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix, you could easily spend a few hours (and a few pounds) in the gallery. (94 Northwood St, Birmingham B3 1TH, www.stpaulsgallery.com).

Make it more fun If you decide you can’t actually afford the £4,800 asking price for a signed ‘Aladdin Sane’ print, you can at least look the part in your in your Sloane Platform Flips. You’ll still be comfortable enough on your feet for a stroll round the Jewellery Quarter, and chic enough for the basement cocktail bar of the Rectory Bar, round the corner on St Paul’s Square. Shop Now.


Head down to the Hall

In a city full of strikingly modern buildings, the magnificent Jacobean mansion Aston Hall is one of Birmingham’s most important and treasured buildings, bought by the city in 1864 and now managed by a community trust. The red-brick country house is stunning from the outside, but it’s the beautifully restored interiors that really dazzle. There are talks and tours for all ages, and for kids there’s a busy programme of craft sessions, storytelling, costumed characters and dress-up days. (Trinity Rd, Aston, Birmingham B6 6JD, www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/aston).

Make it more fun Play games in the Long Gallery, seek out the hole in the staircase made by a cannonball in the English Civil War, then head out into the beautifully kept formal gardens in your Swiftwater Clogs for a stroll through the ages. Stroll just a little bit further for a peek at Aston Villa FC’s home Villa Park, visible from the Hall. Shop Now.

Discover more fun activities

Soak up some culture

Journey through thousands of years of history – and hundreds of years of art – at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery in Chamberlain Square. Packed with treasures from across the globe and close to home, you can easily lose a day here and still not see it all. (Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3DH, www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag).

Make it more fun With 40 galleries to explore, strap on your Swiftwater Clogs and take your time wandering between the mummies of the Egyptian Gallery and on to the incredible golden Anglo-Saxon artefacts of the Staffordshire Hoard. Shop Now.



Take a walk in the Gardens

Lose yourself in over 15 acres of stunning greenery at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens in Edgbaston. In the four beautiful glasshouses you can journey through tropical, sub-tropical, Mediterranean and arid environments, and marvel at over 7,000 different plants. (Westbourne Rd, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3TR, www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk).

Make it more fun The gardens are home to the British National Bonsai Centre, of which the 250-year-old Omiya Tree is the star attraction. With a pair of Karin Floral Clogs on your feet, head out of the glasshouses and stop by the wetlands enclosure and aviary building for a gawp at the exotic birds. Shop now.



Jump aboard a barge

It’s true – Birmingham really does have more canals than Venice. There’s no better way to explore the city and its industrial heritage than from aboard one of the daily canal boat trips departing from the city centre. Take a trip around the city or explore the canal system deep into the countryside. (Sherborne Wharf, Sheepcote St, Birmingham B16 8AE, www.sherbornewharf.co.uk).

Make it more fun Slip on your comfy Isabella Sandals and head to Brindleyplace for one of the regular daily canal trips. Sherbourne Wharf’s City Heritage trip takes in the best of industrial Brum, while Away2Canal’s Country In The City trip takes you out into the lush greenery of the city’s edge and back again. Shop now.



Frolic in the forests

Move like a monkey and swing like a simian for a treetop adventure at one of the two Go Ape activity centres just outside Birmingham. Whizz down zip wires, clamber over obstacles and throw yourself off the Tarzan swings for a fun-packed few hours in beautiful scenery at the Wyre Forest near Kidderminster or Cannock Chase in Staffordshire. (Callow Hill, Kidderminster DY14 9XQ, www.goape.co.uk).

Make it more fun With half of the UK’s butterfly species to be found in the woods of the Wyre Forest, and the chance to get off the beaten track on the Forest Segway Experience at Cannock Chase, make sure you slip on a sturdy pair of Yukon Mesa Clogs before heading out into the undergrowth. Shop now.



Go behind the scenes

Peek behind the scenes at the BBC’s Birmingham studios. Free to enter and open every day of the week, you can try your hand at reading the news or weather, have your photo taken with a Dalek and even peer through the glass at a live radio broadcast. (7 Commercial St, Birmingham B1 1RS, www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours).

Make it more fun Book a space on one of the studio tours (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) for a glimpse into the inner workings of BBC Birmingham. In your Sloane Platform Flips you’ll make easy work of the 90-minute journey through the studios of BBC WM, the Asian Network, and if schedules permit, ‘The Archers’. Shop now.



Step back in time

Head out of town and back in time at the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley. With a brick-by-brick replica Victorian village to explore, you can stroll the streets, visit shops, homes and workshops and chat to local characters to experience a vivid slice of life during the Industrial Revolution. (2 Tipton Rd, Dudley, West Midlands DY1 4SQ, www.bclm.co.uk).

Make it more fun Jump on the tram to the canalside village, before stopping by Into The Thick – where you can head underground to experience life as an 1850s miner. Get a pair of Yukon Mesa Clogs and make your way through the sloping tunnel and maze of walkways beneath the ground. Shop now.



Meet the animals

Housing some of the world’s rarest and most endangered species, Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park is a small zoo full of exotic creatures the whole family will love. (Pershore Rd, Birmingham B5 7RL, www.birmingham.gov.uk/naturecentre).

Make it more fun Check out the rare lemurs and monkeys, as well as as exotic birds and reptiles. With a pair of Kids’ CrocsLights Fire Dragon Clogs on, the little ones can head straight from the zoo into the grass of next-door Cannon Hill Park without a worry. Shop now.



Visit the Jewellery Quarter

With over 100 retailers selling all that sparkles and much more – and four separate museums highlighting the unique history of the area – there’s loads to keep you busy in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter. (Jewllery Quarter, Hockley, Birmingham, www.jewelleryquarter.net).

Make it more fun Beyond the many shops and bars, there’s a quartet of great museums in the Quarter for young and old minds to explore – and in your Sloane Platform Flips you’ll have no problem reaching each on foot. As well as the Museum Of The Jewellery Quarter, a once-thriving jewellery manufacturer that’s been frozen in time, there’s also the Pen Museum, Coffin Works and JW Evans Silver Factory. Shop now.

Shop till you drop

Birmingham takes some beating when it comes to shopping. With two landmark shopping centres, numerous department stores, plus hundreds of other independent and high street stores, not to mention the city’s numerous markets, whatever you fancy spending your hard-earned dough on, you can do it in Brum. (Various locations).

Make it more fun In your comfy Sienna Flats, make your way from the designer stores of The Mailbox to the retail cathedrals of the Bull Ring and Grand Central, and out into the city centre’s bustling streets for a day of real retail delight. Shop now.


Read all about it

With its striking modern exterior housing millions of books over ten floors, The Library of Birmingham is the second city’s cultural focal point. There are hundreds of years of local history to be discovered inside, including the Shakespeare Memorial Room, within a specially built rotunda at the top of the building. (Centenary Square, Broad St, Birmingham B1 2ND, www.libraryofbirmingham.com).

Make it more fun Explore all ten floors of the enormous library at your leisure in your Isabella Sandals, making sure you stop by one of the public outdoor terraces on the third and seventh floors. Take a moment out, admire the views and maybe even meet a few fellow bibliophiles. Shop now.


© Tony Hisgett

Go back to back

Travel into the past at Birmingham Back To Backs, the last surviving block of housing of its type in the city, and see how the hardworking inhabitants of Brum lived during the last couple of hundred years. ( 50-54 Inge St, Birmingham B5 4TE, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/birmingham-back-to-backs).

Make it more fun Wander around the painstakingly restored nineteenth-century courtyard of houses and hear the stories of those who lived here from expert guides. In your Yukon Mesa Clogs you’ll have no problem climbing the winding stairways that connect the floors within each house. Shop now.



Bring science to life

Thinktank is the most modern of science museums, packed with interactive and inspiring exhibits that bring technology and industry to vivid life. From a locomotive to a triceratops skull, a Spitfire and an awesome 360-degree fully immersive planetarium, Thinktank’s ten galleries are waiting to be explored. (Millennium Point, Curzon St, Birmingham B4 7XG, www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank).

Make it more fun The outdoor Science Garden takes the museum out into the open air. In your lightweight Kids’ Swiftwater Clogs, make your way around more than 30 outdoor exhibits. Shop now.



Monkey around

Journey out of the city and into a wonderful world of primates at Twycross Zoo, home to the largest collection of apes and monkeys in the western world. From the UK’s only collection of bonobo apes, to gorillas, orang-utans and chimpanzees, this is the best place in the country to marvel at our furry cousins in all their fascinating glory. (Burton Rd, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV9 3PX, twycrosszoo.org).

Make it more fun With your splash-ready Swiftwater Clogs on your feet, head out into the zoo’s Wet and Wild zone to see the Humboldt penguins and explore the Bornean Longhouse aviary, before marvelling at the gentle giants in Elephant Creek. Shop now.



Catch a movie

Whatever you want to watch and however you want to watch it, when it comes to settling down with the popcorn, Birmingham’s many cinemas have you covered. (Various locations).

Make it more fun Slip into your Sienna Flats and take your pick from either the gargantuan 30-screen Star City, with its dedicated Bollywood screens, to the beautifully refined Everyman in the Mailbox or even the UK’s oldest working cinema, The Electric. Film fanatics really are spoilt for choice. Shop now.


Make for the castle

Jump on the train from Snow Hill or Moor Street and head to the magnificent 1,000-year-old Warwick Castle on the banks of the River Avon. Built by William The Conqueror in 1068, a walk around the incredibly restored castle is a journey through not just history, but myth, magic and adventure, too. (Warwick CV34 4QU, www.warwick-castle.com). 

Make it more fun If you’re feeling brave and strong of stomach, descend into the castle’s gruesome dungeons for an interactive experience you won’t forget. If that’s too much for the little ones, head outside into the newly-opened Horrible Histories Maze where, with Kids's Swiftwater Clogs strapped on, they can get lost in numerous historical eras. Shop now.

Taste the sweet life

Go cocoa crazy for the day at Cadbury World, the activity-packed visitor centre at the world famous chocolate factory in Bournville. Set in the handsome Victorian ‘model village’ built by the Quaker chocolatier for its workers, it’s a dream day out for kids and adults alike. (Linden Rd, Bournville, B20 2LU, www.cadburyworld.co.uk).

Make it more fun Chocs away as you discover how chocolate is made from bean to bar and unwrap the history of the Cadbury brand. No stress or worry about spending all day on your feet too, as you make your way through 14 interactive zones in your snug and airy Karin Floral Clogs, you'll have ultimate comfort. Shop now.

Catch a match

With Aston Villa now back in the Championship, there are at least two Second City derbies to be enjoyed in the coming season. See the beautiful game at Birmingham’s two major football stadiums, Birmingham City’s St Andrews (www.bcfc.com) and Aston Villa’s Villa Park (www.avfc.co.uk). The warmth of the local supporters is legendary and it’s an exciting day out for all the famiy.

Make it more fun The thrills and spills of the match are bound to have you in and out of your seat like a jack-in-the-box. Be prepared for the drama, the highs and the lows - a great day out with either of the Midlands teams. Rest assured, with their CrocsLights Fire Dragon Clogs on, the kids will be snug for the full 90 minutes. Shop now.

Roy Kilcullen

Feed the penguins

Birmingham might be miles from the ocean, but at the National Sea Life Centre in Brindleyplace you can marvel at over 1,000 freshwater and marine creatures – including everyone’s favourite, the Gentoo penguins. (The Water’s Edge, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HL, www.visitsealife.com).

Make it more fun Book ahead and you can feed not just the penguins, but sharks and turtles, too. The Sealife Centre has an abundance of magical underwater delights to entertain kids and adults alike. With your waterproof Swiftwater Clogs on you can march around the length and breadth of the Sealife Centre, and its wet floors, in comfort and safety. Shop now.

Head into the shire

Sarehole Mill in Moseley isn’t just a beautifully preserved 250-year-old watermill, it’s where onetime local resident JRR Tolkein found inspiration for ‘The Lord Of The Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’. With its idyllic setting and tranquil millpond, it’s the epitome of rural Englishness. There's a family-friendly Tolkien exhibition, and on Wednesdays and Sundays you can see the original milling gear in action grinding flour. (Cole Bank Rd, Moseley, B13 0BD, www.birminghammuseums.org.uk).

Make it more fun On Wednesday to Friday afternoons, get down to this quintessentially English park and don your Sloane Platform Flips for a guided tour illuminating the working life of an eighteenth-century mill and the places that fired young Tolkien’s imagination.Who knows you may even cross paths with a hobbit or two. Shop now.

Hang out at the park

Leave the city behind, less than two miles from the city centre, and relax as you stroll through the grass, under the trees and around the lakes of 250-acre Cannon Hill Park. There are lots of beautiful picnic spots and grassy fields to run around in, plus playgrounds, tennis courts, mini-golf and a weekend kids’ funfair. The Garden Tea Room does drinks, snacks and a full menu. (Russell Rd, Birmingham B13 8RD, www.birmingham.gov.uk/cannonhillpark).

Make it more fun After expending all that energy running around, let the kids wind down with a tranquil pedal around the lake. Hire a pedalo and jump on board in your Swiftwater Clogs and your feet won’t mind getting wet. Shop now.

Slurp something cool

There are a growing number of ice cream parlours around the city where you can sate that sweet tooth in style. Independent Mr Gelato in Selly Oak (mr-gelato.co.uk) is open until 11pm daily, with 36 freshly made flavours from straciatella to Snickers, great crêpes and mikshakes. Paradice Gelateria in Harborne (paradicegelateria.co.uk) is known for extravagant sundaes like the Movie Night – chocolate and vanilla gelato with popcorn, fudge cubes, whipped cream and toffee sauce. Have a coffee in the dessert lounge while the kids jump around in the soft play area.

Make it more fun Summertime provides the perfect opportunity to grab an icy treat and slurp away. Not to worry if over-enthusiastic eating of a Paradice sundae means gelato and whipped cream failing to connect with mouth. Just put the kids in drip-proof Kids' Karin Clogs and they’re good to get that extra scoop on top, while their feet stay cool and protected. Shop now.

Peter Titmuss / Alamy Stock Photo

Get on your bike

Jump onto two wheels for a ride out of town on the Rea Valley Cycle Route, taking you from the city centre along the river Rea to Kings Norton Park. Pack a picnic and you can dismount halfway and settle down in the grass of Cannon Hill Park for a well-earned rest. (www.sustrans.org.uk).

Make it more fun: Sometimes a bike ride requires an extra pair of shoes, to make the journey a bit more comfortable. But there's no need to do that for this route. It’s a gentle ride, and with your Karin Floral Clogs on you’ll be the height of summer-chic yet comfy in the saddle or when you're happily reclining in the park, catching some rays and taking some time out. Shop now.

Pick your own five-a-day

Head out of the city to one of the many pick-your-own fruit farms on the edge of town. Manor Farm Fruits near Tamworth (www.manorfarmfruits.co.uk) and Waslgrove Farm outside Pershore (www.walsgrove.co.uk) are two great spots to pack a punnet from spring to autumn. Kids will love gathering their own berries and no one will mind if a couple end up in mouths, rather than baskets.

Make it more fun Shoes off in the bouncy castles, for hire in the play area at Manor Fruit Farms. Wear a pair of wipe-clean Yukon Mesa Clogs and you can happily stomp around in the strawberries without worrying about squashing a few, though you'll probably want to collect as many of the juicy red fruits as possible. Shop now.

Get arty

Birmingham is full of amazing art spaces, not least the internationally renowned Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, but Ikon is the city’s hot spot for contemporary art, with short and long-term exhibitions by local and international artists. Founded by a group of Birmingham artists in the 1960s with a mission of education and accessibility, there are lots of talks, tours and events for adults and children. (1 Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HS, ikon-gallery.org).

Make it more fun The first Saturday of the month is designated for families, with activity sessions to engage and inspire minds young and old. If the weather’s good, wear your comfy Sienna Flats and take a stroll along the towpaths and canals in nearby Gas Street Basin. They'll keep your feet snug and cosy, while also giving you good support and comfort all the way along your route. Shop now.

Be giants into a small world

Embrace Birmingham’s rich transport history in miniature at Wonderful World Of Trains And Planes in the Jewellery Quarter, where you can fly a plane over the Las Vegas strip, race a car and travel the world by model train. Test your skills on the Scalextric tracks, land a virtual 747 and take the controls of the world’s best-loved tank engine in Thomas’s Big Day Out. (3 Mary Ann St, St Paul’s Square, Birmingham B3 1BG, wonderfulworldtrainsplanes.co.uk).

Make it more fun  There are three floors of activities on offer here, but with a pair of Kids' Swiftwater Clogs on their feet the young ones will make light work of getting round them all. In fact, they'll be so comfy you'll probably end up having to take them round all three floors more than once. One giant leap for man, hundreds of tiny steps for one's child. Shop now.

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