10 Best Sights and Viewpoints of Birmingham

Beacon Hill is the most famous viewpoint in Lickey Hills Country Park. Rising nearly 300 metres above sea level, the sweeping views of the surrounding countryside stretch for miles all around. At the summit, there’s a small fort with a display pointing out the direction of notable landscape features that can be seen. On a clear day, the view particularly remarkable.

To the west, you can see all the way into Wales, while Client and Waseley Hills come into view looking north. Turn your gaze east to see Birmingham, Cannock Chase, and Barr Beacon. Sometimes you can even see Bardon Hill way off in Leicestershire. Trees are obscuring the view to the south now, but one could once see as far as the Cotswolds.

Alpha Works rents office space at the top of Alpha Tower, and is noted for the incredible views offered from the 21^st floor of one of Birmingham’s tallest buildings. The co-working space offers day passes in the heart of Birmingham’s city centre, with stunning views from every part of the office.

The offices are high up in the iconic Alpha building, a popular historic landmark just a stone’s throw from the canals and Grand Central. If you need to work while you’re visiting, workspaces are available on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, making it ideal for those who work on the go. All you’ll need is your laptop. Even better, you’ll be able to work with an unrivalled view across the city.

At Gas Street Basin, you’ll find the very best view from the top of Bar Lock Footbridge, which includes the canal moorings just ahead. This is right in the heart of the canal network that’s edged by popular entertainment hubs.

Birmingham has 35 miles of canals, even more than Venice. They’re a thing of beauty, enjoyed by narrowboat owners, cyclists, and walkers while providing a reminder of a unique industrial history. The canals were busy during the Industrial Revolution when used to transport iron, coal, and other heavy goods.

The wooded area of Frankley Beeches, a picturesque cluster of beech trees near the M5 motorway, dates back to the Cadbury family legacy. Now in the care of the National Trust, this is where you’ll find a fabulous vantage point looking out to the Frankley and Bartley reservoirs that supply Birmingham with water, while the prominent skyline can be seen just beyond.

If you’re lucky enough to be here on a clear day, you may be able to gaze all the way out to the Cotswolds.

Barr Beacon sits on a hill at the edge of Birmingham, providing a view from one of the highest points in the West Midlands. Historically, it was the site of a beacon where fires were lit for celebratory occasions or to warn of an impending attack.

Barr Beacon is on greenbelt land that's important for nature conservation. It provides the chance to look out at landmarks like Birmingham’s city centre, Lichfield Cathedral, Cannock Chase, and the Lickey Hills. If it’s a clear day, you’ll even be able to see as far as Wales.

The Library of Birmingham offers impressive views from a top-floor viewing area and a magnificent secret garden on the 7th floor. It’s one of the nicest places for a view over the city, including landmarks like the Council House, the Hall of Memory memorial, the ICC, and bustling Broad Street.

Opened in 2013, the building is not only an architectural masterpiece, it’s the largest public library in the United Kingdom. While you’re here, you’ll find plenty of books to browse, including rare selections, and internationally important archives and photography collections.

A circular skyscraper in the heart of the city, the Rotunda is an iconic landmark that’s graced the Birmingham skyline for more than half a century. The ‘candle in the sky’ now serves as a residential building with apartments that offer stunning views across the city from their balconies.

The late James Roberts, the original architect, designed it as an office block but lived on the top floor in a penthouse for many years, taking in the jaw-dropping view that stretches for miles on a clear day. If you’re looking for a place to stay, temporarily or otherwise, Staying Cool hosts a collection of serviced apartments on the upper floors with a stylish design and the same remarkable view.

The Cube was described by architect Ken Shuttleworth as an "enchanting jewellery box," and is visible from many vantage points throughout the city. It also boasts a central location for views over the city from its location next to the Mailbox at the end of Gas Street Basin.

The best place to enjoy the vista is on the 25^th-floor, where you’ll find the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse, Bar & Grill. From here, you can enjoy some of the finest dining in Birmingham and views across the city as far as the tip of the West Midlands from the balcony.

Moseley Bog is an ancient woodland that’s part of a nature reserve. It was the childhood playground of JRR Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings, and is said to have been one of the major inspirations for the Shire and the forests of Middle Earth. It was named the top hidden spot in the entire UK for its enchanting atmosphere that Tolkien described as a "lost paradise."

Despite its name, the bog includes both dry and wet woodland along with lush vegetation that grew on the site of an old millpond. It also hosts some Bronze Age burnt mounds. A self-led walking route highlights the areas of Birmingham that provided inspiration for the author.

The Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower is the world’s tallest freestanding clock tower, even higher than the Elizabeth Tower in London – commonly known as Big Ben. The actual height varies depending on the source, though the University of Birmingham, where it sits, lists it at 328 ft tall – a claim supported by other sources.

Often referred to as ‘Old Joe,’ it was built in the early 20^th century and also has a connection to Tolkien as the influence for Sauron’s ‘all-seeing eye.’ It’s rather apt as, from here, you’ll get a spectacular view across Birmingham.