Birmingham is the secondary capital city of the UK so it seems natural that there will be plenty of things to partake in when it comes to date night. If you’re a student with little money or you just want a cheap and cheerful date, here are some of the best cheap date ideas in Birmingham.
1. Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park
Address: Pershore Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7RL
Take a stroll and take in all of the wildlife at Birmingham’s Wildlife Conservation Park. View the park’s large variation of monkeys. Explore animals you possibly have not seen before in the form of red pandas, lemurs and wallabies, as well as some you know and recognise like cute little meerkats and otters, and a selection of birds and reptiles. Animal lovers will definitely like it here and it is much cheaper than the zoo so it will not break the bank, costing just £7.25 a ticket meaning you could have a date for under £15 and impress your date with the amazing animals. It is a win win.
2. Golden Putter Mini Golf – Cannon Hill Park
Address: 2 Russell Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8RD
Fancy a date on the golf course? Now you can and quite cheaply. Play 18 holes of golf for just £6.50 each and you will be able to afford a drink too. A round of drinks is rumoured to cost around £5.50. If you want some down time after your golf, there are also perfect areas in the park for a picnic, so grab the basket and blanket and get going.
If you want an even cheaper evening of peace and quiet just pack and picnic and enjoy the lovely scenery in the park, no cost involved.
3. Cherry Reds Comedy Club
Address 88-90, John Bright Street, Birmingham City Centre, B1 1BN
A date where you laugh from start to finish. Now that is the cherry on top of the cake! At the Cherry Reds Comedy Club in Birmingham, you may think that you have to spend a fortune on the tickets. Not here, admit two people for £13 and have the funniest date you could possibly have, the perfect ice breaker for those on first dates too. Some of the best comedians you sit watching from your sofa at home such as Birmingham’s very own Joe Lycett (Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back, 8 out of 10 Cats) have made appearances and Cherry Reds. There is also a food, drink and buffet menu if you fancy going a bit further on special occasions.
4. Tilt
Address: 2 City Arcade, Birmingham B2 4TX
Tilt is one of Birmingham’s hidden gems and as it turns out, a fabulous idea for an inexpensive date. Located in the City Arcade this pinball café, offers a great range of affordable drinks such their craft beer and speciality coffees whilst you play on one of twenty pinball machines. Costing just £1 per game or three games for £2, whether you a fan of Stranger Things, Deadpool or Jurassic Park, there is a pinball machine here for everyone. Film, TV, comic and anime nerds will love it here, so if you want a date with a difference, get down to Tilt.
5. Cadbury World
Address: Linden Rd, Birmingham B30 1JR
Normally for adult tickets prices are £18 each, this may be a much for some. However, if you are a student it can be your lucky day to visit Cadbury World in Bournville, Birmingham. Just make sure you have valid ID on the day and you are good to go. This could be a NUS or TOTUM Card, or simply your dated university ID card. With this you can get a student discount making the prices of tickets £13.65. You will definitely make your date happy with this one as you get to sample Cadbury chocolate on the experience and sometimes try the new produce before it hits the shops.
6. Sarehole Mill and Moseley Bog
Address(s): Sarehole Mill, Cole Bank Road, Hall Green, B13 0BD; Moseley Bog, Yardley Wood Road, Moseley, B13 9JX
These attractions are just part of what is known as the J.R.R Tolkien trail. Whilst not technically a trail as described with parts of the famous author’s inspiration all over the city, Sarehole Mill and Mosley Bog are definitely the two places on the “Trail” that are close enough together to enjoy a walk through nature and soak up a bit of history that the man behind “The Lord of The Rings” and “The Hobbit” put into his great fantasy tales whilst he lived and wrote right where you will visit. Follow in the amazing man’s footsteps and see if you or your date can become the next Tolkien. The visitor centre, cafe and gardens are free, and you can see inside the mill house for just a small fee of £6, so it is well worth the visit.
7. Library of Birmingham
Address: Library of Birmingham, Centenary Square, Birmingham B1 2ND
Now you may be thinking “Who would want a date at a library?” First of all if your date loves books then you are onto a winner. Yes, it is a bookworm’s personal heaven but the Library of Birmingham is home to more than just books. The building itself has ten floors packs with things to do including the Discovery Café on the ground floor and photography, art and drama workshops throughout. They also host poetry readings and crafting sessions. But perhaps the best part is the Secret Garden on the top floor, sit amongst the flowers in the open space, take snaps of the memories and take some quiet time to just enjoy the view.
8. The Custard Factory
Address: Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, B9 4AA
Free to enter like all of the shopping centres around Birmingham, The Custard Factory is one of the most creative spaces in the city. All of the shops inside are alternative and independently run so you will be doing your bit to help the community as well. There is a theatre and TV studios that have produced “Embarrassing Bodies” and “How to Look Good Naked” (Maverick TV) and home of “The Gadget Show” (North One TV). The Custard Factory also houses the Yumm Café and many galleries, you could really spend all day in here.
9. Birmingham Donkey Sanctuary
Address: The Donkey Sanctuary (Birmingham), Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham
Admission is once again free to visit the beautiful donkeys at the Donkey Sanctuary. This centre aims to rescue and provide a home for donkeys and mules that suffer around the world and the Birmingham base is just one of many. It is open to the general public and goes the extra mile by providing donkey assisted therapy to people with special needs. There is also a coffee shop and a gift shop on-site for you to purchase a memento of a lovely date surrounded by gorgeous animals.
10. Canal Boat
Address: Sherborne Wharf Ltd Offices, Sherborne Street Birmingham, B16 8DE
If you are looking for a picturesque date, then why not take a ride of one of the canal boats that go along the Birmingham canals. At £8 each it is definitely affordable. With less to do but talk and look at the scenery, you will get to know your first date really well or find out something new about a long term partner. There is also the canal boat known as the “Floating Coffee Co.” which just like the name suggests is a coffee shop on the water, it truly makes a date memorable, even if you are a local to the city
Birmingham is a great city for a date that won’t harm your credit card so get down to the city now and make your own perfect dating memories.
