Things to Do in Near Holiday Inn Express Birmingham - Star City

The Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is housed in an imposing Victorian building 15 minutes' drive from the hotel. Highlights include its collection of pre-Raphaelite paintings and an exhibition showcasing the Staffordshire hoard, the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold ever discovered. Quench your cultural thirst, then head to the museum's grand café for afternoon tea.

A 20-minute drive from the hotel takes you to the Norman Foster–designed National Sea Life Centre. The attraction features a fully transparent, 360° underwater tunnel, giving visitors the opportunity to come face to face with sea turtles, reef sharks and tropical fish. The aquarium also features a colony of playful gentoo penguins, an interactive rock pool and a 4D cinema experience.

Take a one-way, self-guided tour through Cadbury World, a 30-minute drive from the hotel. There you can see and smell exhibits detailing the history of chocolate and Cadbury, one of the world's largest confectionery companies. Take your time exploring the 14 different zones, featuring a multi-sensory cinema as well as staff demonstrations. Afterwards, enjoy a meal or chocolatey treat in the café.

Adventurous types can try a paddleboarding tour or lesson in Birmingham’s canal system with a local paddleboard club. Take a punt and explore the city’s urban waterways – it’s great exercise and offers a new perspective on Birmingham's refurbished industrial buildings and contemporary architecture. Afterwards, navigate to the city centre's Brindleyplace canalside development for a meal or a drink.

• Cadbury World
• Drayton Manor Theme Park
• Black Country Living Museum
• National Sea Life Centre
• Bullring Shopping
• birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
• Think Tank Science