A rainy local street scene with umbrellas, warm lights, and cosy indoor plans

Top Picks

Rainy Day Picks This Weekend

11–12 July Near Furnace Hill

Not every listing gets a golden ticket

We check the usual frankly silly number of local websites, then look for events that feel rainy-day friendly: cinemas, theatres, talks, workshops, galleries, concerts, cosy venues, and anything less likely to involve standing in a muddy field making brave weather noises.

Happening Saturday 11 July to Sunday 12 July.
Picked for Furnace Hill, not somewhere halfway across the county.
Only Local Gems and Curated venues make the cut, because standards are still a thing.
Listings with proper descriptions get bumped up the list. Three words and a shrug will not do.

Our 10 picks near Furnace Hill

The Fastest Bicycle + Q&A1

The Fastest Bicycle + Q&A

at mac

The Fastest Bicycle follows a London team of cyclists on a mission to 'go fast' and their journey to the 'World Human Powered Speed Challenge' on Route 305 in Nevada. There they discover an international community of speed freaks like no other. The Fastest Bicycle is a story of perseverance, as the team tackle a missing bike, high speed crashes, serious design flaws and injury. It’s also an exploration of community, as they discover that their competitors can also be their greatest allies. The screening will be followed by a live onstage Q&A with Sky Sports' regular contributor Raees Mahmood and 'The Fastest Bicycle' editor James Watson.

6.2 milesSun 12 Jul18:30£10.45
Local gemSee the details→
Talks & Lectures
community2

Hidden Spaces Roof and Basement Tours

at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

Step beyond the gallery walls and into the hidden heart of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. Our 'Hidden Spaces Tours' offer a rare opportunity to explore areas of the building that are usually closed to the public — including storerooms, tucked-away corridors, and architectural gems often overlooked.Join our expert guides as you:Wander through off-limits spacesSoak in the incredible Victorian architecture from a new perspectiveHear about recent and upcoming renovation projectsEncounter a few collection superstars along the wayEnjoy quirky tales from Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery's colourful past, from mysterious goings-on to hidden passagewaysThe building itself is one of our most fascinating artefacts, come and experience it in a whole new light.

6.4 milesSat 11 Jul12:00
Local gemSee the details→
Community

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A Tango Night at the Museum3

A Tango Night at the Museum

at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

Step into an unforgettable evening of passion, music and movement as Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery transforms into a vibrant Buenos Aires-inspired dance hall. The drama and romance of Argentine tango come alive beneath the museum’s grand architecture that immerses you in the mood of the dance.Enjoy a drinks reception with live music from 6pm and exclusive after-hours access to the museum. Surrounded by the rich history of Birmingham, guests can take in the elegance of the Edwardian Tea Rooms and dance under the dome of the iconic Round Room around the much-loved bronze statue Lucifer by Jacob Epstein — a striking and memorable setting for a night of tango.From 7pm to 12am, non-stop tango music curated by a renowned tango DJ, complete with fabulous cortinas, will create a rich and captivating soundscape throughout the evening. Whether you are an experienced dancer or simply curious to watch and soak in the atmosphere, this event welcomes everyone.Why not embrace the style of an earlier era — think Peaky Blinder–inspired elegance or just go all out with your tango bests for this atmospheric evening.Doors open at 6pm for a drinks reception, including a complementary drink with live musicFrom 7pm – 12am we'll be dancing the night away!This promises to be a truly unique cultural experience — a celebration of tango music, dance and community in the heart of Birmingham.

6.4 milesSat 11 Jul19:00
Local gemSee the details→
History & Heritage
community4

Kitchen Science

at Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum

Join us every Saturday and Sunday for Kitchen Science — a hands-on STEM adventure where everyday kitchen ingredients lead to extraordinary discoveries!Each week, try a new experiment you can easily fizzy rockets and bubble snakes to density towers and slime, it's a different surprise every time.Grab a lab coat.Roll up your sleeves.Dive into science you can touch, mix, and test.New experiments weekly. Mess encouraged. Curiosity required.Perfect for budding scientists of all ages! Event InformationSuitable for all ages. Children must be supervised by an adult.Drop in and join us for activities every Saturday and Sunday from 26 April.Included in the admission price.

7.1 milesSat 11 Jul12:00
Local gemSee the details→
Community
community5

Kitchen Science

at Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum

Join us every Saturday and Sunday for Kitchen Science — a hands-on STEM adventure where everyday kitchen ingredients lead to extraordinary discoveries!Each week, try a new experiment you can easily fizzy rockets and bubble snakes to density towers and slime, it's a different surprise every time.Grab a lab coat.Roll up your sleeves.Dive into science you can touch, mix, and test.New experiments weekly. Mess encouraged. Curiosity required.Perfect for budding scientists of all ages! Event InformationSuitable for all ages. Children must be supervised by an adult.Drop in and join us for activities every Saturday and Sunday from 26 April.Included in the admission price.

7.1 milesSun 12 Jul12:00
Local gemSee the details→
Community
The Robin6

The Robin

at Robin R&B 2

Soul’d Out UK Astonishingly energetic, entertaining and 100% LIVE, Soul’d Out UK are a 9-12 piece band featuring powerful male and female vocalists, funky rhythm section and a stonking full sax, trumpet and trombone horn section. Up to 2 hours of partying with soul and motown classics! Unlike other bands, we don’t use backing tracks, click tracks or synthesised horn sections to fill in the gaps. We are 100% LIVE with REAL instruments. We’ll guarantee a dance floor full of your guests, totally absorbed in the party atmosphere. Yeah, yeah! We don’t just like good music, we love it! Our repertoire delivers the best Soul, Northern Soul & Tamla Motown classics, taking our inspiration from the Motown and Stax labels, including artists such as Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Martha Reeves, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, The Four Tops and Al Wilson. Tickets for this show are non-refundable. In the event of a cancellation, ticket holders will be contacted. Share:

7.7 milesSat 11 Jul19:00
Local gemSee the details→
Live Music
community7

Hidden Spaces Roof and Basement Tours

at Aston Hall

Step beyond the gallery walls and into the hidden heart of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. Our 'Hidden Spaces Tours' offer a rare opportunity to explore areas of the building that are usually closed to the public — including storerooms, tucked-away corridors, and architectural gems often overlooked.Join our expert guides as you:Wander through off-limits spacesSoak in the incredible Victorian architecture from a new perspectiveHear about recent and upcoming renovation projectsEncounter a few collection superstars along the wayEnjoy quirky tales from Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery's colourful past, from mysterious goings-on to hidden passagewaysThe building itself is one of our most fascinating artefacts, come and experience it in a whole new light.

7.8 milesSat 11 Jul12:00
Local gemSee the details→
Community
community8

Morning Explorers

at Sarehole Mill

Morning Explorers is an accessibility program for autistic people and those with similar disabilities. Running on the second Saturday of each month, it offers some accessible adaptions to the museum experience, plus an optional Autism Friendly planetarium show. On these mornings we offer early entrance into the museum at 9am, before the museum opens to the public at 10am. This allows you to explore the museum at a quieter time. To reduce the noise level, we will mute the majority of sound making exhibits until 11am. Ear defenders and sensory maps will be available on entrance, and access to quiet spaces may be arranged on request.This event is suitable for autistic adults, autistic children, and any friends, family, and personal assistants who would like to join.Pre-booking is essential for admission.Members - Free entry for Members but you will need to pre-book at ticket. (Planetarium shows £3). We also offer a range of accessible resources, including social stories, sensory maps and picture and symbol cards. See our Accessibility Information for more details.

8.4 milesSat 11 Jul10:00£3
Local gemSee the details→
Community
festivals-events9

JQ Festival: Explore Smith & Pepper

at Sarehole Mill

Enjoy a self guided visit to the offices and factory of Smith and Pepper. Explore the space in your own time with friendly guides who can share stories and demonstrate the machinery used in jewellery manufacture. Journey through the business' 90 years of operation to see how jewellery was made, learn how the trade functioned, and hear about some of the people who lived and worked in the quarter.You can also explore our gallery 'Story of the Jewellery Quarter' to see historic and contemporary examples of metalwork made only a stone's throw away.After your visit, you can head next door for a coffee, organic wine or craft beer at our brand new cafe bar, Craft & Culture before heading out and seeing what the rest of the Jewellery Quarter has in store.Places are limited, pre-booking recommended.

8.4 milesSat 11 Jul11:30
Local gemSee the details→
Festivals & Events
community10

Hidden Spaces Roof and Basement Tours

at Sarehole Mill

Step beyond the gallery walls and into the hidden heart of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. Our 'Hidden Spaces Tours' offer a rare opportunity to explore areas of the building that are usually closed to the public — including storerooms, tucked-away corridors, and architectural gems often overlooked.Join our expert guides as you:Wander through off-limits spacesSoak in the incredible Victorian architecture from a new perspectiveHear about recent and upcoming renovation projectsEncounter a few collection superstars along the wayEnjoy quirky tales from Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery's colourful past, from mysterious goings-on to hidden passagewaysThe building itself is one of our most fascinating artefacts, come and experience it in a whole new light.

8.4 milesSat 11 Jul12:00
Local gemSee the details→
Community

More Top Picks

Keep the good ideas rolling

If this page has done the trick, there is more where that came from.

Round-upFamilies This WeekendTen family-friendly picks with proper details, decent venues, and no mystery listings that leave you guessing.Round-upFree Things This WeekendA smarter list of local free picks for the weekend, chosen for quality, clarity, and the sort of detail that saves a wasted journey.All PicksBack to Top PicksSee all our curated round-ups in one place.