Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses, Birmingham

Visited Birmingham for a holiday a while ago and loved the place that much, we're coming back at the end of the year! The Botanical Gardens were a real highlight, absolutely beautiful surroundings, there was a jazz band playing in the gardens and there's a great little cafe too.

The gardens are an oasis of calm within a bustling city. The gardens are beautifully laid out and the variety of plants in all seasons gives one ideas for one's own garden. The greenhouses are superb, and our grand-daughter loves the birds - and the slide in the children's playground. However, the gardens are expensive to visit, unless one has a season ticket. The plants for sale often look sickly, and the coffee shop is disappointing. The staff try, but the products for sale are limited and some do not look appetising.