Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Birmingham Botanical Gardens is a Victorian garden in Edgbaston with four large glasshouses where plants from tropical, subtropical, Mediterranean and desert regions are grown on multiple levels. The houses are filled with rare and exotic plants thriving in controlled environments.

The gardens were founded in 1829 by the Birmingham Botanical and Horticultural Society and opened to members in 1832 following designs by J.C. Loudon. They were conceived as a place for botanical research and public education.

The gardens house the British National Bonsai Collection, where old and carefully cultivated trees from different traditions grow. Visitors can see how these miniature trees have been nurtured and shaped across generations.

The gardens offer learning programs through their Study Centre, with curriculum-based sessions for schools and community groups throughout the year. Visitors should wear good shoes as there are many paths through different areas.

The site is undergoing a comprehensive restoration project focused on preserving the Victorian glasshouses with support from national lottery funding. This project is making new areas of the historical structure accessible to visitors.