Kadampa Meditation Centre Birmingham
ENTRY
from £12
WHERE
Birmingham
What it’s like
Drop-in meditation classes and talks in central Birmingham, with sessions from £12 and no need to know anything about Buddhism first.
This is a working meditation centre rather than a visitor attraction, so what you actually do is sit in on a class or a talk. Topics range from the practical, like "How to meditate" at £12, to the more philosophical, such as "Letting go of limiting self beliefs" or "Enjoy life through understanding death", which runs £18 in advance and jumps to £25 if you turn up on the door. That door price is the one to avoid; booking ahead saves a fair bit across most of their sessions.
Nobody expects you to have any background in this. The centre is upfront that beginners and non-Buddhists are just as welcome as anyone else, and the format usually includes a question and answer session so you're not just sitting in silence wondering if you're doing it right. Chanted prayers are free to attend if you want to dip a toe in before paying for a proper class, and there are discounts if you commit to a whole weekly course or take out a monthly membership.
Opening hours are limited: Tuesday to Thursday it's 11am to 4pm, and weekends run 10am to 2pm, so this isn't somewhere you can turn up on a whim in the evening. It's about a 7 minute walk from Birmingham New Street station and close to tram and bus links, which makes it an easy add-on to a day in town. There's wheelchair access and a disabled toilet on site, plus a small café and gift shop if you want to make more of the visit.
The site lists school visits and group bookings among what they offer, alongside party rooms, so it's set up for more than just solo drop-ins. Free street parking only really works in the evenings and on Sundays, given the daytime session hours, so most people heading in during the week will want one of the local car parks instead.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Free on surrounding streets 6pm-midnight and Sundays
- Getting there by bus or train
- 6-8 minutes walk from Birmingham New Street station
- Booking ahead on the death and understanding talk saves £7 compared with paying on the door
- Weekly courses and monthly memberships bring the per-class price down if you're going regularly
- There's a café and gift shop on site if you want to stay on after a session
- Daytime opening hours mean the free evening street parking won't help most visitors
Plan your visit
How much do classes cost?
Prices vary by session, from £12 for How to meditate up to £18 or £20 for some of the retreats and talks. The death and understanding talk is £18 booked ahead but £25 on the door, so it pays to book.
Do I need any meditation experience or a Buddhist background?
No, they say everyone is welcome including complete beginners. The classes are pitched to be accessible whether you've meditated before or not.
What are the opening hours?
Tuesday to Thursday it's 11am to 4pm, and weekends are 10am to 2pm. There's nothing listed for Mondays or evenings.
Is there anything free to try?
Chanted prayers are free to attend. Everything else on the class and talk list has a price attached.
Is there parking nearby?
Street parking is free from 6pm to midnight and all day Sunday, with affordable car parks nearby for other times.
How do we get there without a car?
It's about a 6 to 8 minute walk from Birmingham New Street station, and roughly 8 minutes from Broad Street, with tram and bus links close by.
Do you cater for groups or school visits?
Group bookings and school visits are both things they offer, and there are party rooms on site too.
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