Lapworth Museum of Geology
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Indoors
BUGGY FRIENDLY
Yes
What it’s like
Free museum of fossils, rocks and prehistoric creatures on the University of Birmingham campus, no booking needed.
Fossils, rocks and minerals fill the cases here, tracing 4.6 billion years of history, with dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures for the kids to hunt out along the way. It's a proper university museum rather than a hands-on activity centre, so it suits a child who likes looking closely and asking questions more than one who needs buttons to press.
Entry is free and there's no need to book, which makes it an easy one to slot into a rainy Tuesday without any planning. Hours shift with the seasons: in summer it's open from 10 on weekdays and midday at weekends, in winter the weekday finish creeps back an hour to 4pm. There's a lift up to the mezzanine, so a pushchair or wheelchair isn't a problem, and you can borrow a wheelchair or a folding stick seat at reception if you need one.
Food is the one gap. You can't eat or drink inside the museum itself, so if you've got a snacking toddler you'll want to factor in a stop at one of the campus cafés either side of your visit. The shop at the entrance sells the usual mineral and dinosaur trinkets if you need something to keep small hands busy on the way out.
If you're around on the first Monday of the month, there's a free guided tour at lunchtime, though that one needs booking ahead. There's also a monthly quiz night at £3.99 for adults and children, which is a nice excuse to come back after dark.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- North East multi-storey £3.40-£10 depending on duration
- Food
- No food sold on site. Many refreshment outlets available on University of Birmingham campus
- Pushchairs
- Fully accessible for prams with elevator access to mezzanine level
- Wheelchairs
- Fully accessible for wheelchair users
- Getting there by bus or train
- Five-minute walk from University Station
- No food or drink allowed inside, so eat before or after on campus
- The first-Monday guided tour is free but needs booking ahead
- Winter weekday hours are an hour shorter than summer ones
- Free wheelchairs and folding stick seats available on request at reception
Plan your visit
Is it free to get in?
Yes, entry is free and you don't need to book ahead.
What are the opening times?
April to August it's 10 to 5 on weekdays and 12 to 5 at weekends. September to March the weekday hours shorten to 10 to 4, weekends stay the same.
Can we bring a pushchair or wheelchair?
There's a lift up to the mezzanine, so it's fully accessible for prams and wheelchairs. Free wheelchairs and folding stick seats are available at reception if you need one.
Can we eat while we're there?
Food or drink inside the museum, but there are plenty of café options across the university campus.
Is there parking nearby?
The North East multi-storey is the option, £3.40 to £10 on weekdays depending on how long you stay, or £3 a day at weekends. It's free after 6pm on both.
Are there any events for families?
There's a free guided tour on the first Monday of each month at lunchtime, which needs booking, plus a monthly quiz night at £3.99 for adults and children.
How do we get there without a car?
It's a five-minute walk from University Station, and it's on several bus and cycle routes.
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