Sense TouchBase Pears
ENTRY
from £15
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Birmingham
What it’s like
Sensory play, tactile art workshops and adaptive movement sessions in a fully accessible Birmingham centre built for disabled children and their families.
This one's built around sensory experience rather than a big play frame. Kids get stuck into sensory toys, musical instruments, books and crafts, or join a visual arts workshop where the focus is trying out new tools and textures rather than producing a masterpiece. There's a Sensory Sports after-school club too, working on movement and coordination with adaptive equipment, and a Creative Arts Jam that mixes dance, music, performance and visual art, with the option to join in person or online when you book.
The visual arts workshops are £15, and only the participating child needs a booking, parents, carers and support staff can just come along. If a session's full, you can email to go on the waiting list rather than just missing out.
Everything here is geared towards step-free access and sensory-friendly surroundings, with blue badge parking on site accessed through Selly Wharf via an intercom and barrier, which feels like a faff the first time but means proper controlled access. Assistance dogs are welcome, with their own exercise and toilet area. The Sense Café does food on site with highchairs and baby changing, though it's worth knowing the café's own hours can shift at short notice if they're short-staffed, so it's not one to rely on for a fixed lunchtime.
Hours are short and specific: 10am to 2.30pm Monday to Thursday, and 10am to 1.30pm on Fridays, so this isn't a place for an all-day visit, more a focused morning session. Selly Oak train station is two minutes on foot, and the 61 and 63 buses stop close by running every 10 minutes.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Secure parking on site including blue badge spaces
- Food
- Sense Café on site: fully accessible, family-friendly venue with highchairs and changing facilities
- Dogs
- Assistance dogs welcome with secure exercise and toilet areas available
- Getting there by bus or train
- Selly Oak Train station a 2-minute walk
- Assistance dogs are welcome and there's a dedicated exercise and toilet area for them
- Café hours can change at short notice due to staffing, so it's not guaranteed to match the centre's own hours
- Parking access is via an intercom and barrier at Selly Wharf, so allow a minute or two getting in
- If you can't attend a booked workshop, email ahead to cancel your slot
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
The visual arts workshops are £15. Other sessions aren't priced here so you'd want to ask about those directly when booking.
Do we need to book ahead?
For the visual arts workshops, only the child taking part needs a slot, parents and carers can just turn up alongside them.
What if the session I want is full?
Email to be added to the waiting list rather than assume there's no room.
Can we join sessions online instead of in person?
The Creative Arts Jam gives you the choice of attending in person or online when you book.
What are the opening hours?
10am to 2.30pm Monday to Thursday, and 10am to 1.30pm on Fridays.
Is there parking on site?
Yes, secure on-site parking including blue badge spaces, accessed via Selly Wharf through a barrier and intercom.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs and buggies?
The whole site is step-free and wheelchair accessible, and the café has highchairs and baby changing too.
Can we get there by public transport?
Selly Oak train station is a two-minute walk, and the 61 and 63 buses stop nearby every 10 minutes.
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