Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses provides a great opportunity for recreation and relaxation, a world away from the nearby city centre. Visitors can marvel at the huge variety of plants from all over the world, and learn how plants and people are partners for life.

Founded by the Birmingham Botanical & Horticultural Society, which still manages the venue today, Birmingham Botanical Gardens was built between 1829 and 1832. The gardens, designed by leading garden planner and journalist J C Loudon, were originally stocked through generous gifts of plants and seeds from similar institutions around the world.

The four glasshouses, built from 1852 onwards, represent different world environments - Tropical, Subtropical, Mediterranean and Arid - offering visitors the chance to view plant life from these areas. Other attractions include Roman, mediaeval and Tudor gardens, a Pinetum, a Children's Discovery Garden and a herb garden, as well as a British Wetlands Habitat and an aviary. The Cottage & Garden provides a natural setting for a collection of old favourite plants.

Visitors can also relax and enjoy a picnic on the Loudon Terrace or the Main Lawn, where musical entertainment takes place during summer every Sunday in the bandstand. These concerts have been popular since their inception in 1873, and are part of a varied events programme that also includes theatre performances, regular plant fairs and meetings of horticultural societies plus educational work.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses also makes a perfect venue for a special occasion, with three magnificent banqueting suites available and a licence to hold civil weddings.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses

Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham

0121 454 1860

www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk.