If you’re on the hunt for a family-friendly trip out in Birmingham that’s both exciting and educational (and gets everyone off their screens!), then say hello to GIANTS – the unmissable new exhibition taking over the Gas Hall at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery from Saturday 2 August to Sunday 2 November.
This immersive experience includes life-sized prehistoric creatures to hands-on fossil activities, GIANTS is the kind of day out that blends fun with learning and leaves your kids wide-eyed with wonder.
GIANTS isn’t just another walk-through exhibit – it’s a full-on journey through time, starting 66 million years ago, right after the dinosaurs disappeared. Think giant sloths the size of cars, sabre-toothed cats with jaws of steel, and snakes longer than a Travel West Midlands bus (yes, really).
What makes it perfect for families?
There are six huge life-sized 3D models your kids will LOVE standing next to (hello family photo op!)
Three incredible fossil skeletons that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a real dig site.
Interactive zones where children can become palaeontologists for the day, brushing off fossils and exploring how we learn about ancient creatures.
Meet the Stars of the Show
Meet some of the coolest prehistoric animals ever – and no, they’re not dinosaurs! These are the giants that came after, and they’re just as fascinating.
Highlights include:
Titanoboa – The world’s biggest snake
Paraceratherium – A giraffe-sized rhino and the biggest land mammal in history
Megalodon – A shark so big it could swallow a car
Woolly Mammoth – The Ice Age icon
Smilodon – The ultimate saber-toothed cat
Megatherium – A prehistoric sloth the size of a small van
Gigantopithecus – A real-life King Kong (well… almost)
It’s one thing to read about these giants in a book – but it’s another thing entirely to stand beside them and feel just how massive they really were. This is the kind of hands-on learning that sticks with kids for years.
A Reminder for the Future
While GIANTS is full of “wow” moments, it also gently nudges families to think about today’s wildlife. The final part of the exhibition shifts to the modern-day giants – elephants, gorillas, whales – and how they’re now facing threats of extinction. It’s a beautiful message about conservation, delivered in a way that’s easy for children to understand and feel inspired by.
It’s not preachy, just powerful. And it left my two children asking all the right questions on the way home.
Planning Your Visit to GIANTS – What You Need to Know
Where: Gas Hall, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
When: Saturday 2 August – Sunday 2 November
Open: Wednesday to Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Tickets: https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/exhibitions/giants
Highly recommended to book online in advance to secure your slot, although limited walk-up tickets will be available on the day (if not sold out).
Enjoy a visit to the shop whilst at the exhibition, stocked with a fantastic choice of books, soft toys, and art pieces. My girls couldn’t resist the toy sloths.
There are toilets, a café nearby for snacks or lunch breaks (highly recommend a sando from the tearooms), and it’s all fully accessible – perfect for buggies and little legs.
You can easily spend 1-2 hours here, depending on your pace and how many questions your little ones ask (hint: it’ll be a lot if they are anything like mine!).