Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery Museum

Address: Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3DH, United Kingdom

Website: https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/bmag

Hours: Tue-Sun 10:00am-5:00pm, closed Mondays

Admission: Free entry to the permanent collection; charges for special exhibitions and some events

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is a municipal museum in central Birmingham, England, founded in the 19th century and occupying a landmark civic building opened in 1885. It is notable for its collections of Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite art and for displays of local history and decorative arts.

The museum opened in 1885 as a municipal museum and art gallery, developed from Birmingham’s civic collecting and the municipal commitment to public education in the Victorian era. Over time the building and collections expanded to incorporate archaeological finds, industrial and decorative arts, and a programme of changing exhibitions.

The museum sits on Chamberlain Square in Birmingham city centre, adjacent to the Council House and within easy walking distance of New Street and Snow Hill railway stations.

• Admission: General admission to the museum collection is free, with charges only for some special exhibitions.
• Best viewing point: The building faces Chamberlain Square and sits adjacent to Birmingham Council House, making the best photo views from the square and nearby Centenary Square.

What to See#

• Art and Decorative Collections: Houses a major collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings and Victorian art alongside ceramics, metalwork, and local history displays spread across several dedicated galleries and temporary exhibition spaces.
• Gas Hall (temporary exhibitions): The central Gas Hall is a large temporary-exhibition space used for major shows and events, occupying the original museum circulation heart.
• Pre-Raphaelite Gallery: A focused gallery displaying Pre-Raphaelite and Victorian paintings, including works by Edward Burne-Jones and contemporaries, presented in period-style hangings and interpretation.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is in Birmingham city centre at Chamberlain Square next to the Council House. It’s an easy walk (around 5-10 minutes) from Birmingham New Street railway station and is served by many city centre bus routes on Corporation Street and Smallbrook Queensway. By car, follow the M6 into the city and follow signs for the city centre; there are several nearby public car parks.

• Head to the Chamberlain Square/main entrance on a weekday morning to avoid school parties and city-centre traffic; the permanent galleries are quieter before lunch.
• Check the museum's website for timed special exhibitions and any late-night openings-permanent collection viewing is free but ticketing may apply for temporary shows.
• Don't miss the city's renowned Pre‑Raphaelite holdings upstairs; many visitors stick to the ground-floor galleries and miss this significant collection.