Birmingham Back to Backs, Symphony Hall and Villa Park are some of our best attractions - but some visitors are not impressed
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We are the second city. And there's many things to love about our beautiful Birmingham.
And we have some amazing attractions to go along with it. Whether it's museums, galleries, theatres, shopping centres or parks - there's something for everyone and every age.
For some tourists, their trip to Birmingham can bring some disappointment and anger. And some have shared their experiences online - through Tripadvisor and Google.
Read more: Two museums - one in Birmingham and one in the Black Country - named among country's best by Lonely Planet
Here are some of the one-star and two-star reviews for the top 10 things to do in Birmingham according to Tripadvisor.
At Birmingham Back to Backs you can experience 200 years of working people's lives in the heart of Birmingham. It is pre-booked guided tours only.
But not everyone is a fan. Victor visited in 2018 and said it was the National Trust's "inability to present things as they really were".
His full review said: "I think this is another example of the National Trust's total inability to present things as they really were, at the time of it's original purchase and 'conversion' one of the first honorary visitors was an old lady who was an actual former tenant of the house before the Second World War. She was quite shocked with what she described as 'tarted up' rooms, and went on to say that they certainly did not have pretty wallpapers and as for lace curtains we never had money for such frivolities.
"Milk and beer were fetched in a jug there were never any bottles bought, old newspapers for table cloths and toilet paper, in the winter we put old coats on the beds to try and keep warm, coal was too expensive so we used to push old prams three miles to Saltly glassworks to buy coke which was much cheaper and gave out more heat although some weeks we had no money at all.
"So in truth the walls were severely damp, the plaster was cracked, windows frequently had cracked and broken glass which had to be blocked up with bits of whatever they could find as glass was never replaced by landlords. I realise that things have to conform to health and safety rules etc.
"But having worked as a film and TV scenic painter for many years I'm well aware how such things can be easily recreated to give a true depiction of what life was really like for people living on a pittance, people who could be evicted without notice, debt collectors who could legally take all your belongings if you fell behind with the rent with the exception of your bed & a single chair to sit on."
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery first opened in 1885 and has been through many changes during this time. It is housed in a Grade II listed city centre landmark building.
The five displays in the Round Room and Industrial Gallery bring together themes such as culture, identity, community, and media, with new objects on display and live events as well as space for visitors to join in and contribute.
But Diane visited earlier this month and revealed she "won't be going back". She said: "It should be closed until the refurbishment is completed - all the beautiful paintings and displays are gone!
"There is just a mixed match of photos on the walls. The tea rooms were shabby and the staff are sullen and not helpful or welcoming! It just left me feeling sad I use to love going there but I won't be going back."
The National Motorcycle Museum is recognised as the finest and largest British motorcycle museum in the world. It originally opened in October 1984 with a collection of 350 motorcycles on display.
It now boasts some 1,000 plus machines, fully restored to the manufacturers original specifications. The museum attracts around 250,000 visitors a year.
Richard called it "frustratingly uninspired" when he visited in December 2021. He said: "This place could be amazing, but it chooses not to be.
"It has some amazing bikes, but that's it. No interactive exhibits, no guides, no video footage, no story arc, no testimonials.
"My boys are nine and 12 and I thought it would be great if they could at least sit on a bike... But they couldn't.
They could put on a helmet and jacket, but they could do that at home. The cafe was acceptable, but the range was very limited. I have a crazy idea: why not sell a few bikes (you've got way more than enough!) and bring the 'museum' into the 21st century!"
Birmingham's world-famous concert hall presents a diverse programme of jazz, world, folk, rock, pop and classical music concerts, organ recitals, spoken word, dance, family, educational and community performances each year.
The Symphony Hall also hosts conferences, graduation ceremonies, business meetings and major broadcasts. The hall is managed alongside sister venue the Town Hall.
Nigel was "severely disappointed" during his visit in November 2019. He wrote: "Not my first time at this venue but the first time I have been severely disappointed!
"Facilities used to be very good but last night was just awful. Draught lager the only option and when I requested either beer or cider, I was offered a flavoured cider - very poor options for a non-lager drinker.
"No money spent at the venue last by me meaning a loss of revenue for the venue due to a total lack of options. I shall now visit other arenas around the country instead of wasting my time at this one."
Next to the Symphony Hall, is the Library of Birmingham. Upon opening in September 2013, it replaced Birmingham Central Library.
It has been described as the largest public library in the United Kingdom, the largest public cultural space in Europe, and the largest regional library in Europe.
But don't visit if you don't like "sheer drops" according to Peter. His review back in December 2019 said: "I think it looks brill, but yes I'm one of those that loved and spent thousands of hours in the old central ref lib.
"All it needed was a coat of white paint, it was built around 1973 so very new. We cant afford to keep rebuilding every 40yrs.
"Well the new library is full of open space , I walked through door and left in minutes its not for me. Good luck but its like an airport lounge not a place to relax research but perhaps that's life now fast food fast read. Its a great symbol of change but will it last another 40yrs."
Home to Aston Villa Football Club, you can go on a guided tour of Villa Park Stadium. Would you like to look out onto the hallowed turf, or check out the first team dressing room?
You can soak up the atmosphere and walk in the footsteps of Villa's finest players, both past and present, at one of English football's most historic venues.
In October 2018, Albert described Villa Park as a "dinosaur's playground". His review said: "I was looking forward to visiting this stadium.
"On reflection it is a dinosaurs playground harking to a yesteryear with no atmosphere and poor facilities. I travelled a three hundred mile round trip.
"Poor stadia with poor facilities and terrible half time food . Won’t be going back to Villa Park."
Restored to its Edwardian Arts and Craft splendour, Winterbourne House is a unique heritage attraction – set within seven acres of beautiful botanic gardens. Only minutes from Birmingham city centre, Winterbourne has been described as a hidden gem – home to beautiful antiques and over 6,000 plant species from around the world.
Wander along the woodland walk, stroll through the hazelnut tunnel, cross the 1930’s Japanese Bridge or simply soak up the tranquillity of this perfectly English Edwardian home.
But one Tripadvisor reviewer described them as "something of a non event" in September 2022. The review said: "We visited because there was a "Bee" event which we thought would be good, sadly it wasn't particularly.
"The Gardens, apart from the steps up to the terrace, was something of a non event, nothing very interesting or exciting, very much things that you've seen before, but probably better laid out and without the weeds.
"We decided to treat ourselves to a drink so went to the somewhat grandly named Tea Room. R waited for absolutely ages for a pot of boring tea bag tea, he asked for a latte for me but was told that he could only have an Americano, so I got a strong, rather bitter coffee that didn't taste freshly made, cold milk, no offer of hot. With this we had two cold, bland scones, some decent jam and we waited at the table for the cream for the "Cream Tea".
"A lovely young man advised us that there was no cream left, none for the next table either, but he kindly brought some butter to the table for us. We spoke with someone else who had also come for the "Bee" event and she said that she would have been rather annoyed if she'd had to pay the entry fee (usually you have to pay the entry fee to go into the tea rooms) I'm not sure why. We agreed that the Gardens were not inspiring, at best they were OK!"
The Birmingham Hippodrome attracts an average of more than 500,000 visits annually - making it one of the most popular single auditoriums in the UK. With no public revenue funding, it is home to Birmingham Royal Ballet and DanceXchange, presents all of Welsh National Opera's repertoire, welcomes the best in international dance, West End and Broadway musicals and is home to the world's biggest pantomime.
Productions so far this year have included Les Miserables, Beauty and the Beast and We Will Rock You. However, Richard was "appalled" by Birmingham Hippodrome when he visited last month.
He said: "Having paid a bloody fortune to watch Les Miserables today I’m appalled by this theatre. I’m all my years going to the theatre I’ve never been in such a poor theatre for keeping customers cool.
"It’s not bad enough they rip you off for drinks they then cook you, I asked about air con and they don’t have it. I’m someone with server breathing issues and it caused me discomfort. No management to speak to, shocking."
A museum dedicated to the history of coffins might not be of interest to everyone, but it is one of the most popular things to do in Birmingham. A Victorian Coffin Fittings factory, restored by Birmingham Conservation Trust and opened as a museum in October 2014.
The shelves and workbenches at Newman Brothers are full of original stock and tools of the trade. With the original machinery working again, you can experience how this old Jewellery Quarter firm once operated on a day-to-day basis, producing some of the world's finest coffin furniture, including the fittings for the funerals of Joseph Chamberlain, Winston Churchill and the Queen Mother.
David wasn't impressed when he visited in October 2019. He said it was "not about coffins or coffin making".
His review said: "This was not about coffins or coffin making. It is mostly about the coffin handles and decorations.
"For me ( as an ex press tool design engineer) the most disappointing aspect was that I was genuinely interested in the processes but the guide simply ignored my questions and ploughed on with his script - which wasn't that interesting to be honest. There isn't a lot to see and it felt like the tour was being spun out to justify the cost.
"There was quite a lot of stuff about the internal tea making etc. Also, we were told we could take photos - but there was little to be interested in. I guess if you had never been in a manufacturing setting it might have been more interesting. But then, I'm not that interested in social history.
"Finally - if you have limited mobility be aware that there are steep stairs. If there is an access lift it certainly wasn't pointed out or mentioned. The tour was really about 20 minutes worth of looking around."
At the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter you can discover the jeweller's craft and enjoy a unique tour of an original jewellery factory. It traces the 200 year history of the ancient crafting skills that made Birmingham the centre of the British jewellery industry.
But sadly not everyone is a fan. In 2017, Rebecca described the tour as "terrible".
She said: "The museum itself was quite interesting, if a little on the small size. The main attraction I guess is the tour of the old workshop - which has potential but our tour guide was awful.
"She kept getting side-tracked into conversations about pets and her friends pets, and lots of other things other than the jewellery. It was one of the slowest hours of my life, and I was actually embarrassed to have brought a friend who had never been to Birmingham before with me.
"Somebody asked a really relevant question, and she just shut him down completely - very bizarre."