There’s a lot of geeky things you can do in Birmingham
This guide covers some of our favourite geeky things to do in Birmingham this weekend. Whether you’re an esports fans or visiting gamer, turn your trip into a full weekend adventure.
It’s going to be a busy weekend for Birmingham with ESL One or DreamHack at the NEC. However, when the games pause, Birmingham opens up as a whole new world of experiences designed for fans of gaming, sci-fi, fantasy, and pop culture.
Gaming Bars, Boardgame Cafes and Immersive Hangouts
Birmingham has some great gaming orientated venues, where competition and social energy come together.
NQ64 Birmingham in the Custard Factory Digbeth, just outside of the city centre, delivers a retro arcade experience with neon lights, classic arcade machines, free-to-play consoles and themed drinks.
For a more laid-back session, Chance & Counters, just next door, offers a huge library of board games. You can discover new favourites, challenge your friends, and enjoy great food all in one place.
Also offering a wide selection of boardgames with Canalside views is Game Guru at Utilita Arena is a great place to game and more in a relaxed environment with a great selection of games.
A little further out of the city centre there are even more great boardgaming cafes with Sliced’n’Diced an LGBTQ+ owned and run venue on Bristol Road, where all are welcome, just a short hop from Selly Oak Train station and the University.
In the heart of Moseley Village, just outside of Birmingham there’s also the lovely The Double Six for even more boardgaming fun.
For more alternative themed bars try Spoilers, also on Digbeth High Street a short walk away is a dive bar that blends punk rock vibes and classic cult movies. Merlin’s Café Bar in Martineau Place similarly mixes the macabre with handcrafted cocktails and a darkly immersive atmosphere for an all round great night out.
If you would rather have a lively setting that keeps the energy going long after the final match, then head to Lane 7 in Bullring Link / The Cube or Roxy Ball Room at Victoria Square, which blend games like bowling, pool and shuffleboard, with beer, food and music.
Attractions and Interactive Fun
Birmingham excels at hands-on experiences that bring games and imagination into the real world.
Sandbox VR in Grand Central lets you step inside a fully immersive digital environment where you and your team can explore, compete, and collaborate. It captures the same thrill as esports, only now you are part of the action.
Lucky Claw on Bromsgrove Street is an East Asian-style arcade filled with colourful claw machines, blind boxes and fast-paced fun. It also features a StepOn machine, which is dance pad designed for two-to-six players. It’s a great stop for quick entertainment between plans.
Music fans can explore the Ozzy Osbourne exhibition at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Chamberlain Square, celebrating one of the city’s most iconic cultural figures and its role in shaping heavy metal.
If you enjoy strategy, teamwork, and problem-solving, Birmingham’s escape rooms offer a rewarding challenge. Escape Live Birmingham in the Jewellery Quarter features themed rooms that test logic, communication, and creativity under pressure.
Escape Hunt at Resorts World next to the NEC, and Clue HQ on Lionel Street under Snow Hill Train Station also deliver detailed, story-driven scenarios that reward clever thinking and teamwork. These experiences mirror the strategic depth of competitive gaming, making them ideal for esports fans.
Geeky shopping spots
Birmingham is packed with specialist stores that cater to every corner of geek culture.
Worlds Apart on Smallbrook Queensway has a comprehensive selection of comics, including back issues, upstairs and downstairs has a wide selection of manga (always at 3 for 2!) plus funko, gunpla, figures, trades and a whole lot more.
Forbidden Planet on Bull Street similarly has a huge selection of merchandise, comics, manga and niche items that reward careful browsing.
If Gacha is your jam, Bandai Namco Cross Store on New Street has everything Bandai Namco all under one roof! From exciting new merchandise, collectables, arcade amusements and much more!
Similarly, Tokyo Toys on Corporation Street is a must-visit for anime and manga fans, stocked with figures, manga, plushies, and imports.
Wayland’s Forge in the Custard Factory is every board game geeks dream with one of the best selections of tabletop RPGs, board games and trading card games in the UK.
Lastly, while not a hidden gem, Birmingham’s CEX on Bull Street is up there for its size and selection for picking up games, consoles, and tech while you’re visiting.
Make Your Birmingham Weekend Legendary
The above is only a small sample of my favourites. The city is filled with experiences designed for gamers, collectors, and curious minds. With retro arcades to immersive VR, from comics to competitive social gaming, hopefully this has convinced you that a weekend in Birmingham during ESL One or DreamHack offers far more than the main event.
That’s it from me, friends. If you have any amends to this page please email mat@geekybrummie.com
Follow me on my personal handle @Matchstick_Mat. Adios!
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