Mad about pens? Take a trip to the Pen Museum in Birmingham, UK

Although Birmingham has many great attractions, including the Symphony Hall and Barber Institute of Fine Arts, perhaps one of the best, though little known attractions, is the Pen Museum in the Jewellery Quarter.

With over 5,000 pieces to behold, the museum is free entry, open every day (with the exception of Christmas Day and Boxing Day) and even offers free guided tours throughout the museum.

Besides pens, the museum also shows off a large array of interesting factory machines and interactive devices that the whole family can enjoy. Additionally, for children, there is also a Victorian school room, which helps to teach them about Birmingham’s place in the information revolution.

For those that have always wanted to learn the art of calligraphy however, the museum also holds weekly calligraphy classes that take place every Saturday at 9:45am and 11:30am. The classes cost £3.00 per session and no pre-booking is required, though sometimes, classes can be full, so it is important to turn up early.

Upcoming Events

Pens at night – May 15 2014

During three nights, from the 15^th through to the 17^th, fifteen artists will explore drawing, writing and the overall history and traditions of the pen. Interestingly, the nights also provide the opportunity for visitors to create their own ink, which can then be taken home.

Artwork created on the nights will be showcased through until June 15.

Creative Writing Workshop – 21 May 2014

For those that have always wanted to learn how to write creatively, the Pen Museum will be hosting a creative writing workshop, headed by Birmingham based writer, Fiona Joseph.

What else is happening in Birmingham?

As already stated, Birmingham is a thriving city of culture and as a result, has many great things for people to see and do.

Birmingham Back to Back

Ranked 2^nd out of nearly 200 attractions on TripAdvisor, the National Trust museum gives visitors a great glimpse into the lives of working class people in the 19^th and early 20^th centuries.

Open most days, the museum is a mere £7.25 per adult and £3.90 for children.

Symphony Hall

Possibly one of the best known music halls in Europe, and one of the most elegant in the world, Birmingham’s Symphony Hall is often judged to be the jewel of the city.

With a capacity of just over 2000, the hall enjoys performances of all kinds, from orchestras, right through to rock and jazz.

Upcoming events include Psycho Live, David Grey and Paloma Faith. Click here to see just what else the hall has in store for the rest of the year.