Cadbury World

Cadbury World opened in 1990 to give the many millions of chocolate lovers all over the world an insight into the magic that goes into making the much-loved confectionary. It is found in Bournville, a suburb of Birmingham some eight kilometres from the centre of the city, and is hugely popular with young and old alike, attracting well over 500,000 visitors every single year.

Divided into 14 distinct zones, you can take your time to stroll around and explore the many different aspects of the chocolate production process this should take you about three hours to complete at a gentle pace. One top tip with Cadbury World is to try, if possible, to avoid visiting during school holidays as it can be very busy.

John Cadbury opened his first chocolate shop on Bull Street in 1824, and in this chocolate wonderland you can see a nostalgic replica of the shop and street as it would have looked at that time. Another popular exhibit is Aztec Jungle, where you can find out about the origin of the sacred cocoa bean, and the place it holds in Mexican and Mayan cultures.

Learn about the secret ingredients that make Cadbury’s special, and then climb aboard the Beanmobiles of the Cadabra, where you should keep a look out for the Willy Wonka-style chocolate rain shower. When you’ve finished with that, write your name in chocolate in the Demonstration Area.

Regular events are held for the enjoyment of visitors, from Christmas theatre to Easter egg hunts in the spring, and it’s well worth checking what’s going on while you’re in town on the website.

Cadbury World is in Bournville, just 20 minutes’ drive from the city centre, and parking is free of charge. There is a train station a short walk away.

Check online for opening times before your visit, as they can change depending on the time of year. You also have to arrive at least 1 ½ hours before closing to gain admission, and entry is free for under fours.