Sheldon Country Park
📍 Birmingham, West Midlands
Large free country park adjacent to Birmingham Airport with an official aircraft viewing area, children's playground, farm animals, and extensive picnic space. Pram-friendly paths throughout with free parking at the Old Rectory Farm entrance.
Great place for plane-spotting with the kids! We parked in Car Park 5 at Birmingham Airport and walked a few minutes to the official viewing area. There are benches, good run-way views of aircraft taking off and landing, and plenty of space for children to sit or move around. Ideal for a relaxed outing or picnic while you watch the action in the sky. As a tip: bring wind-proof clothing and check parking charges ahead of time. Overall a fun and easy-to-access spot for aviation fans of any age!"
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for families with aviation-mad children — the aircraft pass low and loud enough to be genuinely exciting rather than distant specks. The free entry and free parking make it one of the better-value full days out near Birmingham. Combine the playground, animal pens, and viewing area for a three-hour circuit that works across a wide age range.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →1,930 Google reviews
Ishtiaq Hussain
5 months ago
“Great place for plane-spotting with the kids! We parked in Car Park 5 at Birmingham Airport and walked a few minutes to the official viewing area. There are benches, good run-way views of aircraft taking off and landing, and plenty of space for children to sit or move around. Ideal for a relaxed outing or picnic while you watch the action in the sky. As a tip: bring wind-proof clothing and check parking charges ahead of time. Overall a fun and easy-to-access spot for aviation fans of any age!"”
Aky
7 months ago
“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sheldon Country Park is a really lovely place to visit! It’s perfect for plane spotting – you can see everything up close and really hear the engines roaring, which is amazing. There’s also a small play area for the kids, a few animals to look at, and plenty of open space to enjoy. It has a bit of everything, making it a great spot for families or anyone who just wants a nice day out.”
TSLL
8 months ago
“Excellent day out, the children loved seeing all the planes take off and fly over there heads, lovely walk too and from the viewing park, a good play area in the main carpark plenty of things for the children to play on, the animals were plenty overall a very nice day”
Deb Hughes
a month ago
“Great place to visit, Sheldon country park is a big place, it’s great in the summer for picnics and watching the aeroplanes land and take off. Great park / play area for kids. Plenty of parking Park and ride at one of the car parks next to Marston train station.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Sheldon Country Park sits directly alongside Birmingham Airport's runway, giving families close-range views and audible engine noise as aircraft take off and land. The playground cluster sits near Old Rectory Farm alongside small farm animal enclosures. A 10-15 minute walk across the park connects the play area to the dedicated aviation viewing spot with benches. Paths are pushchair and wheelchair-accessible throughout.
