A Travel Price Comparison for United Kingdom Dover vs. Birmingham for Attractions, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Dover or Birmingham?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dover and Birmingham can help you decide which place is right for you.

Dover

Dover is a breathtaking, iconic, and rustic town. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Other reasons to visit include food, hiking, and museums.

Birmingham

Birmingham is a bustling, historic, and vibrant city. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. Other popular activities here include food, shopping, and museums.

Dover and Birmingham: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Dover or Birmingham?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Birmingham than Dover, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Birmingham is better known for its museums & sights, theatre productions, nightlife, music, shopping, and quaint atmosphere, while Dover is more popular for its hiking and impressive beauty. Dover is well known for the famous White Cliffs of Dover as well as the ferry connection to mainland Europe. Birmingham is well known for its strong musical routes and its very livable atmosphere. Also, Birmingham is famous for Victoria Square.

How is Dover different from Birmingham?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Birmingham and Dover. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Dover or Birmingham?

Birmingham is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Dover is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

Many visitors head to Birmingham specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Famous sights include the Museum & Art Gallery, Thinktank, and St. Philip's Cathedral.

Dover is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Aside from the iconic White Cliffs of Dover, there is the Dover Castle, the South Foreland Lighthouse, and the Grand Shaft.

Is Dover or Birmingham Better for Theater?

Birmingham is a well-known place for its shows and theatre. However, Dover is not a theatre destination.

Birmingham has a number of performance venues where you can see a variety of shows. The impressive theater scene includes Broadway shows and musicals. Birmingham Hippodrome is a major theater in town.

Dover is not a theatre destination.

Is the Food Better in Dover or Birmingham? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Dover and Birmingham both to be notable destinations.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Dover area. The town has a growing food scene that includes waterfront restaurants and local dishes. Find a restaurant with a view to make sure you take full advantage of the setting.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Birmingham. Food reviews are mixed around town. The city has its share of award-winning restaurants, but there are also popular dishes that are more of an acquired taste. Local flavors include pork scratching, Birmingham soup, and brummie bacon cakes.

Is Dover or Birmingham Better for Nightlife?

Birmingham is a well-known place for its evening party scene. However, Dover is not a good town for nightlife.

Birmingham offers plenty to do in the evening. With tons of students and young people looking to party, there is plenty to do in the evening. You'll find no shortage of pubs, clubs, and music venues around town.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Dover. The nightlife has a relaxed atmosphere with wine bars and microbreweries.

Is Dover or Birmingham Better for Music?

Birmingham is a world-class destination for its music scene. However, Dover is not a live music destination.

In Birmingham you'll find nightly musicians performing at a variety of venues. The city has long been a haven for musical creativity, and its influence over the global music scene is apparent. Popular music venues around town include Ghetto Golf, Digbeth Dining Club, and the Sunflower Lounge.

Dover is not a live music destination.

Is Dover or Birmingham Better for Hiking?

Dover is great for hiking. However, Birmingham is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Dover for the hiking trails. There are many beautiful countryside walks that take you through the rolling hills and along the iconic white cliffs. Some of the best hikes in the area include The England Coast Path, The North Downs Way Saxon Shore Way.

Birmingham is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Dover or Birmingham?

Birmingham is a well-known place for its shopping areas. However, Dover is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Birmingham. The city offers everything from large department stores to smaller local shops. There are several good shopping streets around town as well as large markets and even a jewelry quarter.

Dover is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Dover or Birmingham Better for Families?

Birmingham is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Dover is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Birmingham is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has put effort into making sure there are plenty of family-friendly activities around. You can visit a chocolate factory, explore an aquarium, enjoy an animal safari, or explore one of the hands-on museums.

Dover is a family-friendly town. There are a few kid-friendly museums like the Dover Transport Museum and the Dover Castle. Also make sure you check out the South Foreland Lighthouse.

Is Dover or Birmingham Better for Couples?

Both Dover and Birmingham are very good destinations to visit as a couple.

Dover is a very popular place to visit for couples. The White Cliffs of Dover are an iconic sight and perfect for a romantic trip away. Also make sure you check out St. Margaret's Bay Beach and the Kearsney Abbey Gardens.

Birmingham makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Romantic activities around town include taking a beautiful stroll through town, wandering around a park or garden, or seeing the ballet.

Is Dover or Birmingham Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Dover is very good for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Birmingham is not a good destination for backpackers.

Dover is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. You'll find several nice hostels to choose from in the town.

Birmingham is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not the most popular destination for backpackers, but there's at least one affordable hostel in town.

Is Dover or Birmingham Better for Students?

Birmingham is a world-class destination for students. However, Dover is not popular with students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Birmingham. With world class academic institutions and a very diverse and international population, this is a popular place for international students to study.

Dover is not popular with students.

Is Dover or Birmingham Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Birmingham is very good for its public transit. However, Dover is not a good town for times when you don't have a car.

Birmingham has a few public transit options. There is a reasonably comprehensive bus system.

Public transit is mostly limited in Dover. There are public buses through the district.

Is Dover or Birmingham a more walkable city?

Birmingham is a well-known place for its ease of walking around. Also, Dover is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its walkability.

Birmingham is a very walkable destination. Many parts of the city are very walkable.

Dover is somewhat walkable. You can wander around the countryside, but prepare for rolling hills and great views.

For even more information, also check out Is Dover Worth Visiting? and Is Birmingham Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Birmingham or Dover?

How long in Dover or Birmingham?

In either Dover or Birmingham, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Birmingham than Dover because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Dover, and 1-5 days is enough time in Birmingham.

Families should spend more time in Birmingham than Dover. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Birmingham, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Birmingham than Dover. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Birmingham that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Birmingham than Dover if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Birmingham.

One day in Dover or Birmingham?

With museums and food around the natural town of Dover, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Birmingham, many people enjoy the nightlife and live music that this fun-filled destination offers. Lots of people come for the live music. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Dover or Birmingham?

With food and museums around the destination of Dover, there's plenty to do. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this town.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Birmingham. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Dover or Birmingham?

Dover, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Birmingham is a fun place to experience. In Birmingham, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this destination offers. Lots of people come for the live music. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A week in Dover or Birmingham?

Dover is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find shopping and museums around the vibrant destination of Birmingham. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the live music. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours in United Kingdom, The Best 2-Week Tours in United Kingdom, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in United Kingdom.

When comparing the travel costs between Dover and Birmingham, we can see that Birmingham is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dover Expensive? and Is Birmingham Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Dover or Birmingham?

Birmingham has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Dover. When comparing the sizes of Dover and Birmingham, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Dover or Birmingham?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Dover or Birmingham in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Dover as well as Birmingham. The summer months attract visitors to Dover because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the music scene and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Birmingham this time of year.

In the summer, Dover is around the same temperature as Birmingham. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dover in July average around 17°C (63°F), and Birmingham averages at about 17°C (63°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dover this time of the year. In the summer, Dover often gets more sunshine than Birmingham. Dover gets 212 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Birmingham receives 196 hours of full sun.

Dover usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Birmingham. Dover gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dover or Birmingham in the Autumn?

Both Birmingham and Dover are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Dover this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Birmingham for the shopping scene and the music scene.

In October, Dover is generally around the same temperature as Birmingham. Daily temperatures in Dover average around 12°C (54°F), and Birmingham fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Dover usually receives more sunshine than Birmingham during autumn. Dover gets 119 hours of sunny skies, while Birmingham receives 103 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Dover usually receives more rain than Birmingham. Dover gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Dover or Birmingham in the Winter?

Both Birmingham and Dover during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Dover for the museums and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Birmingham in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

Birmingham can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Dover. Dover is a little warmer than Birmingham in the winter. The daily temperature in Dover averages around 4°C (40°F) in January, and Birmingham fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

In the winter, Dover often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Birmingham. Dover gets 57 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Birmingham receives 58 hours of full sun.

Dover usually gets less rain in January than Birmingham. Dover gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dover or Birmingham in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dover and Birmingham. Many visitors come to Dover in the spring for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Dover is around the same temperature as Birmingham. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dover in April average around 9°C (47°F), and Birmingham averages at about 9°C (48°F).

Dover usually receives more sunshine than Birmingham during spring. Dover gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Birmingham receives 136 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Dover usually receives around the same amount of rain as Birmingham. Dover gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Birmingham receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Birmingham and Dover