Birmingham's Victorian Botanical Gardens and Glasshouses is known as "the city's back garden".

Opened in 1832, the Gardens were designed and planted by J.C. Loudon, a leading garden planner, journalist and publisher.

His passion for horticulture is still evident today in the dazzling array of plants on show, from trees (maple, conifer, pine, redwood, cedar, larch, fir) to flowers (rhododendrons, azaleas, fuschias, chrysanthemums, carrions) and even a herb garden for budding chefs and alchemists to learn about their culinary and medicinal purposes.

Venture inside the tropical and sub-tropical glasshouses for cacti, citrus trees and ceratonia silique - the carob plant (and chocolate substitute) which is said to have fed John the Baptist in the desert.

Visitors to the Lawn Aviary can enjoy the antics of laughing thrushes, hornbills, golden pheasants, cockatiels, starlings, white-cheeked turacos and bleeding heart doves from the enclosed viewing plaza.

The Gardens are also home to the National Bonsai Collection, as well as Roman, Medieval and Tudor gardens and the BBC Gardener of the Year finalists' garden designs.

There's plenty for younger visitors to enjoy, including a traditional playground, adventure trail and discovery garden, designed for children aged three to six to learn about how plants work by climbing up the stem of a flower, where each petal is an interactive exhibit.

In fact, the main focus here is on the interactive, and not just for children - visitors can watch demonstrations on a variety of subjects, including organic growth and bonsai care.

Fans of architecture will also enjoy the charming red-brick cottage, displaying a medley of architectural styles, from baroque gables to mullioned windows adorned with gargoyles of men and animals.