The Barber Institute of Fine Arts — Attraction in Birmingham

A wonderful small gallery at the edge of the University of Birmingham campus.

The galleries are on Floor 1 via a well-lit winding staircase. There is usually a friendly security person who greets you as you reach the top and suggests a route through the galleries. Each gallery has a colour, with alcoves displaying themed pieces (usually prints). There are benches in each gallery to sit on, as well as foldable chairs available.

The Ground Floor foyer has a small gift shop , drinks machine and seating area. There is an auditorium here for concerts. Toilets (quite old) also on the Ground Floor.

Aside from a very small selection of snacks (e.g. biscuits, crisps), there is no food for sale at the Barber: visitors can bring packed lunches to eat in the foyer. Or go across the road to the Students Guild building, which has a bar (serving hot food) and a sandwich shop. There are also coffee shops around the campus, though not all are open at...

A beautiful gallery of quality art, unusual to be able to get so close to so many good famous paintings by so many masters. Also if you are like me and want to see everything, then it's just the right size to get round it all , look at everything and read everything before you get too tired. Compact quality in a good way. I also would encourage everyone to read the wall information on the founders which is down the corridor on the left just before you go up the staircase on the ground floor. It's absolutely fascinating and sets the tone for the understanding the whole collection. Fabulous to see original Rodin sculpture too. Can't believe I got round to finally visiting after all these years, so worthwhile, and free- just donate if want or buy cards etc. Even allowed to photograph most paintings which is so unusual. If you go at the weekend parking on site is free, but probably a nightmare in the week as it's permit...

Really great small gallery. The building is late Art Deco, great design and well maintained. I was especially impressed by the upgrade of electrical switches and sockets while keeping original brass or bronze backplates. But come here for the paintings and sculpture. When I read about it I was worried that it would be just a series of fine examples, with little coherence between them, and that is simply not the case. It's like a wonderfully balanced 'tasting menu' of European Art from about 1350 to the present day, a tasting menu with some very interesting examples of familiar artists. This is a sample : Manet , Monet, Rubens, van Gogh, Botticelli, Rodin, Whistler, Toulouse-Lautrec, Tintoretto, Rembrandt, Reynolds, Frans Hals, Courbet, Corot, Goya. Will be back !! And...