Here’s what it is like to spend a day at Cadbury World in Birmingham

One of the most recognised brands on the planet, it’s safe to say that Cadbury World is an international attraction that has all ages salivating. I was seduced by the purple from a young age. Dairy Milk, Flake, Wispa, Twirl, Crunchie, Creme Egg…the mere thought of them has me reaching for the cupboards. So, when I found out that Cadbury World was just a couple hours away from London I knew I had to visit. Here’s what the whole experience was like.

While this experience was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own. Unedited images taken from our smartphones alongside images courtesy of Cadbury World.

Getting there

Cadbury World is in Bournville, Birmingham, and to get there from London we took the London Northwestern Railway service from Euston to Birmingham New Street. There, we caught a West Midlands Railway service from New Street to Bournville. Both trains are operated by West Midlands Trains and the total time it took us from Euston to Bournville was about two hours. The station is a scenic 15-minute walk to Cadbury World. 

Afternoon tea at Cadbury World Café 

It was around lunchtime upon arrival and rather than do the tour hungry we decided to park at the Cadbury World Café first. Online, the tea and entrance combo cost just £28.95, while the entrance alone is £22.50. That means for an extra £6.45 you get an afternoon tea tier and drink. Yes, £6.45! It’s well worth the money and means you’ll avoid scoffing the sample goodies right away. Our tier was great for an attraction cafe. It came with three sandwiches, a scone, and four types of dessert each. I chose a pot of coffee, but you can request teas or juices too.

The Cadbury World Café, separate from the afternoon tea deal, also serves hot food, sandwiches, pastries, cakes, and snacks, all at an affordable price.

Check-in and exhibits

When you check in you’re given a bar of chocolate by the ticket scanner. Mine was a Twirl. I would have eaten it if I hadn’t just had afternoon tea, and this will please anyone’s immediate need for chocolate upon arrival. 

First, you’ll tour a few exhibits such as the Aztec Jungle, a rainforest with information about the origins of cocoa beans, and then end up at a special-effects cinema presentation where you’ll find out how the product is made. Tip: hold on tight to the bench, as a couple of movements may take you by surprise. After that, interactive video stations show you how all the most popular Cadbury brands are made before you move on to the factory area.

The factory

The factory area is where chocolatiers are in action, and you’ll be able to watch them create Cadbury chocolate teapots and more from behind the glass. A demonstration area shows how chocolate is tempered by hand to make it smooth and shiny, and then finally, there’s a taster. At the tasting station, guests are offered a pot of warm liquid Cadbury Dairy Milk with toppings of their choice such as buttons and marshmallows. It was delicious, and after that, I was looking forward to more. Sadly, that was the only chocolate-tasting station. Good thing I had a bar of Twirl in the bag, but I think chocoholics might be a little disappointed.

Chocolate Quest ride

I was expecting this to be boring and aimed at kiddos, but actually got quite into this ride. You hop into a Cadbury car and using a zapping gun, are tasked with collecting ingredients to make a bar of Dairy Milk. This is one of the new additions for 2024, and I liked that it gave the attraction a theme park element within the main building. It was fun for both adults and kiddos (but especially the kids!).

The best part? When you exit the ride there’s a free bar of chocolate waiting for you. Another one in the bag.

The shop

I don’t always buy things in shops, but you HAVE to pick up a pack of Mis Shapes (currently priced at £4.25) when you’re here. These are the odd bits of chocolate and there’s tonnes of it. Other items in the store included gift sets, bars, and souvenirs. It was lovely to see a rainbow Pride section during our visit, too. I imagine that during special occasions you might be able to pick up a seasonal souvenir. 

Handmade, personalised Cadbury World treats can also be pre-ordered on the website for collection on the day of your visit. 

Outside area attractions

Just when we thought that was it, the outside had a slew of attractions, games, and exhibits waiting. You’ll need to go round the back and show your ticket again. First up, we met their mascot, Freddo the Frog, then journeyed the Bournville Experience, which details the history of the region and the Cadbury family heritage. It also showcases nostalgic memorabilia of the brand, and there’s everything here from royal family coronation boxes to Cadbury kitchenware.

‘Have a go’ zone

This part is inside, in another section of the outside area. It’s a chance for everyone to get creative and ‘have a go’. First, we were given bottles of chocolate to decorate on the table, then we were taught how to temper chocolate. These were not edible as recycled chocolate was used. It would have been nice to have some samples here, as the smell was amazing and left me wanting a bite.

Playground and 4D cinema

Time really flew, and we ended our experience at the 4D cinema, which was a rollercoaster-style ride into the world of Cadbury with its characters. It was cute, and upon exit, there was a large playground and ice cream kiosk with all your favourite Cadbury flavoured ice creams. 

Overall

I enjoyed Cadbury World, and it was relatively easy to reach from London. The only thing I was disappointed with was that I wanted more chocolate sampling. However, thanks to the afternoon tea deal my sugar fix needs were met. I would definitely recommend doing the tea first if you want to suppress the craving. It’s a solid family day out and a must for chocolate fans. 

Find out more about Cadbury World

But wait there’s more…

• We visited Lindt’s Home of Chocolate in Zurich to bring you the lowdown on the Swiss chocolate attraction.
• Got a sweet tooth? London’s best afternoon teas should hit the spot.
• For more family fun, visit Margate, Kent. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.