Cadbury World
Self-guided visitor attraction in Bournville on the story of Cadbury and chocolate, with exhibits, a 4D cinema, a ride and chocolate-making demonstrations.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Cadbury World opened in August 1990 next to the Cadbury factory at Bournville, the model village that the Cadbury family built for its workers, and it was formally opened by the Prime Minister in April 1991. The attraction was created and run by Cadbury, whose owner today is Mondelez International. The visitor contact details now belong to Merlin Entertainments, which operates the site.
Visitors follow a self-guided route through around fourteen themed zones that cover the history of chocolate from its Central American origins to the growth of the Cadbury business. The exhibits combine sets, animatronics, film, a multi-sensory cinema, interactive displays and demonstrations by staff.
The route has been renewed several times. The Bournville Experience zone, about the village and the Cadbury family, opened in 2007 and has since been revamped, and the 4D Chocolate Adventure cinema was built in 2014. Additional attractions include the Cadbury Chocolate Quest ride and play areas at the back of the building.
Highlights
- Self-guided tour of the story of Cadbury and chocolate
- 4D Chocolate Adventure cinema
- Cadbury Chocolate Quest ride
- The Bournville Experience about the model village
- Chocolate-making demonstrations and tasting
- African Adventure outdoor play area
Permanent exhibitions
- 4D Chocolate Adventure – A multi-sensory cinema experience with special effects, located at the back of the building.
- The Bournville Experience – A zone about the Bournville model village and the Cadbury family, which has been revamped.
- Cadbury Chocolate Quest – A ride through the world of chocolate; riders must sit upright without help.
- Founded
- 1990
- Operated by
- Merlin Entertainments
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £18 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £12Students (Monday to Friday only, valid student ID required) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 1 · Children aged 2 to 15 pay the child rate, which is shown only in the booking calendar; adult tickets are for ages 16 and over. Children under 2 are free but still need a pre-booked ticket. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · One free carer ticket is available with qualifying documents such as a Blue Badge, a PIP or DLA letter, or a Nimbus card with the +1 symbol; the carer must show them at reception. |
| Students & apprentices | £12Online price, Monday to Friday only; valid student ID is required on arrival. |
| Groups | –School groups receive one free staff place for every 8 students. |
| Families | £68Online price from £68 for a family of 3, 4 or 5 with a maximum of 2 adults aged 16 or over. |
| Adult and Toddler ticket (one adult and one child aged 0 to 5, Monday to Friday, not in school holidays) | £19Online price from £19. |
| Afternoon Tea and entry (Monday to Friday, not in school holidays) | £29.95Per person, online. |
| Character Afternoon Tea and entry (adult 16+ or child 2 to 15) | £39.95Includes admission at 13:00 and tea at 15:30. |
| Cadbury World plus one more attraction (Warwick Castle or SEA LIFE Birmingham) | £35Online price from £35. |
| Cadbury World plus two more attractions (Warwick Castle and SEA LIFE Birmingham) | £45Online price from £45. |
Prices depend on the date and are lowest when booked online in advance: the standard adult ticket starts from £18 online and costs £28 on the day. Pre-booking is essential. Under 2s are free.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Changing Places facility on site, and baby changing is integrated into all toilets. A limited number of wheelchairs can be borrowed on request. One wheelchair or mobility scooter user is admitted per 10-minute slot, and a free slot must be booked after buying the ticket. The 4D cinema has two wheelchair spaces and static seats; the Chocolate Quest ride has four adapted vehicles for transfers from a wheelchair, with a carer required. Wristbands for priority access are available to visitors who cannot queue for long, with proof such as a Blue Badge or Nimbus card. Assistance dogs are welcome except in production areas and on the ride, where a sitting service is offered. BSL interpretation appears on screens in selected zones, most videos have English subtitles and an infrared system for compatible hearing aids is available. Large-print tour scripts and a social story can be requested or downloaded. Relaxed sessions for visitors with special educational needs are offered.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 2 hrs |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 1 |
| Family ticket | £68 · Online price from £68 for a family of 3, 4 or 5 with a maximum of 2 adults aged 16 or over. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
- Kids’ birthday parties
The attraction is aimed at families and school groups, with interactive zones, a ride, a 4D cinema and seasonal events such as Halloween. Pushchairs can be used throughout, with pushchair parks partway round the tour and at the ride entrance. A baby feeding room is in reception, and the outdoor African Adventure play area is closed only in bad weather. Children under 2 are free and children must be able to sit unaided to ride the Chocolate Quest. The website promotes children's birthday parties.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bournville station · 15-min walk
Bournville station on the Cross-City Line from Birmingham New Street is about a 15-minute walk, and the route is signposted with Cadbury World fingerposts. Bus 11A (Birmingham Outer Circle, National Express West Midlands) stops at Woodbrooke Road/Linden Road.
By car
Free parking
Free on-site parking for visitors and free coach parking.
Sat-nav postcode B30 1JR.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Coat check: not available
Cadbury World Café and a Grab and Go cabin serve hot and cold food and drinks; the shop is next to the café. Picnics may be eaten at the outdoor seating. The venue cannot store baggage or packed lunches.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | no |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Cameras and camcorders may be used for private purposes, except in the Cadbury Story, the Making Chocolate Story, the 4D Chocolate Adventure and on the Cadbury Chocolate Quest ride. |
| Good to know | The tour is self-guided and visitors move at their own pace; staff are on hand for questions. The time on the ticket applies to the main reception zones, while the 4D cinema, the Bournville Experience and the Have A Go zone at the back can be visited before or after it. Visitors aged 15 or under must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over. Educational sessions are offered for groups of 15 to 100 students. |
