Hotels for Disney On Ice presents Discover the Magic

Skaters glide through a run of favourite stories brought to life on ice, with familiar songs and characters aimed squarely at younger audiences. A midweek matinee-and-evening schedule usually means the crowd is heavy with families making a day of it, packing snacks and glow toys rather than turning up alone.

Costumes, lighting and choreography carry the storytelling, so it plays as much to first-time theatre-goers as to seasoned fans. Expect a lively, sing-along atmosphere rather than a hushed one — the joy here is watching children's reactions as much as the performance itself.

An indoor arena within Birmingham's sprawling NEC complex, bp pulse LIVE hosts concerts, comedy and live events beside the exhibition halls on the city's eastern edge. The setting is a self-contained events campus, with on-site hotels, restaurants and lakeside walks rather than a traditional high street.

Birmingham International station and the nearby airport make arrivals straightforward, with fast trains into the centre. Booking a room on or near the complex lets you walk to the show and avoid the post-event car-park crawl.