New Britain offers visitors an interesting selection of attractions. Spend some time admiring the collections of the New Britain Museum of American Art, the New Britain Industrial Museum and the New Britain Youth Museum. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore Walnut Park or enjoy a round of golf at the Stanley Golf Course.
New Britain Museum of American Art
Showcasing an interesting and extensive collection of American artists, the New Britain Museum of American Art should feature on every visitor’s to-do list. The museum was founded in 1930 and today houses a priceless collection of over eight thousand artworks produced solely by American artists.
Highlights of your visit will include viewing colonial portraiture, works by the famous Hudson River School and Ash Can School of artists as well as some excellent examples of American Impressionism by masters like Theodore Robinson and Willard Metcalf. To make the most of your visit the museum suggests that you book a docent-led tour of the museum, available daily.
New Britain Museum of American Art, 56 Lexington Street, New Britain, CT 06052, Phone: 860-229-0257
Walnut Hill Park
Providing visitors and locals with a delightful green space where they can enjoy walking, running or relaxing, Walnut Hill Park is a great place to spend a couple of hours enjoying the fresh air and sporting facilities. The park covers over 40 hectares west of downtown and offers tennis courts, baseball fields and a paved one-mile trail suitable for walking, jogging or biking.
There is a beautiful rose garden for you to explore if you visit in summer and a children’s playground and some outdoor exercise equipment completes the picture. The park also features a World War I Memorial Garden with a monument to celebrate locals who lost their lives during the war.
Walnut Hill Park, 184 W Main Street, New Britain, CT 06050, Phone: 860-826-3360, Walnut Hill Park Video
New Britain Stadium
Baseball enthusiasts should make a point of visiting the New Britain Stadium to see the New Britain Bees in action at their home base at the New Britain Stadium. The stadium is modest in size (seating just six thousand fans) when compared to many major-league stadiums which makes it perfect for families and those who are uncomfortable with large crowds. You can look forward to enjoying a fun family evening out at a very reasonable cost and you may get to see a great firework display if you visit during weekend summer matches. The stadium offer on-site parking, comfortable seating and good food and drink concessions.
New Britain Stadium, 230 John Karbonic Way, New Britain, CT 06051, Phone: 860-826-2337
New Britain Industrial Museum
New Britain is sometimes referred to as “Hardware City” due to its prominent role as an innovative manufacturing center, where much of America’s early machinery and hardware originated. Today you can explore the industrial history of the city at the New Britain Industrial Museum which is dedicated to safeguarding and showcasing an amazing collection of industrial artifacts. Here you will have the chance to admire everything from 19th century hooks and eyes (essential wardrobe components of the day) to a 20th century ERA Cobra Car. Between these two extremes you will see thousands of every-day objects and tools which innovative pioneers designed and created to lighten their work-load. The Museum offers excellent viewing for the whole family.
New England Industrial Museum, 59 West Main Street, New Britain, CT 06050, Phone: 860-832-8654
Avery’s Beverages
Avery’s Beverages have been pleasing New Britain palates for over 100 years and the company still produce their legendary sodas in their original red barn on Corbin Avenue. The company produces a range of thirty-five sodas in both original and new funky flavors (inspired by young make-your-own-flavor inventors). Sodas are made using only the best natural ingredients and are still bottled in glass to ensure the best possible product. If you have a family birthday or event coming up you can arrange for a Make Your Own soda-making experience on the premises, or have a batch of personalized labeled beverages made especially for your event.
Avery’s Beverages, 520 Corbin Avenue, New Britain, CT 06052, Phone: 860-224-0830
Connecticut Theatre Company
Operating out of the historic Repertory Theatre in Norden Street, the Connecticut Theatre Company endeavors to entertain visitors to New Britain with a full annual program of plays, comedies, musicals and other professional performances. Theatre lovers have the chance to enjoy a varied menu of entertainment (including Broadway musicals) without having to move far from town. The Theatre Company thrives to expose all visitors and residents to a wide variety of performing art forms so as to stimulate an enduring love of theatre and if you live close by you can buy an annual Season Ticket which will ensure you never miss a moment of the fun and have first option on the best seats in the house.
Connecticut Theatre Company, The Repertory Theatre, 23 Norden Street, New Britain, CT 06051, Phone: 806-223-3147
Hole in the Wall Theater
From extremely modest beginnings in a cramped paperback book store (hence the unusual name) the Hole in the Wall Theater has progressed through over 40 years of producing a wonderful variety of plays, musicals and reading for the residents and visitors of New Britain. Hole in the Wall is a community theater project which relies on local artists to produce quality entertainment for all theater-lovers to enjoy, regardless of their circumstances and they still produce several Pay-What-You-Can performances each year to ensure that no community member is prevented from enjoying the magic of live theater entertainment due to their financial circumstances.
Hole in the Wall Theater, 116 Main St, New Britain, CT 06051, Phone: 860-229-3049
Stanley Golf Course
Visiting golf enthusiasts will be pleased to know that a great golfing day out awaits them at the 27-hole Stanley Golf Course in New Britain. The course offers beautifully manicured fairways and greens and is suitable for both beginners and seasoned golfers. To get into the swing of things you can book a private lesson (or two) or spend a couple of hours polishing up your technique at the heated and lit Driving Range or at the chipping and putting facility. The course encourages younger players by offering free green fees to under 18’s after 2pm (when accompanied by a paying adult).
Stanley Golf Course, 245 Hartford Rd, New Britain, CT 06053, Phone: 860-827-8570
Polish American Foundation of Connecticut
New Britain has a large Polish immigrant community, some of whom travelled to the state as far back as the 1870’s. The Polish American Foundation of Connecticut strives to keep the Polish language and culture alive in New Britain by producing regular concerts, shows and musical performances to showcase Poland’s rich cultural heritage. To ensure that later generations of Polish immigrants can learn about their ancestor’s traditions the foundation hosts Polish language classes, Folk Dancing groups, the Chopin Society and various other educational programs for both adults and children. The foundation is headquartered in the historic Sloper-Wesoly Mansion, where visitors are welcome to attend many of the programs and activities.
Polish American Foundation of Connecticut, Sloper-Wesoly Immigrant Heritage Center, 27 Grove Hill, New Britain, CT 06052, Phone: 860-893-0074
New Britain Youth Museum
If you happen to be visiting New Britain with children you should make a point to take them to visit the New Britain Youth Museum for a couple of hours of interactive fun activities. Your children can join various educational programs which could include meeting animals, story-telling sessions and art sessions for children over 7 years and much more. The museum offers a special “Sisters in Science” program to introduce girls to the magical world of science from age five, with the express purpose of getting more girls interested in the sciences. The museum has an outdoor nature center where children can learn about the natural world as they follow an outdoor trail.
New Britain Youth Museum, 191 Farmington Ave, Berlin, CT 06037, Phone: 860-827-9064
The Copernican Observatory and Planetarium
If your family is interested in Astronomy you should not miss the chance to visit the Copernican Observatory and Planetarium at the Central Connecticut State University. The observatory hosts a regular series of free (first-come, first seated) shows which will bring the heavens to life for your family and teach you all about the wonderful world of planets and stars. Most of the shows are preceded by fun physics demonstrations so you should be sure to arrive early. Although the facility does not offer observation sessions for individuals or families, groups are welcome to request to book a planetarium show, workshop or observation session – a great idea for a special event or birthday celebration.
The Copernican Observatory and Planetarium, 1615 Stanley St, New Britain, CT 06050, Phone: 860-832-2950
Riley’s Hot Dog and Burger Gourmet
Located in the Central Business District in Downtown New Britain, Riley’s Hot Dog and Burger Gourmet offers patrons an innovative take on the humble hotdog and burger. At Riley’s you can choose from a wide selection of tasty dogs and burgers from the menu or take over from the chef and build your own dream hotdog or burger using as few or many of their fresh, locally sourced ingredients as you wish. You can wash it all down with a local craft beer or an Avery soda, produced just around the corner. Riley’s offers gluten-free buns, a vegetarian quinoa burger option and bun-less dogs and burgers for those who are counting their carbs.
Riley’s Hotdog and Burger Gourmet, 61 Glen St, New Britain, CT 06051, Phone: 860-259-6930
Staropolska Restaurant
New Britain’s large Polish immigrant community has introduced Connecticut locals to delicious Polish home cooking. Visitors seeking a taste of authentic Polish cuisine need look no further than the Staropolska Restaurant in Broad Street, New Britain. The restaurant’s extensive menu features all the hearty Polish dishes you could wish for, all served up with a genuine welcome and a side of Polish beer or vodka. A few of the most popular dishes include Kielbasa (a smoked Polish sausage) served with stuffed cabbage or sauerkraut, potato pancakes, pieriogi (little dumplings with various sweet or savory fillings) and pork cutlets. So save some space to try one of their mouth-watering desserts.
Staropolska Restaurant, 252 Broad Street, New Britain, CT 06052, Phone: 860-612-1711
East Side Restaurant
For over 70 years New Britain’s East Side Restaurant has been offering an authentic German food and beer experience for both locals and visitors to enjoy. The restaurant has both a formal dining room (enhanced by a full-wall mural of the ancient German city of Heidelberg) and an English-style Beer Garden. You can expect the chance to sample a variety of German Beers, perfectly poured and delivered on a “snow rail” to keep it perfectly chilled. The food menu is equally varied and exciting and includes German specialties like rosti, German sausages, schnitzels and much more. On weekends you can enjoy live music as you feast.
East Side Restaurant, 131 Dwight Street, New Britain, CT 06051, Phone: 860-223-1188
Capitol Lunch, New Britain, CT
Capitol Lunch is something of a New Britain institution which has been serving up their specialty Cappy Dogs for generations. In case you have not visited before, a Cappy Dog is the restaurant’s very popular Hot Dog served with a unique Famous Sauce. Locals are in the habit of visiting regularly for their favorite hot dog and chips and anyone visiting New Britain should definitely come and find out what all the fuss is about. Besides their legendary hot dogs the restaurant also serves various other hunger-busting dishes including a range of pies and burgers.
Capitol Lunch, 510 Main Street, New Britain, CT 06051, Phone: 860-229-8237
Five Churches Brewing
The entrepreneurial spirit of the Lemnotis family since 1949 lives on at Five Churches Brewing today. At the heart of the establishment is the desire to have a comfortable and approachable taproom atmosphere for everyone to come and enjoy. Some of the brewery’s most unique features are its large windows, charming wooden bar, original brick walls and flooring, all of which pay homage to the former factory’s industrial background. The brewery regularly offers about 10 to 12 beers on tap, including original staples crafted and curated by the family of artisans. The fine art of craft beer and delicious pizza from their wood-fired oven creates the perfect pair for each dining experience.
193 Arch Street New Britain, Connecticut 06051, Phone: 860-914-7684
National Iwo Jima Memorial Monument
The National Iwo Jima Memorial is a sculpture on Ella Grasso Boulevard, near the New Britain/Newington town line in Connecticut. The unique bronze monument was crafted by Joseph Petrovics with incredible attention to detail thanks to references like Rosenthal’s iconic photograph and interviews with Iwo Jima survivors. It was dedicated on February 23, 1995, on the 50th anniversary of the flag raising on Iwo Jima in memory of the 6,821 US servicemen who gave their lives during the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima. Featured on the base are the names of the 100 men from Connecticut who gave their lives in the battle. The solemn and revered memorial is an emotional and educational experience.
Ella Grasso Boulevard, Newington, CT 06111
Alvarium Beer Company
Alvarium Beer Company is a craft beer brewery and taproom. Founded in New Britain, CT in early 2017, Alvarium Beer Company features a spacious and comfortable taproom, which allows guests to see exactly where the beer is made. New Britain's local manufacturing industry is at the forefront of the taproom design. The "Ten Ton Bar" was constructed using two steel I-beams highlighted by a unique LED-backlit tap system. At Alvarium Beer Company, the quality crafted ales and beers were carefully formulated and curated by the partners, being artisans themselves. Years of education and expertise have made the brewery a county staple that boasts not only their products but their people as well.
365 John Downey Drive Suite B, New Britain, Connecticut 06051, Phone: 860-357-2039
