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Birmingham Tours
From Canals and Victorians to Today's City: Birmingham Walking Tour
5

From Canals and Victorians to Today's City: Birmingham Walking Tour

By Positively Birmingham Walking Tours
Recommended by 98% of travelers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 6-90, max of 35 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • We use a live audio system. Each guest is loaned a receiver to hear the guide who wears a radio transmitter. Guest bring their own earphones with a 3.5mm socket or we provide a new pair.
  • Entry/Admission - Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
  • Entry/Admission - The Mailbox
  • Entry/Admission - The Cube
What's not included
  • This tour may use an audio system - but not always.


Start:
  • Library of Birmingham, Centenary Sq, Birmingham B1 2ND, UK
    We start and end at the main entrance of the Library of Birmingham in Centenary Square, B1 2EA
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
    • Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 101902P3

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Our route can be accessible for wheelchairs but we do need to modify the route and would appreciate an email from you if you intend to bring a wheelchair. Our Access Policy is clearly stated on the Positively Birmingham Walking Tours website.
    • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 35 travelers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 101902P3

    From
    $19.43
    per adult
    Select date and travelers

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • Centenary Sq, Birmingham B1 2ND, UK
      We start and end at the main entrance of the Library of Birmingham in Centenary Square, B1 2EA
    • 1
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    • 6
    • 7
    • 8
    • 9
      Pass by
      Ikon Gallery
    • 10
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Positively Birmingham Walking Tours
      1,028
      United Kingdom
      Joined in May 2016
    • 2reubenf
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best tour of a brilliant City!
      Engaging, interactive, fascinating, informative, fun, this was by far and away the best walking tour I've done. Jon the tour guide came prepared with audio equipment so you don't miss anything, came equipped with visual aids to illustrate key points, really knew his stuff, engaged with the tour members in a very personable way, and did a really excellent job. As someone who has lived in Brum for over a decade, I found out so many fascinating details of this great city. Highly recommended and not to be missed!!
      Written November 10, 2024
    • 12clementl
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great tour
      Knowledgeable, enthusiastic and energetic guide. Thoroughly enjoyed this fun and informative tour. Would definitely recommend this!
      Written November 10, 2024
    • StuOddy
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Interesting and engaging
      excellent tour, really interesting guide - Johnathon who was informative and engaging, highly recommend this tour full of historical facts
      Written September 15, 2024
    • T3087UFanner
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Highly recommended tour
      Very interesting and enjoyable walking tour around the jewellery quarter. Jonathan brings the history alive with anecdotes and references to what you see you around you as you walk. He is steeped in the history of Birmingham and has a passion to share it. The live audio system means you catch every word. Highly recommend it.
      Written September 15, 2024
    • E1352RVjeanp
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      heard every word thank you
      thoroughly enjoyed the tour--learnt so much about Digbeth--which I have through on the Coventry Road but never really looked.We really found very useful the audio system that Jonathan uses. My husband has a hearing problem but heard every word Many thanks for a very informative morning walk. Plan to do another one of your tours in the future
      Written September 10, 2024
    • 377juliea
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A super two hour historical talk and walk.
      The walk and talk gave an informative insight into Birmingham's heritage and the importance of the jewellery quarter in it's development. Jonathan's delivery was innovative and humorous and two hours passed very quickly. The use of headsets was good although the technology failed intermittently, however this did not mar a memorable experience.
      Written September 8, 2024
    • E9866DNsarahs
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      It’s a cruet set!
      Fast paced enthusiastic and full to the brim with history and stories about the jewellery quarter. Throughly enjoyed it, and so did my dog! Would recommend to all.
      Written September 8, 2024
    • baxtermurph
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Informative, humorous, an opportunity to see some fabulous street art, and learn the history of Digbeth.
      Signed up to this walking tour as part of the Birmingham Heritage week. We had seen some of the art around the Custard Factory before, but this tour was extensive and covered unknown (to us) corners of Digbeth. Jonathan is a very well informed and witty guide and made this two hour trip very worthwhile, and enjoyable. It was an added bonus to visit the canal where the new 'Peaky Blinders' Stephen Knight studios, and Masterchef studio are situated. Highly recommended, as is the Birmingham Heritage week.
      Written September 8, 2024
    • angiemcooper1991
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      The public and not-so-public art of Birmingham City Centre
      This was an excellent tour full of amazing information about the art and artists on the tour. I’ve lived in Birmingham for thirty-three years but there were quite a few pieces I didn’t know about. I’m now looking into doing another one of Jonathan’s tour later in the year.
      Written September 8, 2024
    • MerlinL
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Inspiring Walk round Birmingham
      Excellent walk around some of Birmingham’s great public works of art yesterday, as part of Birmingham’s Heritage Week. Jonathan was very welcoming, extremely knowledgeable and kept us fascinated for 2 hours. I thought I knew quite a bit about Birmingham’s art - but it seemed not so much! I shall look forward to going on another of his Positively Birmingham Walking Tours. Thanks, Jonathan. Heritage Week is an amazing yearly Birmingham event. Hope it continues
      Written September 7, 2024
    • Raggychan
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Absolutely recommended
      The walking tour was fantastic. I don't live in Birmingham but I visit regularly enough that some of the art was familiar to me, but having the details behind them was wonderful, and a few hidden gems. Jonathan is an incredibly knowledgeable and engaging guide.
      Written September 6, 2024
    • VinaP18
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great Sunday afternoon tour walk
      Jonathan is a fabulous tour guide and made the walking tour very interesting and informative. Great 2 hours walk around Jewellery Quarter Birmingham Definitely recommend.
      Written September 2, 2024
    • cmillward1
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Really nice tour
      Really nice tour with interesting information. We walked along the canals and learnt about the industrial revolution. Jonathan was friendly and enthusiastic. Would recommend.
      Written September 1, 2024
    • geoffs756
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A pleasant walk with history becoming alive.
      A pleasant walk with Jonathon tracing the development of the city, focusing on the jewelry trade with reference to the built features that have survived and with accounts of the personalities involved. Jonathon has an engaging style with a personal approach and an enthusiasm for Birmingham. Thoroughly recommended.
      Written August 9, 2024
    • geoff311
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A diverse range of art works with interesting histories.
      Knowledgeable, enthusiastic and a devotee of his city, Jonathon’s Tour of Public Art presented us with a diverse range of art works with interesting histories. Local participants said they were amazed at how much art there was, previously unnoticed, and would now view the streets with different eyes. Birmingham rightfully prides itself on being a leader in promoting art.
      Written August 9, 2024
    See all 1,028 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles294 reviews
    Excellent
    276
    Very good
    14
    Average
    4
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    0

    Georgette L
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sep 2020
    The walking tour was very informative yet quaint and relaxed. We got to discover the history and current relevance of multiple Birmingham gems that certainly helped me to look at it through more appreciative eyes. We strolled different parts of the city while our guide also helped us feel at home, telling us about the local flares and helping us be a part of it.
    Every step of the tour was very safe and highly organised since both our tour guide and his assistant ensured we were Covid-safe at all times. It was an outdoors tour and we were never in crowded places. Plus, both our guide and his assistant always ensured we kept the necessary distance and that we had our masks :) We were provided headphones to listen to our guide more comfortably from an audio machine and we were also given special treats such as a magazine explaining more about the ins and outs of the action in Birmingham as well as a special whistle! hallmark production of the area... The canals were busting with fun and interesting fun-facts.
    The best is that part of the proceedings from our purchased ticket goes to a charity that helps homeless people in Birmingham!
    I fully recommend it for a way to open the past and present treasures in Birmingham while keeping Covid-safe & supporting a charity!
    Written September 13, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Charley Jamieson
    Solihull, UK10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020
    Walking tour of Birmingham learning about people, architecture, great inspirational leaders and engineers was absolutely mind blowing. Tour guide Jonathan had appropriate pace mixed with great humour. With the support of Maria who looked after us with kindness, sharing resources and really guaranteeing that we had a good tour they were a great team. Tour lasted just under 2 hours but we didn't want it to end even though the weather was poor but you didn't notice because Jonathan was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Would recommend this tour to visitors and those who live in Birmingham as you learn so much.
    Written January 12, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thanks for taking the time to review - great when we know our efforts have had such an uplifting impact on our guests. Do come back on tour with us when you can. Our guides Dawn, Michael, Anne and Jonathan have a wealth of knowledge to impart, helped by Assistant Guides Raj and Maria. You can check tour dates and book from the Positively Birmingham walking tour website. Thanks - Jonathan
    Written January 12, 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Melisseus
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2019
    Lots of interest, colour and humour kept us engaged on a cold and blowy day. No dawdling at the pace of the slowest attendee - Jonathan kept us going at an exhilarating trot, both with his legs and his delivery of content. The personal audio system that was used worked exceptionally well - especially if, like me, you use hearing aids. An excellent blend of history, contemporary anecdotes and inside knowledge on how the city works. Our own visits to the museum and walking around the city were enhanced by this introduction, despite this being far from our first visit - a very well worthwhile use of two hours
    Written January 3, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thanks so much for taking the time to feedback to us on your very cold but still fun New Year's Eve tour. Jonathan does not always 'trot' quite so fast and we were lucky that 33 'guests' were all fit and healthy. Thanks for the feedback on the audio - for people with hearing impairment (said to be around 1 in 5 of the UK population and rising) it makes a huge difference to the enjoyment of our tours. We look forward to welcoming you on one of our other tours next time you are in the city. Just look us up on the Positively Birmingham website where you can see our tour dates and book tickets.
    Written January 3, 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Akilah W
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2022
    I booked a walking tour with Jonathan, for my team, as part of a team building event and it was great. Jonathan was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Keeping the group engaged, even with an early morning start after a long day previously. Talking to the group about the new and historical facts about Birmingham City

    I would 100% recommend booking a tour with Jonathan.
    Written July 13, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thanks - yes it was a fun tour and good to meet you all.
    Written July 18, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    lBryan M
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Our guide Jonathan took us on a 2 hour tour of some of Birmingham's historically significant landmarks offering a huge range of insights and background information, all presented in an amusing and engaging manner. Great value with profits going to a local Birmingham charity so was happy to make an additional donation at the end of the tour for the locally produced Acme referred whistle. Would strongly recommend this and other Positively Birmingham tours above other less genuine providers.
    Written April 24, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    HI - Thanks so much for you feedback and really glad you enjoyed the walking tour. We have been running tours now pretty much every week since July 2016 and it has been great to build up a new attraction for Birmingham. You can find out more about our tours on the Positively Birmingham walking tour website.
    Written April 25, 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Jayne L
    Swansea, UK3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2020 • Couples
    Really interesting talk and walk with a knowledgeable guide. Social distancing was insisted upon every time we stopped to listen so we felt very safe. Didn't see a lot of crowds and it was mostly outdoors anyway.
    Written August 23, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi Jayne, Thanks so much for coming on tour with us. That was an eventful one - challenging weather and interesting people on the street! We take Covid-19 security incredibily seriously and glad that came through loud and clear. OUr novel live audio makes so much difference to that. When you are next up from Swansea do look up our tours on the Positively Birmingham walking tour website.
    Written August 23, 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Sherrianne
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nov 2021 • Friends
    My first time in Birmingham and this tour made it a fantastic experience! Visited and learnt a great deal from our extremely knowledgeable guide, Jonathan, who kept the tour interesting and fun throughout. I also very much appreciated that safety was a priority and our guide altered the route we took so that we could avoid places that were overly crowded, whilst still providing us an insightful tour of the city. Would definitely recommend this tour!
    Written November 20, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thanks for taking the time to write s review. Yes, when the anti-vaccers come to Birmingham we certainly alter our route to keep well away from them like on this tour. Interesting and fun - yes that is the magic mix we continually try and deliver and thanks so much for being part of it. You can see all our upcoming tours on our Positively Birmingham walking tour website.
    Written December 6, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Justine P
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2021 • Couples
    Excellent tour - a nice couple of hours learning new things about my home city. All safety procedures in place - socially distanced and headphones to hear tour guide. Included a mix of Georgian to contemporary Birmingham - from canals and Baskerville, to Victorian civic gospel and the changing landscape of the city centre. Thank you Jonathan
    Written June 5, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    It was a pleasure to show a group with do much interest around the busy city. There is so much to understand about this place and it was great to have a tour group of mainly local people interested to know more about the place they live.
    Written June 6, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Valerio L
    London, UK5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2021 • Couples
    Thank you very much Jonathan for such fascinating tour around Birmingham city center. I and my partner truly enjoyed. We would definitely recommend this tour to someone looking for understanding the city historical background and fascinated by industrial revolution.
    Written October 9, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Great to have you along and explain a bit about how Birmingham became the amazing place we find it today. Do come on our Sunday tour when you are next in the city. You can find out details of all our tours on the Positively Birmingham website.
    Written October 10, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    MaureenJac
    Birmingham, UK32 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sep 2021 • Solo
    We were in the city centre on the canal during Pride, so it was lively with lots of people using the area (which was lovely to see and experience) and there was also a boat race going on, which also added to the enjoyment of exploring this section of the city. The live audio system was very useful in order for us to be able to hear our guide, despite any excess external noise.

    Jonathan was as enthusiastic, as usual (this was my second tour with him) and managed to keep the group together and not to lose any of us on route. 🙂 Additionally, he managed to cover new information, even though the route covered some similar areas to a previous tour (no.3) and to visit different buildings. We took in the first gas works, Mailbox, the signal box brutalist listed building, amongst many others, and also a lot of public art too. I was impressed with Jonathan's knowledge of the newer (and temporary) artwork, as well as the older pieces. Furthermore, he was able to make everyone feel included, regardless of where they were from - home or abroad; and always checked that we were OK.

    All in all, an enjoyable afternoon.
    Written September 26, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi- Thanks for taking the time to review your second tour with us. Sounds like you really enjoyed it again.
    Written September 27, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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