Museum of the Jewellery Quarter
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Museum of the Jewellery Quarter
Museum of the Jewellery Quarter
4.5
Temporarily closedClosed until further notice
About
Discover the skill of the jeweller's craft and enjoy a unique tour of an original jewellery factory, which traces the 200-year history of the ancient crafting skills that made Birmingham the centre of the British jewellery industry.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Neighborhood: Ladywood
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,231 reviews
Excellent
923
Very good
241
Average
42
Poor
12
Terrible
13
Claire G
London, UK40 contributions
Aug 2021 • Friends
We felt privileged to be allowed access to this extraordinary time capsule in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter. Our (volunteer) tour guide brought this history of the museum to life, captivating his small audience for over an hour. Book in advance!
Written August 25, 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.
panorama_elite
London, UK49 contributions
Feb 2020
I was quite unsure of visiting a jewellery museum as bling isn't something that has ever interested me.
The museum is located on a reasonably quiet back road and on street parking was available via meter for a reasonable cost. The price of entry for an adult is £7 and they do offer concessions for students etc. It is housed in the same building that used to be a jewellery factory. There are 3 floors, with the 1st and 2nd comprising of the museum and the ground floor for reception, shop and cafe. There is a lift to all floors as well as stairs.
Both upper floor show the history af jewellery in Birmingham as well as where the stones and metal originated and a bit about how they were discovered. It was all very interesting but I was not prepared for what happened next!
There was a guided tour of the old factory. It appears that the firm ceased trading in 1982 and the works had simply been abandoned. The tour was of much of the works that was in essence as it was left on the last day of business. Our guide was supurb and knew all the details and how to bring the place alive again. Some of the old machinery is still in working order and that was switched on so we could get a feel for how it would have felt working there. Our guide demonstrated some of the tasks undertaken by the employee's. After around 30 minutes with our guide it was time to go though many of us would have liked to stay a bit longer it was that interesting.
The shop sold the usual museum fare but was well priced relevant. We didn't visit the coffee shop as it didn't fit our schedule though it looked comprehensively stocked.
The museum is located on a reasonably quiet back road and on street parking was available via meter for a reasonable cost. The price of entry for an adult is £7 and they do offer concessions for students etc. It is housed in the same building that used to be a jewellery factory. There are 3 floors, with the 1st and 2nd comprising of the museum and the ground floor for reception, shop and cafe. There is a lift to all floors as well as stairs.
Both upper floor show the history af jewellery in Birmingham as well as where the stones and metal originated and a bit about how they were discovered. It was all very interesting but I was not prepared for what happened next!
There was a guided tour of the old factory. It appears that the firm ceased trading in 1982 and the works had simply been abandoned. The tour was of much of the works that was in essence as it was left on the last day of business. Our guide was supurb and knew all the details and how to bring the place alive again. Some of the old machinery is still in working order and that was switched on so we could get a feel for how it would have felt working there. Our guide demonstrated some of the tasks undertaken by the employee's. After around 30 minutes with our guide it was time to go though many of us would have liked to stay a bit longer it was that interesting.
The shop sold the usual museum fare but was well priced relevant. We didn't visit the coffee shop as it didn't fit our schedule though it looked comprehensively stocked.
Written March 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.
sarahcroft75
reading11 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
We had a guided tour here and what a special place! It’s like no museum I’ve ever been to. The volunteer guide (Charles) clearly loves the place and knew so much. He told us great stories about the staff, the family and the history of the place as well as giving us demos of the equipment at work. There is lots of fabulous jewellery on display but the museum is also about the engineering and so much more. I’d recommend for families with kids age perhaps 10+ and anyone visiting Birmingham who wants a true glimpse into the past. Nice tea and cake afterwards too.
Written January 18, 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.
statslady
Bristol87 contributions
Feb 2020
This little gem (!) of a museum is well worth a visit. The guided tour of the jewellery manufacturing workshop, left exactly as it was in 1981 - and probably much as it was when founded at the end of the 19th century - is led by a guide who held us spellbound with her explanations and demonstrations of the metalworking processes. A human touch was provided by the fact that we know the names of the workers who were employed at each stage of the manufacturing and in the admin office, and indeed we have photographs of them, so the whole thing comes very much to life. In addition to the tour, there are several galleries with displays about the history of the jewellery quarter, so if you are going to spend time exploring this interesting area, this is a good place to start. The whole thing is extremely good value for money, and strongly recommended. (There is also a gift shop with beautiful pieces of modern jewellery for sale, showing that these skills are still very much alive.)
Written February 14, 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.
ceffylau
Chester, UK16 contributions
Mar 2020 • Solo
I have been meaning to visit for quite some time now and so glad I did. The displays are well laid out and the tour interesting and informative. Our guide, Adam was very good at bringing to life the characters that once populated the workshop and the group small enough that nothing was missed.
Written March 14, 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.
Ken M
Dublin, Ireland25 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
We visited the Jewellery museum without reading reviews beforehand and the entire place is so unique. We experienced what it was like to be working in a Jewellery factory called Smith and Pepper that shut almost 40 years ago. Our tour guide Greta who had immense knowledge was so enthusiastic and shared so much history and anecdotes about the family who ran this famous factory from the turn of the twentieth century.
We learned so much and the whole experience was fascinating educational and so worthwhile .
Highly recommended
We learned so much and the whole experience was fascinating educational and so worthwhile .
Highly recommended
Written February 29, 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.
Atif
Birmingham, UK26 contributions
Sep 2022
3 years ago
This is a wonderful little museum, very family friendly and with lots of interest! Plenty to see and enjoy in the museum, but the tour is extra special! Getting to see the inner workings of jewellery making in the 50s and 60s was a real eye opener, and our wonderful tour guide gave lots of additional interesting tidbits and demonstrations.
A nice range of gifts too, from 25p for a little cut out of a dog (which you see the guide do!) to high end jewellery from a number of designers. Highly recommended for a morning or afternoon in Birmingham
This is a wonderful little museum, very family friendly and with lots of interest! Plenty to see and enjoy in the museum, but the tour is extra special! Getting to see the inner workings of jewellery making in the 50s and 60s was a real eye opener, and our wonderful tour guide gave lots of additional interesting tidbits and demonstrations.
A nice range of gifts too, from 25p for a little cut out of a dog (which you see the guide do!) to high end jewellery from a number of designers. Highly recommended for a morning or afternoon in Birmingham
Written September 19, 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.
Hitchinphil
Hitchin, UK19 contributions
Feb 2020
Our guide, William, took us around this fascinating factory and was very informative. He demonstrated how the jewellery was made as well as explaining the history of the Jewellery Quarter and life in the past in this area of Birmingham. We really enjoyed the hour tour and William was excellent. The museum is easily reached by tram from the city centre and the visit was very enjoyable.
Written February 19, 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.
Popsiwopsi
Birmingham, UK113 contributions
Mar 2020 • Friends
I visited the museum with a friend from London who really enjoyed it (I had done it before). It is a fantastic museum. The old Smith and Pepper business was just closed up and has been left untouched and turned into a museum. Our guide, Heather, was funny and informative and gave us a good insight into life in the jewellery trade. If you are in Birmingham, you must visit!
Written March 14, 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.
RG Bargee
Swindon, UK17 contributions
Jan 2020
The museum is on 3 floors of the original Smith & Pepper jewellery factory which ceased trading in 1981. It was fascinating to be inside a factory that was effectively 3 terraced houses where people lived and worked before the business was wound up in 1981. The family left it as it was for several years before it was discovered and taken on as a museum.
We had a free guided tour by a lovely local guy called Carl, who shared his knowledge and passion about the business with us.
Definitely one to do if you're in the area.
We had a free guided tour by a lovely local guy called Carl, who shared his knowledge and passion about the business with us.
Definitely one to do if you're in the area.
Written January 16, 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.
emmuk74
London, UK92 contributions
Is this museum accessible for wheelchairs?
Deborah D
1 contribution
Hi, the museum does have wheelchair access and there is a lift to all floors. The Museum also gives specially adapted tours for those with disabilities if needed. Just ask when booking.
Hope this has cleared up and concerns you have about planning a visit. We hope to see you soon.
Dora
Kilkenny, Ireland61 contributions
Hi guys, we r going to the Ibis (nec) , for two nights for crufts. im reading very mixed reviews. Help....
Rachel W
Birmingham, UK10 contributions
Hello, how can we help? I only post about the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, and this site has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, and has recently won the 'Best Told Story' in the Visit England Awards for the second year running. If you would like to visit the Museum, we are open from Tuesday - Saturday 10.30 - 5.00. Thanks, the MJQ team
davewestyorkshire
Llandudno, UK
Is it possible to walk from New Street station area to the Jewellery Quarter?
Or is it best to take the metro?
Rachel W
Birmingham, UK10 contributions
Hi, sorry for the delay in replying. It is possible to walk from New Street, but it would take at least 20 - 25 minutes. If you prefer you could catch another train from Snow Hill Station which takes you straight to the Jewellery Quarter Station in a few minutes. This station is on Vyse Street and is just a couple of minutes walk away from the Museum. Thanks
PAULfITZY
Manchester, UK1 contribution
can anyone tell me the entry fee for the jewellery museum tour and also if it is open on Mondays?
Rachel W
Birmingham, UK10 contributions
The cost of a heritage tour and entrance to the upstairs galleries is £7 per person. We are closed on Sundays and Mondays, but open all other days between 10.30am - 5.00pm. Please feel free to give us a call if you would like any further information. Thanks, the MJQ team
Parking nearby
Rachel W
Birmingham, UK10 contributions
There is no on-site parking, but there is plenty of parking in the streets nearby, for which there is a small charge. There is also a multi storey car park further up Vyse Street which has a lot of capacity.
Museum of the Jewellery Quarter (Birmingham) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Museum of the Jewellery Quarter
- Museum of the Jewellery Quarter is open:
- Tue - Fri 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
- Sat - Sat 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM
- Hotels near Museum of the Jewellery Quarter:
- (0.23 mi) Zen Living Accommodation
- (0.23 mi) Elite Accommodation
- (0.35 mi) Bloc Hotel Birmingham
- (0.23 mi) Mint Apartments
- (0.27 mi) UR STAY Serviced Apartments Birmingham
- Restaurants near Museum of the Jewellery Quarter:
- (0.03 mi) the Hylton Cafe
- (0.08 mi) The Jewellers Arms
- (0.12 mi) The Clifden
- (0.12 mi) Blue Nile Restaurant
- (0.11 mi) Cafe Neo