birmingham walking tour map

The Top 13 Birmingham Walking Tours In 2024 – From A Local

Take a look at these Top 13 Birmingham walking tours – reviewed by a local!

As a local Midland native (I’m based in Wolverhampton ), I can appreciate how important walking tours are if you’re visiting the city of Birmingham for the first time.

Walking tours are hugely popular in the second city, all of which promise to give unique insights into the city. But are they actually any good?

I’m very experienced with the best places to visit in Birmingham, which makes me the ideal person to review which walking tours are worth paying for and which ones are best to avoid.

So that’s why I’ve curated a detailed list of the 13 top walking tours , providing everything you need to know for each one and giving my expert opinion to help make your decision easier.

Short on time? Here are my Top 13 Birmingham walking tours that I recommend: 1. From Canals & Victorians to Today’s City: Birmingham Walking Tour 2. Birmingham Slogging Gangs Walking Tour with Edward Shelby 3. Birmingham Gangs Night time Historical Walking Tour with Pub Stops 4. Birmingham City Centre Daily Walking Tour (10:30am & 5:30pm) 5. Discovering Birmingham 2 hour Walking Tour to the Jewellery Quarter 6. Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham: A Walking Adventure 7. Birmingham Black Heritage Walking Tour 8. Birmingham Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide 9. Digbeth, Public Art & Peaky Blinders 10. Birmingham Walking Tour: Migration Stories from the Stratford Road 11. Private Birmingham Ghosts & Gallows Tour 12. Guided Tour of Street Art in Birmingham 13. Birmingham’s Public Art – City Centre Walking Tour

Top 13 Birmingham Walking Tours

In no particular order, let’s look at the top 13 Birmingham walking tours, what’s included with each of them, what to expect and my own verdict on each one too, in no particular order:

1. From Canals and Victorians to Today’s City: Birmingham Walking Tour

⭐ Rating: 5/5 (293 reviews) | ⌚ Duration: 2 hours | ✅ Book it here!

Learning about modern Birmingham’s rich history is key to understanding the city, and this tour promises to give you a comprehensive insight into the city’s past as well as featuring all the key modern day landmarks too.

This is a detailed tour that stops off at most of the major iconic landmark buildings in Birmingham city centre and will give you a good idea of the layout of the city, including its historical and famous canal system .

It’s ideal if you’re new to the city but will also provide interesting insights into the city that locals may not be aware of and it is also good value for money (only £15 ).

Here are all the places you will get to visit on this tour:

📍 Library of Birmingham – one of the top tourist attractions in the city and an amazing piece of modern architecture. 📍 Brindley Place – the trendy part of central Birmingham, full of top restaurants and bars right next to the city’s canals. 📍 Gas Street Basin – this is the central canal basin of Birmingham and where you will get to learn all about the fascinating canal history in the city. 📍 Victoria Square – the centre of Birmingham, featuring some stunning Victorian architecture. 📍 Chamberlain Square – another beautiful main square of Birmingham, featuring a mix of modern and historical architecture. 📍 Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery – this is a key historical building in the centre of Chamberlain Square. 📍 The Mailbox – one of the most iconic Birmingham landmarks, home to boutique stores, restaurants, bars and more. 📍 The Cube – a fairly new modern building that’s now a key feature of Birmingham’s cityscape. 📍 Ikon Gallery  (Pass By) – one of the most important and popular art exhibition buildings in the city. 📍 Hall of Memory – this is an important war memorial in Centenary square. 📍 Birmingham Town Hall – another key historical building in Birmingham.

⭐ Check out Rebecca’s 5 star review of this walking tour: “Jonathan was an excellent guide, very informative and entertaining. A thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours. We’ve visited Birmingham many times but on this tour we learned so much about its history. Highly recommend.”

➡️ Book your ticket for this Birmingham Walking Tour here

2. Birmingham Slogging Gangs Walking Tour with Edward Shelby

⭐ Rating: 4.5/5 (158 reviews) | ⌚ Duration: 2 hours| ✅ Book it here!

If you’re a fan of the hit British TV series: ‘ Peaky Blinders ‘ (which I most definitely am!) then this is the perfect walking tour for you when visiting Birmingham. This is a fun, unique and interactive tour with your guide dressed up in character as Edward Shelby.

Your guide will tell you everything about Birmingham’s criminal history that inspired the TV show. You’ll also get to visit a few traditional pubs in the area too, which is always a bonus!

👉 Travel Tip : If you want to visit some of the filming locations for ‘Peaky Blinders’, then take a day trip to the Black Country Living Museum , just a 1 hour drive away from Birmingham in Dudley .

Here’s where you will get to visit on this Birmingham Slogging gangs tour:

📍 West Midlands Police Museum – note that you won’t enter the museum here. 📍 The Gunmakers Quarter – this area was once known as the world’s gun-making industrial centre. 📍 Chinese Quarter – this is one of my favourite areas in Birmingham and was also featured in Peaky Blinders. 📍 Birmingham high street – here you’ll get to learn about the history of the tea trade and it’s links to Birmingham.

⭐ Check out Jacqueline’s 5 star review of this tour: “Very interesting and Edward is very knowledgeable on the subject. Such a people person and very friendly, makes everyone welcome. Would recommend the walk if keen on the history of gangs but also some of the buildings.”

➡️ Book a ticket for Birmingham Slogging Gangs Walking Tour here

3. birmingham gangs night time historical walking tour with pub stops.

⭐ Rating: 4.5/5 (from 23 reviews) | ⌚ Duration: 3 hours | ✅ Book it here!

This is slightly different form the Birmingham Slogging gangs tour described above as it takes place at night, making it all the more atmospheric!

This tour focuses more on the alcohol trade that the gangs ran and you’ll get to visit five uniquely different drinking establishments in the city, ranging from traditional pubs to gin palaces and cocktail bars .

This is equally as popular as the daytime gangs tour and arguably more fun with all the pub visits and games you’ll play along the way. You’ll also visit these stops on the walking tour:

📍 Birmingham Canalside – here you’ll learn about how the gangs used the city’s famous canals and the impact the alcohol trade. 📍 Burlington Arcade – visit one of the UK’s oldest shopping arcades and it’s ties to the city’s gangs. 📍 Birmingham New Street Railway Station – here you’ll get to visit a Peaky Blinders art installation.

⭐ Check out Alessandro’s 5 star review: “Beautiful night sightseeing tour, the guide enriched the walk with detailed stories about the gangs that ruled Birmingham or the city’s trades. Highly recommend.”

➡️ Book a ticket for Birmingham Gangs Night time Historical Walking Tour here

4. Birmingham City Centre Daily Walking Tour (10:30am & 5:30pm)

⭐ Rating: 5/5 (160 reviews) | ⌚ Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes | ✅ Book it here!

This is a very popular city centre tour that will take you to all the major landmarks and fill you in on the history, culture and hidden gems of this fantastic city.

It’s very good value for money (only £12 per ticket) and it’s not too long as well – lasting just an hour and a half – meaning you won’t be too exhausted by the end of it!

There are 10 stops in total on this tour (most of them I’ve detailed above in other tours) but the tour also visits these iconic places:

📍 Cathedral Square – this is truly the heart of Birmingham city, right next to Birmingham Cathedral. 📍 St Philip’s Cathedral Garden – this is a beautiful part of Birmingham in the Jewellery Quarter, one of my favourite areas of the whole city! 📍 Birmingham Town Hall – the city’s oldest venue and is noticeable for its Roman inspired architecture. 📍 Centenary Square – another public square that is home to the city’s library and war memorials. 📍 Baskerville House – a beautiful civic centre building! 📍 Broad Street – see Birmingham’s very own Walk of Fame on Broad street and learn about some of the city’s most famous celebs. 📍 Symphony Hall – the city’s most popular concert venue near Centenary Square.

⭐ Check out Jassi’s 5 star review of this tour: “Dee was an excellent tour guide. Very knowledgeable and had interesting stories to tell. A great way to start a visit to Birmingham.”

➡️ Book a ticket for Birmingham City Centre Walking Tour here

5. discovering birmingham 2 hour walking tour to the jewellery quarter.

⭐ Rating: 5/5 (278 reviews) | ⌚ Duration: 2 hours | ✅ Book it here!

The Jewellery Quarter is Birmingham’s most historically fascinating area . It was the heart of the jewellery making industry for hundreds of years and this tour focuses on this unique place.

You’ll get to visit the Jewellery Quarter via a secret canal route and see how it is thriving in the modern era. You’ll also visit some of the city’s most iconic churches, cathedrals and public squares.

This is the ideal tour if you want to learn more about this historical place, whether your new to the city or a local.

⭐ Check out Katharine’s 5 star review of this tour: “Full of fascinating facts and history. I’m a born and bred Brummie and learned so much about the city, places I’d walked past many times before without a second glance. Highly recommend.”

➡️ Book a ticket for this 2 hour tour of Birmingham & the Jewellery Quarter

6. jewellery quarter of birmingham: a walking adventure.

⭐ Rating: 4.5/5 (2 reviews) | ⌚ Duration: 2 hours | ✅ Book it here!

This is a fantastic private walking tour that also focuses on the Jewellery Quarter, where you’ll get to learn about the area’s most famous jewellers and visit some unique locations, such as:

📍 Coffin Works Museum – a heritage attraction museum site on the edge of the Jewellery Quarter that is based inside a former Victorian coffin making factory. 📍 Button Factory food mall – a renovated Victorian factory that is now considered the Jewellery Quarter’s trendiest hang out location.

⭐ Check out Andy’s 5 star review of this tour: “Vicky our tour guide was absolutely brilliant. Her depth of knowledge was incredible and she really brought our tour of the Jewellery Quarter to life. She could talk about every aspect of the history of the area. Fascinating!”

➡️ Book a ticket for Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham: A Walking Adventure here

7. birmingham black heritage walking tour.

⭐ Rating: 5 stars (37 reviews) | ⌚ Duration: 2.5 hours | ✅ Book it here!

This unique walking tour focuses on the history of the African Caribbean community of Birmingham and it’s heritage.

This is totally different from all the other tours on this list, visiting areas most tourists don’t get to visit and it focuses on a side of Birmingham that isn’t celebrated enough.

You’ll learn about the many different diverse communities that has made up this city, discover what local celebrities and musicians come from the area and visit art trails, parks and local areas that is off the usual touristic path.

Places you’ll get to visit on this tour:

📍 Soho House  (Pass By) – this is an 18th century building that was home to industrialist Matthew Boulton. 📍 Handsworth Park – here you’ll visit the arts trail and learn about the famous musicians, poets and celebrities that grew up near this park. 📍 Handsworth – you’ll visit this inner-city area of Birmingham and learn about its heritage.

⭐ Check out Kagiso’s 5 star review of this tour: What an amazing experience my partner and I had on this tour. We learnt the history that isn’t spoken about that created what we know today as modern Birmingham. An absolutely must do tour!”

➡️ Book a ticket for Birmingham Black Heritage Walking Tour here

8. birmingham private walking tour with a professional guide.

⭐ Rating: 5 stars (2 reviews) | ⌚ Duration: 2 hours | ✅ Book it here!

This customized private walking tour of the second city is the best tour to book if you’re a history buff ! You will visit all the major landmarks with a professional guide who will educate you on the history of Birmingham.

Topics you’ll learn about include: the Roman conquest of Britain , the English civil war , the Battle of Britain and many more historical events and how Birmingham played a part in them.

⭐ Check out this 5 star review on TripAdvisor: “Our family had a great tour of the city centre by tour guide Mary. It was a perfect intro to the city and helped us decide what to explore further later on during our visit.”

➡️ Book a ticket for Birmingham Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide here

9. digbeth, public art & peaky blinders.

⭐ Rating: 5 stars (65 reviews) | ⌚ Duration: 2 hours | ✅ Book it here!

Digbeth is my favourite neighbourhood in all of Birmingham; it has a really interesting history and has now been transformed into a trendy social scene full of awesome street art .

This walking tour focuses on Digbeth where you’ll learn about it’s history, see some great public art and learn how the area inspired: ‘ Peaky Blinders ‘. The tour stops at the following places:

📍 St. Martin in the Bull Ring – you’ll walk past this iconic church on the way to Digbeth. 📍 Digbeth – spend a full hour exploring Digbeth with your guide. 📍 Custard Factory – learn about the history behind this former factory and see how it has been transformed. 📍 Old Square – discover some amazing public art in the old square. 📍 Great Western Arcade – you’ll finish the tour at this amazingly beautiful Victorian shopping arcade.

⭐ Check out this 5 star review on TripAdvisor: “Fascinating tour. Expertly and interestingly led by Jonathan. Probably more street art focused than Peaky Blinders but that suited me personally. Highly recommend.”

➡️ Book a ticket for Digbeth, Public Art & Peaky Blinders Walking Tour here

10. Birmingham Walking Tour: Migration Stories from the Stratford Road

⭐ Rating: 5/5 (16 reviews) | ⌚ Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes | ✅ Book it here!

This is a unique walking tour where you’ll discover the migrant history on one of Birmingham’s most multiculturally diverse areas; the Stratford road .

You’ll visit such diverse landmark places like a Hindu temple , eat food at a Yemeni restaurant , visit an Indian wedding superstore and see abandoned Irish pubs.

This tour will give you a greater insight into how people have migrated to Birmingham from all around the world, including Irish, Asian, Yemeni and Somalian migrants.

⭐ Check out Claire’s 5 star review of this tour: “Really interesting guided walk. We learnt a lot about the diverse population of Stratford Road that shaped the community of the area, both in the past and today. A really enjoyable couple of hours.”

➡️ Book a ticket for Migration Stories from the Stratford Road here

11. private birmingham ghosts & gallows tour.

⭐ Rating: No reviews | ⌚ Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes | ✅ Book it here!

Ghosts tours are always great fun and this tour promises exactly that! On this special tour you’ll visit some of Birmingham’s most haunted locations and learn about public hangings, murders and more related to the city’s grisly past.

The tour will visit these locations:

📍 Snow Hill Mural – here you’ll learn about Birmingham’s first public hanging and see the bronze plaque commemoration. 📍 St Philip’s Cathedral Garden – learn about some of the 60,000 people that have been buried here! 📍 Temple Street – visit the supposedly haunted Trocadero pub. 📍 Birmingham New Street Railway Station – learn all about the ghost that haunts platform 4. 📍 Council House – discover a haunted council house in the city. 📍 Paradise Lane – learn the history behind the man who first faced capital punishment here. 📍 Baskerville House – see the location that is said to have inspired Arthur Conan Doyle.

➡️ Book a ticket for Birmingham Ghosts & Gallows Tour here

12. Guided Tour of Street Art in Birmingham

⭐ Rating: 5/5 (1 review) | ⌚ Duration: 1 hr 30 mins to 2 hrs | ✅ Book it here!

In my opinion, Birmingham is one of the best cities in the UK for street art (only Brighton betters it), and this is the perfect tour to discover the amazing art that’s in the city.

Digbeth in particular has some amazing street art and this tour will show you the most inspiring and creative street art in this neighbourhood, and you’ll also visit the Birmingham canals to discover more local street art.

➡️ Book a ticket for Guided Tour of Street Art in Birmingham here

13. birmingham’s public art – city centre walking tour.

⭐ Rating: 5/5 (37 reviews) | ⌚ Duration: 2 hours | ✅ Book it here!

This is fantastic tour of Birmingham’s public art and comes very highly rated. It focuses on the city’s architecture and how it has changed over the years.

Birmingham is full of conflicting architectural styles, from the harsh brutalism of buildings built in the 1950’s and 60’s to it’s Gothic churches and cathedrals and of course it’s modern skyscrapers.

You’ll learn all about English designer Sir Edward Burne-Jones and his ties to Birmingham and you’ll visit plenty of the city’s major iconic sights, starting with the Ozzy the Bull statue outside the Bullring shopping centre.

⭐ Check out this 5 star review on TripAdvisor: “Fascinating walk around Birmingham looking at a range of interesting public arts. A lovely way to spend a couple of hours seeing things that you may not necessarily notice otherwise, highly recommend.”

➡️ Book a ticket for Birmingham’s Public Art – City Centre Walking Tour here

Birmingham Walking Tours Map

Check out this interactive map of Birmingham that features pinpoints of all the iconic places mentioned in each of the 13 tours I’ve reviewed, that you can expect to see on your tour:

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Birmingham Walking Tours FAQs

Still not sure about going on a walking tour of Birmingham? Let’s answer some of the most commonly asked questions about this topic:

Is Birmingham a walkable city?

Yes, Birmingham is very much a walkable city and a lovely city to walk through as well! Although it’s a very big city, if you just plan on visiting the main city centre areas then it’s easily walkable.

Popular neighbourhoods like the Jewellery Quarter and Digbeth take longer to reach by foot and you may be better catching a bus to these places, but if you’re in good physical condition then walking is a great option.

What if I’m late for my walking tour?

It’s advised that you arrive at the starting point for each tour 10-15 minutes before the starting time advertised. Tour companies won’t give you a refund if you’re late!

Definitely check online where exactly your starting point is ahead of time to ensure you don’t get lost and be late for your tour.

What if it’s bad weather on the day of my tour?

Birmingham weather can be very bad at times! Most tours will still go ahead as long as there are no amber weather warnings issued by the Met Office, which is very unlikely to be honest.

However, there’s a good chance it may rain on the day of your tour (even during summer!), so check online for the weather forecast and bring an umbrella with you if rain is forecasted.

It’s also advised to wear good walking shoes for the tour and suitable layered clothing , especially during the winter months.

Are walking tours suitable for wheelchair users?

All of these walking tours take place on pavements so yes, they are suitable for wheelchair users.

I advise to check with each tour guide ahead of your tour as some certain locations (Birmingham canals for example) may be difficult to access for wheelchair users.

Conclusion: Top 13 Birmingham Walking Tours

So that concludes my post on the top 13 Birmingham walking tours for 2024. There is such a huge variety of different walking tours you can experience in this fascinating city!

Whether you just want to see Birmingham’s major landmarks in the city centre or see some cool street art or go off the touristic path and discover some hidden gems , there is a tour for everyone.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading through my post on what this fantastic city has available for you, and now you know what expect on your next walking tour of Birmingham!

You might also like these blog posts about Birmingham: ➡️ The 25 Best Day Trips From Birmingham That Are A Must In 2024 ➡️  15 Things To Do In Birmingham Alone: The BEST Solo Travel Guide ➡️ Birmingham vs London: Which City Is Better To Visit In 2024? ➡️ Is It Better To Visit Wolverhampton or Birmingham? Review By A Local ➡️  Is Birmingham Worth Visiting? Top 27 Things To Do – By A Local

➡️ Planning your trip? Here are my favourite resources: 🏨 Accommodation: I recommend using Booking.com 🚙 Rental Car: Use Discover Cars for the best car rental prices ❤️ Travel Insurance: I recommend using Visitors Coverage ✈️ Flights: Use Kiwi.com for the best prices on flights

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Mark Jeavons

Hi! I’m Mark from England and I’m a travel blogger. I’ve travelled to 40 countries so far and love blogging! I specialise in UK destinations European destinations such as Spain and exotic destinations such as Egypt, Morocco, South Korea, Japan and more.

BIRMINGHAM WALKING TOURS

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PRIVATE 3 HOUR BIRMINGHAM CITY & JEWELLERY QUARTER TOUR

On our longest private tour, see everything you want to see in the city. Learn about our rich history and explore the Jewellery Quarter with your guide too.

PRIVATE BIRMINGHAM GALLOWS AND GHOSTS

Uncover the public hangings, the ghost of Henry Skinner, the gangs that ruled Birmingham and much more. Discover Birmingham’s secrets with your local guide.

DISCOVER BIRMINGHAM THROUGH A LOCAL'S EYES ★★★★★

Fantastic value for money. Pete our guide was so knowledgeable and friendly. A great way to get a feel for the city or simply to orientate yourself before you go and explore on your own. Definitely recommend

The Birmingham City Walking Tour was a very enjoyable way to spend a morning & we learnt lots about a fascinating city. Our guide was very knowledgeable & engaging and lead the walk at a perfect pace, introducing us to the history , buildings and people who helped make Birmingham a great city. We were in quite a mixed group with visitors from New Zealand, some locals & other newbies like ourselves - we all got something from the walk. Would thoroughly recommend.

I was having a solo bachelor party for myself prior to my marriage and felt the need to enjoy this tour. The guide was friendly, knowledgeable, funny and be try well spoken. This tour lasted about 1.5 hours and I don’t regret even one minute of it. I am from Dublin but had no idea how diverse and how well put together Birmingham was with such rich history. A 10/10 experience for the price and could not recommend this tour any higher.

Pete showed us around the centre of Birmingham and though I was born in the City (though moved away 60 years ago) we heard lots of facts that I wasn't aware of. Birmingham undersells itself and Pete did an excellent job in putting that right for those of us on the tour.

10 Wonderful Birmingham Walking Tours To Take You On An Unexpected Adventure

Discover hidden sides of the city with these Birmingham walking tours.

If you’re after an excuse to step away from the computer for a couple of hours, or looking at a wandering weekend city break, go no further than Birmingham. The beautiful city brims with a bustling, modern life and rich, historical past. There is so much to discover and all in walking distance.

This is why we’ve rounded up the very best Birmingham walking tours to get you out-and-about. Seeing sides of the city you’ve never come across before. From wandering the waterways , observing street art or learning about local history, there are plenty of reasons to get walking around Birmingham.

1. Birmingham Walking Tour

The best way to discover modern Birmingham is with this walking tour around England’s second city . The two-hour stroll will take you through the city’s most iconic landmarks, from the Library of Birmingham to Gas Street , The Mailbox to Town Hall. You’ll also explore Birmingham’s amazing canals , learn about its Victorian heritage , and see how past and modern architecture compares. If you are a lifelong local or simply visiting for the weekend, you’re bound to discover something new.

2. Birmingham Romantic Tour

A walking tour for lovers ! Discover the most romantic spots in the city with this two-hour loop of Birmingham. Leaving from Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum , the walking tour will take you down Birmingham’s charming streets and brush up against lovely locations such as Victoria Square , Birmingham City Centre and Birmingham Museum . Your guide will also tell hidden love stories and spicy tales along the way. You’ll never be stuck for date ideas again after one of our favourite Birmingham walking tours. Perfect you and that special someone.

3. Haunted Birmingham City Exploration Game

From the sexy to the spooky, explore Birmingham’s most frightful locations . But there’s more to this walking tour than having the heebie-jeebies shocked into you. You’ll follow step-by-step instructions that will take you from one haunting place to another – solve the clue and get a scary story. Restless spirits, cruel murderers and menacing ghouls will come alive on this trail. No wonder Birmingham is considered one of the UK’s spookiest towns .

4. Peaky Blinders Walking Tour

The Peaky Blinders gang are synonymous with Birmingham and the Black Country the world-over thanks to the lauded BBC drama of the same name. Now you can learn the true story of the infamous gang in this walking tour of the city. Led by Edward Shelby , a distant cousin of the real-life gang leader Tommy Shelby, the tour teaches the history of gangs in Birmingham, as well as the cultural impact they had on the city. For those looking to get a bit boozy, there is also a Tipsy Blinder  pub tour visiting eight unique drinking establishments, from ale pubs to gin palaces and cocktail bars, while you learn about the Peaky Blinders and the impact of alcohol on the city.

5. Jewellery Quarter Walking Tour

Every Brummie has visited the Jewellery Quarter . These days the area is packed with amazing restaurants and cool cocktail bars , but it was once the most-highly concentrated area of businesses involved in the jewellery trade in Europe. It was also once capital to the world’s pen trade, plus produced some of the world’s finest coffin furniture. On this walking tour you can discover all this history and more, heading to The Pen Museum , The Coffin Works , St Pauls Square and Church . You won’t go far, but you’ll more than likely get your steps in discovering much in a small amount of space.

6. Tolkien Tour

The Tolkien Tour of Birmingham is an absolute must for any Middle Earth enthusiast. Tolkien’s family were Birmingham natives before the author moved to Oxford in adulthood. And the second city left a huge impression on Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit . We’ve split this walking tour into two short trips that can either be completed in one day, or across the weekend. The first trail starts at Sarehole Mill , walking to Tolkien’s childhood home of 264 Wake Green Road, and onto Moseley Bog , and gives the feeling of being in Hobbiton. While the second begins with Edgbaston Waterworks Tower , heading to Perrot’s Folly – the inspiration behind Minas Morgul and Orthanc – before heading to The Oratory , where Tolkien lived as a teenager, and finishing at the Plough & Harrow pub.

7. The Lunar Society Trial

In the 18th century, The Lunar Society – a sort of monthly dinner party – used to meet in Birmingham’s Soho House every full moon, as it was easier to travel back at night under its light. The ‘lunaticks’, as they called themselves, were made up of industrialists, philosophers and intellectuals, such as Joseph Priestley, Erasmus Darwin, Josiah Wedgwood, James Watt, and William Withering. Each month they would discuss the latest ideas and inventions, and carry out scientific experiments too. The Lunar Society Trail covers Birmingham’s important locations that reflect these men’s impact on the city. From St Philip’s Cathedral to St Paul’s Square , via The Library of Birmingham , canals and more. The free walking tour should take between 1 to 2 hours.

8. Movie Locations Walking Tour

Showbiz! It’s not something we associate strongly with the second city. But it might surprise you to learn a number of spots in Birmingham have featured as locations for Hollywood movies. This includes Mission: Impossible , Ready Player One and Kingsman , plus TV shows like Peaky Blinders and Line of Duty . The Locationist’s Birmingham walking tours will take you to locations you’ll never look at in the same way again. You’ll also learn about the technical side of filming too, especially tackling the narrow streets of Birmingham. A must for any film fanatics!

9. A Graffiti Walk of Digbeth

Digbeth is arguably Birmingham’s coolest spot in the whole city. It’s only fitting the creative neighbourhood has some awesome graffiti to match. This free Birmingham walking tour will guide you via the most spectacular street art the area can offer, starting at Moor Street Train Station and taking you around the Custard Factory . There are a number of cafes and bars to stop off at along this leisurely three mile stroll too, offering plenty of rest stops.

10. Solihull Treasure Hunt Trail

Get out of the city and head to Solihill for this walking tour. The treasure hunt-themed trail shows a secret side to this part of the city. Solve clues, built into Solihull’s buildings and monuments, that lead to buried treasure. It should take around two hours, but you can solve this at your own pace. And yes, you really can win some treasure. As correct answers are entered into a monthly £100 prize draw .

There are some wonderful walks to discover in Birmingham. Enough to wear out the legs of an Olympian and dazzle the brain of most historians. These Birmingham walking tours should keep anyone occupied until Christmas.

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Birmingham canal walk, Livery Street to the Mailbox

Enjoy this 1 mile walk through Birmingham city centre, taking in Farmer's Bridge Locks, Old Turn Junction and Gas Street Basin.

Download our walking map and step-by-step instructions to help you along the way.

With over 100 miles of navigable waterways, Birmingham sits at the heart of Britain's canals. A skyline of contemporary architecture meets the canal here in a lovingly regenerated meeting place between old and new. The canal isn't hiding from the city, it's just waiting quietly below the bridge, steps away from the urban flurry. You'll find locks hidden under bridges and buildings. Amble this parallel waterworld right in the city, where benches line the water to tempt you to simply sit for a while, watching boats and geese pass by.

Check out our helpful guide to enjoying this short walk along the canals of Birmingham centre

Canal: Birmingham Canal Navigations

Start: Livery Street Bridge OS Grid ref: SP067874 Postcode: B3 1AQ

Finish: The Mailbox OS Grid ref: SP064864 Postcode: B1 1RS

Distance: 1.6km / 1 mile

Route instructions

Start: From Livery Street, descend the steps to the cavernous tunnel beneath Snow Hill Station, and turn back on yourself to follow the towpath under Livery Street.

1. Head up the ramp beside lock 12 of the 13 Farmer's Bridge Locks which climb towards the city centre. These narrow locks, hemmed in by city buildings, used to get so busy with working boats heading in both directions that gas lighting was installed along the flight so crews could work day and night.

2. Beyond Ludgate Hill Bridge and lock 11, overlooked by the imposing 152m BT Tower, the canal slips under an office block with lock 10 straddled by the building's pillars. Boaters watch their heads at Lock 9, directly underneath Newhall Street Bridge! Birmingham's famous Jewellery Quarter is just west.

3. Look out for poetry carved into the lock arms at Lock 8. These lines were written by Roy Fisher to mark the creation of the Canal & River Trust charity in 2012.

4. Your views open as you pass the last few locks of the flight, widening into boat moorings at Cambrian Wharf next to Top Lock and its toll house. Benches invite you to linger a while.

5. The Birmingham & Fazeley Canal ends at Old Turn Junction, marked by the island in the water. Revel in the open space, sit and stare over the water - busy with canal boats, canoes, ducks and even geese. To your right is Utilita Arena Birmingham, and across the water is the National SEA LIFE Centre. The Birmingham New Main Line Canal heads off left and straight ahead. Cross the Grade II-listed intricate cast-iron footbridge (marked ‘Horseley Iron Works, Staffordshire, 1827') and follow the ramp past the Malt House.

6. Just beyond Brewmaster's Bridge is a wide leafy area with handy benches to take time and watch canal life and trip boats. To your left, doors lead into the International Convention Centre and Symphony Hall.

7. Cross the canal on the footbridge (beautifully adorned with flowers in spring and summer) towards the shops, bars, cafés, restaurants and art gallery of Brindleyplace, named after James Brindley, the canal engineer.

8. Duck your head under Broad Street tunnel into Gas Street Basin - the first place in the city to have gas lights to enable 24-hour canal operations. Today, the water reflects contemporary glass architecture alongside historic buildings.

9. Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) meets the Worcester & Birmingham Canal here. During the canal mania of the Industrial Revolution, canal companies fiercely guarded their water, so the BCN insisted a barrier was built to separate the two canals. The Worcester Bar, built in 1792, forced cargoes to be laboriously transhipped over it for 30 years. Sense prevailed in 1815 when a stop lock was built to allow boats through. The Bar now provides boat moorings. Look out for the red Transport Trust plaque.

The cast-iron bridge to the Bar is a modern copy, made in 1988 from Horseley's original design, the first cast-iron bridge made in over 100 years (not cheating, just new history making). A slope and archway lead out to the road. A red door was used by the fire brigade to gain access to canal water to put out fires during World War II.

End: Cross the footbridge where the Worcester & Birmingham Canal turns sharply southwards. The walk ends at the Mailbox (former Royal Mail sorting office, now a mix of designer shopping, cafés, bars, and the BBC's Innovation Showcase). Boats moor here, and a Waterbus stop offers a fun way back to Old Turn Junction.

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Last Edited: 28 June 2024

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My name's Al and I'm born and bred in Birmingham. I want to share my passion and knowledge of my hometown by providing tours which are relaxed, inclusive and fun with an emphasis on telling the stories of the city in a friendly and  engaging way. Whether a group or solo traveller you'll be given a warm Brummie welcome and have the opportunity to meet like minded explorers as we walk the city together. Get recommendations and ideas for further explor ation and even learn to talk like a local.

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