This popular festival shines the spotlight on historic Birmingham buildings, churches and heritage locations with hundreds of talks, tours, workshops, walks and much more. This is an opportunity to explore and discover many of the city’s hidden buildings and spaces.

Many events are free or low cost, and there are plenty of family-friendly options on offer. Tickets can be booked at birminghamheritageweek.co.uk although many events are drop-in, with no booking required.

Highlights of Birmingham Heritage Week 2024 include:

· Guided tour of a 1960s modernist house designed by John Madin.
· Take a visit to the Victoria Law Courts without the hassle of being in trouble with the law. Take a guided tour of the spectacular interior.
· An architectural walk through Station Street and Smallbrook Queensway with action group Brutiful Birmingham, both under thread from demolition.
· Take posh afternoon tea and entertainment in the spectacular ballroom of the Grand Hotel or surrounded by silver treasures in the Silver Room at the Assay Office.
· A music tour looking back at Birmingham’s 70s and 80s music scene with Birmingham Music Archive, or learn about a lost cinema in Stirchley with Flatpack.
· Bournville Heritage Open Day on Saturday 14 September, with 17 venues open around the village

The Augustus Pugin-designed St Mary’s Convent in Handsworth is among the many churches that will be opening their doors and there will be guided tours at Oscott Catholic Training College.

There are also numerous family friendly events and open days including Moor Pool Heritage Festival, a Family Heritage Day at The Exchange, at Winterbourne House & Gardens is the Birmingham Honey Show, Highbury Hall open day and a family day at New Hall Mill in Sutton Coldfield.

Guided heritage walks include migration stories along Stratford Road, public art walks in the city centre, walks in the Jewellery Quarter and Digbeth, a walk around Edgbaston Reservoir, Austin Village tour, Acocks Green, from Aston to Perry Barr (via Spaghetti Junction).

Visiting opportunities at the National Trust Back to Backs (free), Tyseley Locomotive depot, guided tours at the Aston Fire Station and Council House.

Woodcock Street Baths are again taking part with a guided tour of the building and optional swim in the 1902 pool.

In the Jewellery Quarter the historic JW Evans Silver Factory will open its doors for free.

Birmingham has four surviving medieval churches, and all are open during the week – St Laurence (Northfield), St Edburgha (Yardley), St Giles (Sheldon) and St Nicolas (Kings Norton). Modern post-war churches are also represented including St Peter in Hall Green with spectacular glass windows.

If you like stained glass, Birmingham Cathedral is offering tours of the recently restored Burne-Jones windows as well as graveyard tours.

For those who like a view, and are willing to go up 100 steps, Spring Hill College in Wake Green is opening up the tower. And for those who don’t mind spiders and like cellars… join a tour of Moseley Hall (now Moseley Hall hospital) or Cannon Hill House (now Centre for Movement Disorders).

Sutton Coldfield has a packed programme with 15 events; the old smithy, 46/52 High Street and New Hall Hotel will be opening their doors, the Sutton Coldfield Masjid is offering guided tours, there will be talks about the roman road in Sutton Park and the local Ebrook and a display about local stations and station masters at Sutton Railway station.

If you feel like some active hands-on, you can help the Historic and Archaeological Task Force in Sutton Park, or explore the New Hall Valley with the ramblers. If you rather relax, you can listen to Sounds Historical who will perform in Bishop Vesey school.

Irene De Boo, Co-ordinator of Birmingham Heritage Week, comments, “We can’t wait to open our doors on Saturday for the tenth anniversary of Birmingham Heritage Week!

“There are so many hidden spaces to get out and explore, and we’ve managed to keep many tickets free or low cost to make the festival accessible to everyone. I’m a proud adopted Brummie, and I know this is a great city, rich in heritage, so I can’t wait to get the festival started.”