Take the opportunity to see how the city used to be.
There’s a chance to experience Birmingham’s heritage with behind-the-scenes tours, open days, walks across the city from Friday 6th until Sunday 15th September
Bookings go live at 5pm on Saturday 3rd August at birminghamheritageweek.co.uk and many events are expected to sell out within minutes.
Now in its tenth year, Birmingham Heritge Week takes place from 6th-15th September 2024. 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.
Highlights of Birmingham Heritage Week 2024 include:
Tours of a Grade I Listed Arts & Crafts house on Yateley Road, Edgbaston, and the landmark Rotunda building in the city centre.
· Guided tour of a 1960s modernist house designed by John Madin.
· An exclusive opportunity to visit the prefabs in Wake Green Road. Recently refurbished and retro-fitted, one property has retained many original features. Take the chance to to see inside before people move back into their homes.
· Visit 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 14th 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.
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, “With tickets now on sale, we can’t wait to open our doors 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.”
The full programme and ticket booking can be found at birminghamheritageweek.co.uk
