Think you know all there is to know about Birmingham? Think again. No matter how detailed your knowledge of this vibrant and bustling place, a variety of walks, trails and tours help you see another side of multi-layered, fascinating and historic Birmingham.
Get a feel for how it evolved. See where Tolkien gained his inspiration for Middle Earth. Or see it from the perspective of the winding matrix of canals. By foot or by tour bus, see Birmingham afresh.
There are many ways to enjoy a tour of the city; here are some of the
most popular:
The Heritage Trail by Birmingham Heritage Audio Tours is Birmingham’s first audio
tour and takes you round the city centre at your leisure. See many historic
buildings, such as St. Philip’s Cathedral and the Victoria Law Courts with no
rushing or time restrictions. Create your own itinerary. Once you have
purchased the audio tour, it’s yours forever; to use as often as you want. Or ask
about the hire options from the Rotunda Tourism Centre & Ticketshop. Get
more details on 0844 888 3883 or order your CD - click here.
In conjunction with Walk 2000, Marketing Birmingham has produced seven walking
trails called the Gateway Trails. They guide you around in the city
centre taking in key attractions, including The NIA, The Mailbox, Millennium
Point and Bullring. Each walk guides you around the city giving interesting
pieces of information on route regarding architecture, public art, history,
heritage and quirky facts. The seven walks can be taken separately or linked
together to form a comprehensive tour of the city. They’re available from the
Tourism Centre & Ticketshop at the Rotunda.
As well as these mainly self-guided tours, you can also book a Blue Badge
Guide to help plan routes and offer ideas for groups. These can be booked
through the Tourism Centres. For more information visit www.uk-tourist-guides.com (approximate costs: £95 half day,
£180 full day)
City tours
The Two Queen's city centre walk discovers Birmingham
old and new - from the heart of Victorian Birmingham to the 21st century with
the International Convention Centre, Symphony Hall, Brindleyplace, Gas Street Basin - learn about Birmingham's
unique past, architectural heritage and the people who put Birmingham on the map.
Brummagem
Bullring Walk is a heritage trail through the heart
of Birmingham.
From the mediaeval centre to the latest 'shop 'till you drop' iconic building
of Selfridges. Visit the mother church
of Birmingham - St
Martin's, the Lord of the Manor’s House - the home of the De
Bermingham family, the Chinese Quarter, the Back to Back houses and the Lady
Well.
The waterways
More Canals than Venice walk is a guided tour around the canal network. Starting
from Gas Street
Basin, the walk encompasses the Old
Turn Junction, Oozell Street Loop and the flight of Farmer's Bridge Locks on
the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal.
Birmingham is 'Britain's canal city'. As such, we
have many canal-side walks. Much industrial heritage is still present
with canals that were built over 200 years ago. The same is true of buildings that
site alongside. All can be seen and enjoyed on these walks. Within a short distance,
there is a huge range of attractions to visit including the National Sea Life
Centre, designer shopping in the Mailbox, the CBSO at Symphony Hall,
contemporary art at the Ikon Gallery and major events at the National Indoor
Arena; not forgetting the lively mix of bustling bars and restaurants for a
welcome break.
The Ollie the Otter trail has been specially designed for
children (up to 8 years) to explore the canals from The National Sea Life
Centre to Gas Street Basin.
You can put stickers on your map when you have spotted things around your walk.
Check out the British Waterways website or their shop at ‘Cambrian Wharf’ for lots more information about
the canals.
Birmingham Tours provides guided coach or
walking tours around Birmingham
tailored to your requirements - Bullring, Jewellery Quarter, the canal network
to name but a few possibilities. They offer themed events, children’s walks and
package tours. For special events and further information check out www.birmingham-tours.co.uk.
Jewellery Quarter Pavement Trails take you around the
Quarter’s fascinating blend of old and new. Unique in Europe,
it’s home to a huge number of jewellery businesses operating in historic
surroundings, which date back over 250 years. The Findings Trail and the Charm
Bracelet Trail guide you from the city centre to the Jewellery Quarter. Both
trails take about 45 minutes to walk and include easy-to-follow plaques in the
pavement.
The Jewellery Quarter Walk, devised by Bob Miles, is a longer
walk of discovery from the city centre to, and around, the Jewellery Quarter.
It reveals the extensive history and heritage of the area. Although much has
changed over the years, much is the same and still practised here; something
the trail shows you. It can be picked up in the city centre or the Jewellery
Quarter itself. Find out more about this fascinating walk.
Tolkien trails
JRR Tolkien gained plenty of inspiration from his childhood haunts in Birmingham. The imagery he
so magically created can be traced back to places and buildings in the city. The
Tolkien Trail allows you to have a wonderful day seeing where Tolkien
dreamt up The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings for yourself. Guided Tolkien tours
of all the Tolkien-related sites around Birmingham
are also available for groups - with additional in-depth knowledge from a
specialised tour guide.
Developed in conjunction with the BBC programme British Isles - A Natural
History, this trail guides you on a Walk Through Time in Birmingham. Find
out about Birmingham's
past as a forest, a swamp and underneath an ice sheet hundreds of metres thick.
Then walk right up to the present day, through Birmingham's history as a settlement and a
thriving hub for industry. Keep your eyes peeled and you might just see some
rare birds.