Explore Birmingham Guided Walking Tours
Hightlight
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City Centre
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Tours
Explore Birmingham brings a choice of guided walking tours through the city. Bringing the sights and scenes from Birmingham’s colourful past. Experience a fun and informative tour telling the stories and secrets of the wonderful city. With a tour guide that’s born and bred in area, he’ll share his passion and knowledge of his hometown.
Tours 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 you walk the city together. You’ll get recommendations and ideas for further exploration and even learn to talk like a local.
Group sizes are kept small to make sure you have a friendlier experience.
TOURS
City Sights & History Tour
Discover the history of the city and see the main city centre sights, with a 2 mile, 2 hour walk covering the main sights of Birmingham with loads of photo opportunities and more than a third of the route strolling alongside the canals.
With explore Birmingham you’ll get an understanding of the story of this great city from its humble medieval origins through its explosion as the Workshop of the World to the modern diverse city of today. The route is carefully designed to maximise the amount of the city centre you can experience over a manageable distance.
The tour includes St Martin’s church, Selfridges, St Philip’s cathedral, Symphony Hall/Convention Centre, Library of Birmingham, Hall of Memory, Chamberlain memorial, Art Gallery/Council House, Town Hall and many squares, fountains, canals and bridges.
Children under 11 go free, kids activity cards are provided to make the tour fun for youngsters. The group ticket allows you to book for a group of 4 or 5 for £40 (with a maximum of 2 Adult participants).
The tour starts at the Bullring and involves steps and slopes and is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs, there are some uneven surfaces but it’s suitable for anyone of an average fitness level.
Finishing at Victoria Square in the centre of the city just a 5 minute walk from the starting point and your guide will happily escort you back there if you wish.
Birmingham’s Dark Side Tour
Explore Birmingham brings a ghoulish walking tour of the dark side of Birmingham’s history. An atmospheric evening tour not for the faint-hearted.
Graveyards, murders, a hanging, body snatching, a curse, a restless corpse, the mystery of Birmingham’s ‘sublime vampire’ and a few local ghosts. This dark tour explores the ghoulish, grimier elements of the 19th century city.
The tour is around 1.75 miles and lasts an hour and 45 mins, there are steps but it is otherwise suitable for those of average fitness. Please wear sensible footwear as some surfaces might be slippery.
The nature of the stories means this tour is not suitable for children under 12 or those of a sensitive disposition. Older children can attend at their parents/guardian’s discretion. It’s not a ghost walk (although you’ll hear about a few) and we don’t hire any actors to jump out at you.
Parts of the tour can be very dark (dependent upon the time of year) and you are advised to bring a torch. The tour begins in the Jewellery Quarter and ends in Victoria Square in the city centre. We meet outside the Jewellery Quarter train station/Metro stop on Vyse Street.
FAQ's
Who are tours suitable for?
Tours are suitable for anyone of average fitness and are mostly on pavements or canal towpaths, they usually involve steps. Each tour has a description of the nature of the walk including the distance and approximate duration. If you have any worries about whether the tour is suitable for you please get in touch before you book. Age restrictions are indicated where applicable as well as details of the content of the tour so you can make a decision about whether it's right for you or your child. On some tours an activity card will be provided for free to children to keep them engaged.
Can I cancel or move my tour?
Yes, for public tour bookings you can cancel or change the date of your tour for free as long as it’s at least 24 hours before the commencement of the tour. Just email contact@explorebirmingham.uk to let us know what you'd like to do. After that you should let us know as soon as possible and it may be possible in some circumstances to provide a partial refund or move your tour to another date.
When should I arrive?
Please arrive at least 5 minutes before the tour is due to start to allow for registration.
What if I’m running late?
Unfortunately the tour can’t wait if you’re running late, however, tours usually spend a few minutes either at or near the meeting point so please look around and join the tour and make yourself known to the guide at a convenient pause. If you know you’ll be late please call or text 07920 864384 as soon as possible prior to the tour commencement (leave a message if it’s not answered). It may be possible to arrange a place for you to join the tour if you’ll be more than a few minutes late, although this can’t be guaranteed. Once the tour has commenced calls can’t be answered or messages checked as the guide will be focused on the tour group. Unfortunately, if you can’t join the tour due to delay, refunds can’t be offered so please allow plenty of time.
What to expect on a tour
The guide will welcome you and depending on group sizes there’s a chance to be introduced to others on the tour. The tours are fun and interactive with chances to ask questions and explore the stories but don’t worry, you won’t be put on the spot and you can get involved as much or as little as you want. Tours are friendly and should be enjoyable for everyone, no smoking or alcohol is allowed on the tour for everyone’s safety and comfort. The guide may alert you to some hazards but you’re responsible for your own safety and that of anyone in your care. Extra care should be taken when crossing roads and on slippery surfaces and steps.
What should I wear/bring?
Please dress in comfortable clothing and sensible footwear and be prepared for the weather! Not just waterproofs and umbrellas but (if we’re lucky) sun protection and water.
What about the weather?
Tours go ahead in all but the most extreme or dangerous conditions. We find most people enjoy tours even in the rain but of course you can cancel for free as long as it’s at least 24 hours before the tour start time. We’re afraid the weather isn’t a valid reason to cancel on the day for a refund.
