A Guide to the Guidebooks of Birmingham
A talk by the author of this year’s city guidebook on how views on what are meaningful places to visit have changed.
A guided walk around Old Yardley Village
Join local historian Mike Byrne for a gentle walk around this historic village.
A history of Sutton Coldfield’s Crystal Palace
Join this talk and hear about this fascinating piece of our local past.
A walk around historic Sutton Coldfield
A walk around Sutton Coldfield, pausing at buildings and sites of historic interest.
A walk through queer history: Rose Sidgwick and memory at the University of Birmingham
A walking tour across the Edgbaston campus, with brief talks revealing the lives of Rose Sidgwick and Margery Fry.
Acocks Green Heritage Tour
Explore local heritage in Acocks Green in this guided walk. Optional visit St Mary’s church at end of walk.
An evening at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Visit the beautiful Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of Theotokos and Saint Andrew
An Exhibition of Balsall Heath’s History
An exhibition that shows how our area has changed from rural retreat to busy suburb. Talk at 2.30pm.
Aston Parish Church Heritage Day
Join us for a special programme of events, including talks, exhibition and trips up the church tower.
Athol Masonic Lodge
A secret society for rich men? You could not be more wrong. Come along and see who we are.
Austin Village Tour
Join us for a guided walk through the Austin Village, a model village built by Herbert Austin for munition workers in WW1.
Austin Village Tour
Join us for a guided walk through the Austin Village, a model village built by Herbert Austin for munition workers in WW1.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is an authentic Hindu temple in the heart of Birmingham.
Behind the scenes at the Cadbury Research Library
Explore our collections of over 200,000 rare books dating from 1471 and more than four million manuscript items.
Behind the Scenes Building Tour – Assay Studios
See how this building was given a new sense of place, visit secret rooms and marvel at period features.
Birchfield Heritage Trail
A journey around the east side of Birchfield, highlighting the many links between Birchfield and the rest of the world.
Birmingham and the Birth of the World Snooker Championship
Did you know this major tournament owes its humble beginnings to the city of Birmingham?
Birmingham Assay Office 250th Anniversary Heritage Exhibition
Join us as we showcase the last 250 years of Birmingham and tell the story of our fantastic city.
Birmingham Buddhist Vihara. The Dhamma Talaka Peace Pagoda
Visit the golden roofed Dhamma Talaka Peace Pagoda.
Birmingham Historical Theatre Tours
A promenade performance of Bournville by Birmingham History Theatre Company.
Birmingham Honey Show
Join us for a weekend ‘buzzing’ with all things Bees and Honey. House and gardens open.
Birmingham People’s History Archive
Discover the Birmingham People’s History Archive and its connections to the Spanish Civil War.
Birmingham’s forgotten female surrealist, Emmy Bridgwater
A talk about the life and work of overlooked Birmingham surrealist Emmy Bridgwater at RBSA.
Bournville Carillon and Rest House
An opportunity to see and hear the Carillon played live and to enjoy panoramic views across Bournville Village.
Bournville Crown Green Bowls Club
Visit the oldest sporting club in Bournville and come have a go at Crown Green Bowls.
Bournville Model Boat Club
See a wide assortment of model yachts and boats in action on the water. Some will be available for visitors to sail.
Bournville Quaker Meeting House
Visit an unusually elaborate Quaker Meeting House and the only one housing an organ.
Bournville Rest House
The Rest House is open as part of Bournville Heritage Open Day.
Bournville Village Primary School
Admire large frescoes in the school hall painted by mural painter and suffragist Mary Sargant Florence in 1914.
Brutalism Unwrapped – Celebrating Smallbrook Ringway Centre
Walk with us the length of Smallbrook Queensway to celebrate the Ringway Centre in its setting.
Building Stones of Birmingham – Town Hall to Cathedral Square
Join this walk to discover geology in the city centre; from sea creatures and ancient deserts to volcanoes.
Burial Information & Sales stall for Key Hill and Warstone Lane Cemeteries
The Friends of Key Hill and Warstone Lane Cemeteries will be able to assist with burial indexes for both cemeteries.
Cannon Hill 150
Cannon Hill 150 celebrates this huge anniversary of the park with a day of free performances and activities.
Cathedral of St Chad
A Victorian Gothic masterpiece by AWN Pugin.
Celebrating Five Years of Heritage at the Hive
Join us for a celebration of five years of heritage co-creation at the Hive.
Choral Evensong
Experience Choral Evensong in the beautiful surroundings of Birmingham Cathedral.
Church of the Ascension Hall Green
A chance to have a look around this beautiful Church consecrated in 1704 as Job Marston’s Chapel.
City of Birmingham Brass Band – free concert in Cannon Hill Park Bandstand
Enjoy the atmosphere of a traditional brass band concert in Cannon Hill Park.
City on Screen
A documentary exploring the part that the people of Birmingham have played in shaping the cinematic and television landscape.
Coffin Works Taster Tours
Join a free taster tour of our Stamp Room
Colmore History Walk
Join us on an extraordinary journey through the Secret History of Birmingham Street Names walking tour.
Concert Hall Mondelez International
The Concert Hall, opened by Cadbury in 1927, is a unique space within the Mondelez International main office block.
Discover Stirchley Library
Visit Stirchley Library, one of Birmingham’s early library buildings and still operating as a library.
Discover the story of St Martin in the Bull Ring
Guided tours telling the story of St. Martin in the Bull Ring across 9 centuries.
Discovering Stirchley Baths
Visit Stirchley Baths which has been a well-loved part of the Stirchley community for over 100 years.
Divine Beauty in Concert
Performed by Birmingham Cathedral’s choir of boys, girls and lower voices.
Divine Beauty Recital
Primary School students present a programme of music themed around Burne-Jones windows.
Divine Beauty Scaffolding Tours
Come and see the conservation of Birmingham Cathedral’s four remarkable stained-glass windows up close.
Divine Beauty Stained-glass Saturday
Come and enjoy a free family event and learn all about stained glass!
Edgbaston Reservoir: Its origins and some famous names
A walk round this beautiful reservoir exploring its role in Birmingham’s social and economic history.
Explore Blakesley
Free entry to Blakesley Hall, a fine Tudor house and beautiful gardens built in 1590.
Explore Bournville’s green spaces with the Birmingham Ramblers
A 4.5mile walk led by the City of Birmingham Ramblers Group through Bournville’s parks and green spaces.
Exploring the History of Birmingham’s Oldest Pub
An evening with Prof. Carl Chinn MBE.
Exploring the History of Birmingham’s Oldest Pub
An Exhibition at the Old Crown.
Family Archives Workshop @ Cadbury Research Library
This interactive workshop explores the contents and value of family archives.
Family History Surgery & Help Desk at the BMI
Visit the Birmingham Midland Institute and let Midland Ancestors help you grow your family tree.
Gallipoli and Brandwood End
Join this Zoom talk and hear why Brandwood End became the resting place of some who lost their lives at Gallipoli.
Gallipoli and Brandwood End
Join our guide on a walk around graves associated with those that lost their lives in the Gallipoli campaign.
Glacial Boulder Heritage Walk
A 5-mile walk along the little known glacial erratic boulders of South Birmingham.
Hall of Memory
Visit the city’s War Memorial, housing the Roll of Honour and bas-relief panels by William Bloye.
Handsworth Old Town Hall
Come and visit our community museum covering the history of old Handsworth in a Grade 2 listed cottage built around 1460.
Headstones, the hidden world of lichens
A gentle stroll within Brandwood End Cemetery to explore the hidden world of lichens.
Heritage Day and Open Studios at the former TASCOS Co-op Bakery
The former TASCOS bakery building is now the home of South Birmingham Works, and opens its doors.
Heritage Open Day at Aston Hall
A rare opportunity to visit Aston Hall for free.
Highbury Mansion & Grounds (Highbury Hall)
Highbury is a Grade II* listed mansion and once the home of the Chamberlain family.
History Unboxed at the MCC Open Day
An opportunity to see hundreds of thousands of museum objects are in store. VINTAGE BUS SERVICE to/from optional.
Hockley Circus Murals – Walking Tour
Join this walk for an introduction to the innovative sculptures by William Mitchell under the Hockley Flyover.
Holy Trinity Church, Birchfield
Visit Trinity Church for a church history talk, display and organ music.
Holy Trinity Parish Church Sutton Coldfield Heritage Open Day
Visit this stunning listed church and climb the tower for a spectacular view.
Irish Roots of Handsworth Walking Trail
We will trace the footsteps of the Irish presence in Handsworth, including a visit to St Mary’s Convent.
Jewellery Quarter Cemeteries – Locate Your Ancestors Burial Plot
Visit the Family Heritage Surgery & Help Desk provided by Midland Ancestors.
Kathleen Dayus and other Jewellery Quarter Gems
Join us for a guided tour and talk about the life and times of local author Kathleen Dayus.
Keeping up appearances in Victorian Moseley
Join us at the Moseley Hive for the launch of a new book about Moseley.
Led ride to Sarehole Mill
Explore local heritage by bike.
Led Walk – Moseley Bog & Sarehole Mill
Explore local heritage by foot.
Lickey Hills Heritage Weekend
A Lickey Hills heritage weekend with displays, walks and a unique opportunity to visit the WW1 Bilberry Gun Proof Range.
Manor Farm Park Heritage Trail
Beautiful Manor Farm Park lies ‘hidden’ behind the Bristol Road. Explore the heritage of this tranquil green space.
Masonic Hall Open Morning
Come and visit this Grade II listed building, home to Sutton Coldfield Freemasons’ lodges.
Mediaeval Church Open
St Laurence Church is opening its doors, including scarecrow festival and Baroque music recital at 4pm.
Meet the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery
The friends will answer your questions about the cemetery and its history.
Moor Pool Heritage Festival
A unique opportunity to discover the Moor Pool Estate, one of the last remaining intact Garden Suburbs in the UK.
Moseley Hall Dovecote and 18c garden
The 18th century dovecote and garden offer an insight into Moseley’s rural past.
Moseley Hall Icehouse in Moseley Park & Pool
A chance to see one of the best-preserved icehouses in the West Midlands in beautiful Moseley Park.
New Hall Water Mill Open Day
A chance to visit this much-loved local landmark in Sutton Coldfield.
Newspapers in History – Research Workshop
Join us for a workshop on the use of newspapers in historical research.
Open Church at St Alban the Martyr
An opportunity to look around this Victorian Gothic church with spectacular stone vaulting.
Open Day at St Mary’s Handsworth
Also known as the Cathedral of the Industrial Revolution, a beautiful grade II listed church adjacent to Handsworth Park.
Parish Church of St Agatha, Sparkbrook
Spectacular Neo-Gothic Grade I listed Bidlake Church, opened in 1901. Organ loft tours.
Places of Worship Heritage Trail, Lozells & Handsworth
Join us on our urban, interfaith trail stopping at 9 different places of worship.
Rowheath Pavilion
Come and enjoy some family activities and explore the outdoor space surrounding the Italianate pavilion.
Ruskin Hall
Ruskin Hall opened in 1903 and is the oldest public building in Bournville.
Sarehole Mill
Visit Sarehole Mill for free.
Screening of the play ‘The Lost Children’
A screening of this play performed at the MAC and Blue Orange Theatre in 2022.
Selly Manor Museum
Explore two of the oldest buildings in Birmingham, the Tudor Selly Manor and the medieval hall of Minworth Greaves.
Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Prince Lazar
The first purpose-built Serbian Orthodox church in the UK (known locally as Lazarica) is opening its doors.
Spaces of Sanctuary: Birmingham Refugee Histories
Join this talk about 20th century refugee histories, followed by an opportunity to view archive documents.
Spring Hill College at Moseley School and Sixth Form
Self guided tours of our mid-Victorian buildings and a chance to climb the tower for views over Birmingham.
St Edburgha’s Open Weekend
A medieval grade I listed church in village surroundings in Yardley.
St Francis C of E Church
Bournville Parish Church is dedicated to St Francis of Assisi and is a place of calm and beauty.
St Germain’s Church Heritage Open Day
A grade II listed basilica-style church with many Arts and Crafts elements.
St Giles Church Sheldon Open Day
A Grade II* listed 14th Century church in the suburb of Sheldon.
St Mary’s Parish Church Acocks Green
Visit the oldest church in Acocks Green, hear about its history and discover its rich interior.
St Nicolas Church
Visit this beautiful medieval church in historic Kings Norton.
St Peter’s Church, Sutton Coldfield
Drop in and admire St Peter’s Church interior & stained-glass windows.
Stories from the Stones
Help record the inscriptions on memorials and headstones at Brandwood End Cemetery.
Sutton Coldfield Town Hall Open Day
An opportunity to see inside Sutton Coldfield’s Town Hall, which opened in 1865 as the Royal Hotel.
Sutton Park Archaeology Walk
A 2.5 mile walk through time in Sutton Park.
The 300 year History of Webster & Horsfall
In 1866 this Birmingham company made the wire for the first successful trans-Atlantic telegraph cable. Visit their museum.
The Birmingham Oratory
Visit the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri, Birmingham’s ‘Little Rome’.
The Exchange Heritage Tour
Join this tour and discover the hidden history and fascinating stories of the Exchange. British Sign Language Tour from 1pm-2pm
Lost Children Exhibition
The Lost Children exhibition looks at the Middlemore Homes which emigrated more than 5,000 children to Canada between 1873 and 1948.
The Quadrangle – The Bournville Almshouse Trust
Built in 1898 for Richard Cadbury, this is a rare opportunity to visit the Almshouses as part of a pre-booked tour.
Tour of St Mary’s College, Oscott
Join a guided tour of this residential training college for the Catholic Priesthood. Furnishings by Pugin.
Tour of St Mary’s Convent of Mercy
Visit this little-known architectural gem by Augustus Welby Pugin.
Tour of the Council House
Ever walked past and wondered what it was like inside? Join a guided tour of this Grade II* listed building to find out.
Trace Your Family History. An introduction.
A FREE taster session to start your own Who Do You Think You Are journey in your local library.
Treasures from Birmingham Archives – C18th & C19th maps of Empire
See early original maps representing empire. Maps and atlases on display dating from 1720 to 1892.
Tudor Merchant’s House & Old Grammar School, Kings Norton
A unique opportunity to join a guided tour of the Tudor Merchant’s House and Old Grammar School in Kings Norton.
Visit St Paul’s in the Jewellery Quarter
Visit this iconic church in the Jewellery Quarter, just enjoy its enchanting atmosphere or join a guided tour.
Visit the Bell Ringing Chamber at St Martin in the Bull Ring
Climb the stone spiral staircase for the history of bellringing and a demonstration.
Walking tour of John Madin’s domestic architecture in Edgbaston
A walking tour along several of John Madin’s housing schemes in Edgbaston.
War Memorial Room, Men’s Pavilion, Mondelez International
A collection of World War I and World War II Memorials to Cadbury employees.
We Make Brum
An exhibition on the 9th floor of the Library of Birmingham, showing the work of Ark Victoria & George Dixon Academy students.
West Midlands Fire Service Museum
Visit the oldest fire station in Birmingham, with lots of early equipment on display.
What did the Romans do for Sutton?
Join this talk about the pre-historic and Roman periods in the Sutton area.
Woodbrooke
The former home of George Cadbury opens its doors, surrounding 10 acre garden also open.
Woodcock Street Baths: Guided Tour & Swim
A guided tour and optional swim in Birmingham’s oldest operational swimming pool.
York Supplies – 76 Years Not Out!
Kings Heath’s oldest retail shop, on the cusp of a buyout by the local community.
