Birmingham’s Rise: From Medieval Settlement to Metropolis

Described as an “insignificant agricultural settlement” in the 1086 Domesday Book, today Birmingham is England’s second-largest city. On this walking tour, you’ll hear the surprising story of a city without natural resources or a major river, which ended up flourishing because of the ingenuity of its people, and its central position in the nation’s transport networks.

Starting at the beautifully preserved Edwardian-era train station, Birmingham Moor Street, you’ll wander through the city’s historic heart and hear about centuries of innovation and transformation. You’ll pass through the famous Bull Ring, where medieval bull-baiting once drew crowds, and continue past striking Victorian terracotta buildings that showcase Birmingham’s distinctive architectural character.

Throughout the tour, you’ll follow the evolution of Birmingham’s commercial landscape while exploring quiet cathedral grounds, grand civic spaces, and bustling market areas that have sustained the city’s economy for over 850 years. You’ll hear fascinating stories about its industrial heritage, and the people who shaped this proudly forward-looking city. The tour concludes at Centenary Square, where the Golden Boys statue honors three industrial titans whose partnerships helped power the Industrial Revolution.

Along the way, you’ll have a chance to:

• Explore Birmingham’s historic markets, established by royal charter in 1166, where varied produce traders continue to draw people to the city
• Visit St. Martin’s Church, built on the site of Birmingham’s original parish church, where you’ll see pre-Raphaelite stained glass by locally-born artist Edward Burne-Jones
• Admire The River, a monumental artwork by Dhruva Mistry in Chamberlain Square, affectionately nicknamed “The Floozie in the Jacuzzi” by locals
• Pay respects at poignant memorials to the workers who died building the Town Hall and the civilians lost during World War II bombing raids
• Wander through the Victorian Great Western Arcade that was ingeniously built over a railway-cutting Stand before Birmingham’s impressive civic buildings, constructed when Joseph Chamberlain’s leadership made it ”the best-governed city in the world”

On this 120-minute tour, you’ll explore the city that proudly carries the motto “Forward” and discover why locals affectionately say “it will be lovely when it’s finished!”