Birmingham Walking Tour: Canals, Victorians & Today (1:30pm)
Description
Discover Birmingham’s past, present, and future on this two-hour walking tour starting at the Library of Birmingham. Explore canals, the city’s Georgian industrial pioneers, Victorian-era social and structural change, and today’s striking architecture. We reflect on the modern city’s diverse population and ongoing transformation. Tours are led by local experts including Jonathan Berg, author and photographer of Discovering Birmingham, and Michael Harrison, a specialist in 20th-century architecture. Each household receives a free copy of the book as a lasting memento. We also support Sifa Fireside, helping Birmingham’s homeless community.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We start and finish at this amazing new liibrary that is one of the major tourist attractions of Birmingham
We look at Symphony Hall ad the ICC and it's role in the city.
We look at the history of Brindleyplace as well as the modern day.
We consider the coming of the canals and look at this amazingly atmospheric centre of the Country's canal network.
We consider public art and also the development of Birmingham during the Victorian period. We look at the developments in the up to date city
We look at the way Birmingham is moving into the future.
We pass the entrance and see the amazing 1880s design of the double portico.
We see the conversion of the former post office sorting office into a mixed use development which includes the Birmingham headquarters of the BBC.
The cube is major development at the back part of the Mailbox development. Views from the upper floors are among the best in the city.
The Ikon Gallery was originally built as a school and is one of over forty built by the architects Martin & Chamberlain.
Art Deco style memorial built originally in 1925 to remember the fallen of the First World War but now includes WW II and more recent conflicts. Houses some fantastic art deco features including William Bloye tablets.
The main route from Centenary Square to the canalside.
The oldest building in Victoria Square dating from 1834.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Our route can be accessible for wheelchairs but we do need to modify the route and would appreciate an email from you if you intend to bring a wheelchair. Our Access Policy is clearly stated on the Positively Birmingham Walking Tours website.
Reviews(372)
Knowledgable and friendly guide was entertaining and loved to answer questions about Birmingham and its history
What a wonderful afternoon on the ‘Canals and Victorians to today’s city’ walk. I’m a local ‘Brummie’ and our host Jonathan opened my eyes to the city I was born and bred in. A small bargain to gain the knowledge I left with and for the length of time we spent walking around, mostly flat areas but with some small inclines with plenty of rest spots looking at interesting views. I did happened to win the whistle, I won’t give too much away there - but Birmingham New Street trains might have heard us! Would highly recommend and will be booking again, as comms where excellent regarding meeting time and place etc. One final thing, please do make a donation at the end as all proceeds go to a well worth charity and head for coffee and cake at The University of Birmingham’s Exchange afterwards, a beautiful place with excellent facilities to rest your feet :-)
Well - we just wish more local people came on our tours. Understanding the place you live in is just so important to a positive outlook on life and our aim is always to leave our guests enthusiastic about Birmingham by tour end.
Excellent tour. Jonathan established a welcoming and personal tone from outset. The tour successfully linked factors that have shaped Birmingham over the years, including contemporary, which facilitated some interesting follow-up discussion. I came away from the tour with a real desire to know more about this interesting City.
Thanks so much - do come on our other tours next time you are in Birmingham. Our Council House tour is brand new and people really enjoy seeing inside this amazing Victorian building which has so many stories to tell.
I found the visit friendly and interesting. There was a good atmosphere. There was also a lot of humor. With my limited knowledge of oral English, sometimes a little difficult to follow.
Merci pour votre retour. Oui, nos visites sont en anglais ; nous veillons à utiliser un vocabulaire simple et à ce qu'elles soient très visuelles. Au plaisir de vous revoir lors de votre prochain passage à Birmingham.
A great tour I learned many things about my home city that I would never otherwise have found out. Jonathan was a very knowledgeable and entertaining guide.
Thanks. Yes, Jonathan works hard to ensure every tour is a great experience. He says he never does the same tour twice and that is what keeps things fresh. On the Saturday afternoon tour at present we are looking at the way Jospeh Chamberlain worked first in the Birmingham Eduction League and then the National Eduction League to help ensure the1870 education act brought in free elementary education for all.
With a Saturday afternoon spare in Birmingham I had a look for what was available and came across Positively Birmingham walking tours so booked the Canals and Victorians walk led by the enthusiastic Jonathan. With 20 on the tour on a busy sunny afternoon it could have been disappointing but the use of personal headsets allowed for easy Communication. A knowledgeable and personable guide and an easy pace made it a great two hours and I’d strongly recommend the tour to anyone interested in the history old and new of Birmingham
Thanks - actaully we love having larger groups. The audio system makes this really easy and we also work hard to make sure that the guide interacts with the audience. Our Saturday afternoon tour runs all through the year and takes a fun and educational approach to looking at this often misunderstood city. In 2026 we are celebrating 10 years of our walking tours of the city and Jonathan Berg, author of the best selling books Positively Birmingham is usually the tour guide this year.
Energetic engaging presentation; maybe a bit too much about Peaky Blinders?
Thanks so much for your feedback. Do come again next time you are visiting and we promise will not show you any filming locations!
We had a really great walking tour. Jonathan had so much local knowledge and we saw sights and found out information we just wouldn’t have know if we walked around the city on our own. The audio headsets are a really good idea.
Thanks. The audio units offer so much on ourt tours. Do come again to one of our tours - we have public tours of different aspects of the city centre at weekends and then we have a brand NEW tour of the Council House on weekdays.
Take headphones if you can as the guide uses Wi-Fi to portable receivers to talk to everyone in the party clearly. This works really well and the guide is very knowledgeable and friendly.
The guide used Wi-Fi earbuds which meant that I was able to hear him all the time despite traffic and other noise even though I had to remove my hearing aids. I wish Viator had had a request to take personal earphones if possible as that would have enabled me to keep my hearing aids in. The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly, and kept up a good pace.
There is actually a note on the Viator booking to suggest you bring your own earphones. However we provide a new pair for anyone who does not bring their own. The audio system makes so much difference in the busy city streets that we traverse.
