Birmingham Back to Backs

Saw this tour when searching for things to do on our trip to Birmingham. Sooo glad I booked it .Love social history and often visit Beamish museum in County Durham .we went round in small groups at regular intervals.Our guide told us interesting stories about who used to live there as well as sharing his own memories of living in a back to back .Yes a few steep spiral wooden stairs to go up and down so not good if you're not physically fit .We were warned the houses didn't smell great but I actually love those old smells .We kept close to the fires as a wee bit nippy when visiting in the winter .Highly recommend

This is a real worthwhile visit in Central Birmingham, Our guide Carl really made history come to life as he walked us through and up and down (quite a few narrow, twisty staircases but they do offer a ground floors only tour for those less agile) four properties from 1840, 1870, 1930 and a tailor shop (looked like it did the day after it was closed). Fascinating to see products and articles that you had seen in your grandparents' houses. Also you get a view of toilets through the ages !! A real reminder of how much we take for granted - fetching 20 buckets of water from a nearby well, anyone ? . Booking is essential and visit is by guided tour only but if you get Carl guiding you, you will have a very enjoyable visit. There is a small exhibition, souvenir shop and best of all, an old-fashioned sweet shop

Our guide was Carl a self confessed yam yam and he was terrific taking us on a tour through the houses from early 19th c to as late as 1974 . He pointed out the changes at each stage even the loos on the yard progressed from a plank on a bucket to a flush toilet .
Fascinating and absorbing for all ages and taking about 90 mins , too small for a restaurant on site but there is a Wetherspoons on Hurst Street and the coffee is cheaper there!
There are several flights of very steep and slightly tricky stairs so if you are not so good on your pins maybe give it a miss.

The Back to Backs are well worth a visit to see the lifestyles of the working people in 19th and 20th century Birmingham. Our guide John was extremely knowledgeable and involved all the group with his anecdotes and activities and brought living in these houses to life. We learned a lot about the conditions and social history of life in the city.

Superb couple of hours going back in time with our very enthusiastic guide John, a volunteer with the National Trust who own the Back to Back properties.
The tour needs to be booked in advance via the website.
There were 8 of us in our group, we were taken through 3 back to back houses that had been redecorated to look as if they were from the 1840’s, 1870’s and 1930’s.
It gave you a real insight into the life of the poor working class of the time.
For anyone interested in local history this is a must do.
There are several flights of very narrow steep stairs to negotiate but if you have mobility problems then a ground floor tour can be organised if you let them know in advance.

Excellent guided tour. Carl was very knowledgeable and made the houses come to life, especially as it was actually about the people who had lived there in the past. Fascinating facts and artefacts made it all the more real. Well worth the money (a 90 minute guided tour in a small group) Deserves it’s 5 star rating.

Without fail one of the most interesting tours I’ve ever been on this group are exceptional!! The houses have been restored and staged in such magnificent detail, the information is eye opening and the guides are sooo full of factoids we all didn’t want the tour to end! They warned about narrow stairs but honestly these are totally manageable
to anyone passing through Birmigham visit this historical treasure and treat yourself to a sweet from the Candy store as a reward

Tour guide John made the whole event come to life. Brilliant tour, such social history and interest. Each of the back to backs had a theme from a different era. Walking into the 1930s room it was full of things my grandparents had. Do make the effort to go, you won’t regret it. Make sure you book, the tours, which last an hour and a half are limited to around 10 because of the space in the small rooms. Thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Would go again as they are constantly updating the displays as they find out more about each of the homes and their occupants.

Went on 23/9/22 was guided by the brilliant and funny Ross , I had been before a few years back but this time Ross gave more information especially about the actual families that lived in the Back to Backs . The group we were with were nice too who can’ t forget the call girl - you had to be there . Highly recommended, and why not join the National Trust little over £10 per month but lots of places to see beats sitting at home using your own gas and electric lol

The last surviving Birmingham Back to Backs are a hark back to the times when there thousands of similar housing developments in the city. The back to backs were built around shared courtyards but were deemed to be unsatisfactory and a public health act was passed in 1875 meaning that no more were built. The last example of an intact back to back development is Court 15 at Inge Street/Hurst Street which has been preserved by the National Trust. I visited in October 2020 during a brief Covid relaxation period and had the chance to take some photos of Court 15. It is a fascinating part of Birmingham’s past and worth exploring whilst in the city.