Birmingham Public Art: Insightful City Centre Walking Tour with Renowned Author Jonathan Berg
5.0
39 Ratings
West Midlands
Discover Birmingham's public art on an insightful walking tour with renowned author Jonathan Berg. Explore the city's streets, learn about the birthplace of Sr Edward-Burne-Jones, and delve into the significance of pre-Raphaelite art. Join us for an informative, friendly, and fun experience!
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Grand Central - We pass through Grand Central and see Birmingham’s exciting piece of public art - Ozzy the Bull.
  • Bullring Shopping Centre Walkway - We see public art in the Bullring.
  • Birmingham Hippodrome - We see street art arond the Southside area of Birmingham including Bee Girl.
  • St Philip’s Cathedral Garden - We see public art in the Square
  • Victoria Square - Surrounded by architecturally inspiring buildings and with interesting artworks this is a place we spend a little time to start to understand the more artistic side of the city.
  • Chamberlain Square - We see the significant public art in the Square and understand more about the history of this place.
  • Centenary Square - We see public art from the 1920s art deco throuh to modern controversial bronze pieces. We get an understanding of how we the city uses public art to tell the back-story of Birmingham
  • Birmingham Cathedral - This was built as a church between 1715 - 1725. It became a cathedral in 1905 a few years after Birmingham had been given city status. If we are lucky enough to go inside the Burne-Jones stained glass is magnificent.
What's Included
  • Live tour guide narration through audio receiver.
  • Professional tour guide.
  • Bring your own earphones (3.5mm jack) or receive a complimentary pair.
  • Complimentary earphones yours to keep, with optional charity donation.
What's Not Included
  • There are no entrance fees on the tour.
Additional Information

Our comprehension of Birmingham is enriched by the public artistic displays scattered throughout this wondrous metropolis. It’s here that we discover the origins of Sr Edward Burne-Jones and appreciate his significance as a prominent second generation pre-Raphaelite artist.

Our guide is the esteemed author and photographer, Jonathan Berg, who’s latest publication, ‘Birmingham’s Public Art’, is due for release in November 2023. Not only is this tour insightful and engaging, it’s also entertaining and leaves a lasting impression.

  • We try not to cancel tours even with adverse weather conditions. If it is raining please bring a suitable coat or umbrella. In the event of icy conditions the tour route may be adapted.
Location
7 St Martin's Walk
Saint Martin's Walk
Tour starts outside the main doors of St Martin's Church - at the bottom of the Bullring towards the open markets.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(39 Ratings)
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Sarahtn9237dm
Apr 8, 2024
Good 👌👌 - Great! Was really nice and not that expensive shows you historic places around birmingham and would recommend if you love history! Also lots of interesting facts
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pfleonard
Mar 29, 2024
An enlightening 1st walk round the unmissable art works in Central Birmingham - Such a very interesting tour around the centre of Birmingham with Jonathan, he was such a knowledgeable and interesting guide. In two hours we saw so much of the art of Birmigham that we'd never come across before in so many different places all around the city centre. His additional comments put the art works into an enlightening context giving them more value. Thank you Jonathan, I'm sure you'll see us on your other walks sometime in the future.
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Michaelwm1304so
Mar 20, 2024
Best walking tour of Birmingham - Great tour of the city, I like here yet learned and loads that I never knew so great for residents and visitors alike!! Highly recommended
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Carolmw1805oe
Jan 20, 2024
An excellent walk with so much information - An excellent morning - just two of us because others had cancelled as it was too cold. Jonathan is so knowledgeable about the art and artists and we were able to chat as we were such a small group. Very considerately, he took us to see the Burne Jones window inside the cathedral to warm up a bit and then the spécial exhibition inside a new office block on Colmore Row. We can really recommend this tour and will be back for more before too long. Thank you Jonathan. The tour is complemented by the book, Birmingham’s Public art that I bought just before Christmas.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sue4500744
Sep 21, 2023
Fascinating Walk in B'ham - I went on the Birmingham's Public Art Walking tour and learnt loads, it was a fascinating walk, really well led by Jonathan Berg. The earphones meant you missed nothing and could find a space to sit, still hear and see. I fully intend to go on some of the other walking tours around Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter.
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Anthonybo461sl
Sep 19, 2023
Fascinating tour - Fascinating walk around Birmingham looking at a range of interesting public arts. Guide was friendly and very informative . A lovely way to spend a couple of hours seeing things that you may not necessarily notice otherwise, highly recommend
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146judyl
Sep 17, 2023
Fascinating public art tour - What an interesting 2 hour whistle stop tour of a fascinating variety of pieces of public art around the city centre! We were led by Jonathan who is a dynamic bundle of enthusiasm and knowledge. The time flew by. This is the 3rd Positively Birmingham walking tour we've been on. We'll be back for more! PS The John Pickering exhibits were a fantastic bonus. What a treat.
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Sarahty1135wq
Sep 17, 2023
Fascinating way to explore somewhere you think you know! - The tour was comprehensive covering all genres of public art; traditional historical statues, street art, memorials, architectural art and the stories and people behind them. The guide was knowledgable, passionate and had a great way of telling stories and answering people’s questions. The opportunity to see the Jon Pickering collection was a real privilege as well. (the artist show designed Equinox at 103 Colmore Row)
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Jeanbr9146vz
Sep 16, 2023
An art adventure - A real treat. Opened my eyes to so much I may have missed. Very entertaining, stimulating and informative. Made me proud of my city. Can really recommend.
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Staffshire
Sep 15, 2023
A real testament to the diversity of Birmingham's artistic heritage - From ..... - Annatomix to Zuke, - Edward Burne-Jones to William Bloye, - in-situ bass-relief carvings to illusionary Trompe L'Oeil ceiling frescoes, - historic memorials to political sculptures, - pre-Raphaelite and art nouveau expression to contemporary street art, - geometrically conceived creations to soon to be rejuvenated world renowned stained glass windows ..... Birmingham's public art has it all in spades! We walk past these fabulous, free to all public exhibits across the city every day without stopping to admire, question, appreciate or understand their significance. To even scratch the surface of this wealth of public art, you need a great guide who can connect with the interests of a diverse audience, which included today some who have lived in the city all their lives and others from much further afield, nationally and internationally. Jonathan Berg has devoted many years to becoming an authority on all things artistic and culturally home grown in Birmingham and his walking tours are pacey, immensely engaging, full of interesting discoveries and very rewarding to all who subscribe to them. He is very at ease and presents his two hour itinerary with great clarity, insight and humour to ensure that everyone feels that they have learnt and discovered a great deal. We undertook this tour today (our sixth 'Positively Birmingham' walking tour) in anticipation of the publication of Jonathan's new book 'Birmingham's Public Art' at the beginning of November. It was very educational and enjoyable from beginning to end and left us wanting to discover more. As well as the pieces of interest that Jonathan showed us, he also directed us to other works elsewhere in the city to discover for ourselves. For anyone interested in public art generally and for those who are Brummies through and through, I cannot recommend these tours too enthusiastically. It is hard to imagine anyone embarking upon a tour with Jonathan not feeling enriched throughout. I attach but a dozen of the pictures I took today and I look forward very much to seeing all of Jonathan's photographs when his book is published.
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May 2024
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