Everyday history / BIRMINGHAM

Birmingham Back to Backs

A small courtyard of tightly packed houses makes working people’s lives tangible in the middle of the modern city. The guided format connects rooms, household objects and changing residents across different periods, ending with George Saunders’ tailor’s shop. Choose this if you enjoy listening to stories and looking closely at domestic detail.

Before you go

Visits are by guided tour and need planning ahead. A full tour takes about 90 minutes and includes steep, winding stairs; the roughly 60-minute ground-floor tour is the alternative to ask for when stairs would rule out the visit.

The practical details

Where to find it: Corner of Inge Street and Hurst Street, opposite the Hippodrome, Birmingham.
Directions and arrival information ↗
Tickets and booking: Book the appropriate tour in advance; non-members pay and National Trust members should reserve too. Arrive ten minutes early with confirmation and any membership card.
Access and getting around: The small historic houses have multiple steep flights of stairs. Book the ground-floor tour for a visit avoiding those flights and confirm your individual access needs with the property; do not assume a full tour can be adapted after arrival.
Official access information ↗
Visiting with children: Best for children interested in people’s lives and able to follow a guided group visit. The rooms are compact; discuss pushchairs and access before booking. Food is not allowed in the houses, so eat beforehand.

Practical information checked 14 September 2026. Confirm anything essential to your visit with the venue.

Make it part of your day

Allow 1–1½ hours plus arrival for the visit, plus travel and breaks. This is a suggested planning allowance; opening times, access and availability may affect your plans.

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