Birmingham Back to Backs
50-63 Inge St/Hurst St., Birmingham, England
Part of the National Trust, the Birmingham Back to Backs are a collection of 19th-century working people’s houses packed snugly around a courtyard—the last surviving examples of their kind. The houses are designed to feel as if the residents are still living there, with fires smoldering in grates, and other domestic touches evoking bygone times.
The basics
You can only visit the Birmingham Back to Backs on a guided tour, which you need to book in advance. Tickets are released every Thursday and tend to sell out fast, especially during the school holidays. The attraction is also home to the United Kingdom’s only collection of work by a Caribbean tailor—you can see garments by George Saunders, who played an important role in Birmingham’s Black history. Tours generally last around 90 minutes.
Things to know before you go
There’s a second-hand bookshop on-site where you can also donate your own used book.
The “Ground Floor” guided tour is accessible to wheelchair users, but the upper floors unfortunately are not.
Visiting is free for members of the National Trust and half-price for children. Family packages come with discounts.
The tour involves climbing some steep staircases, so wearing sneakers or flat-soled shoes is advised.
How to get there
The Birmingham Back to Backs are a short walk from Birmingham New Street station, which can be reached on trains from London, the Midlands, and the North. The closest parking is at the Arcadian Centre on Bromsgrove Street. From Birmingham City Center, you can take the number 16 bus to the Smallbrook Queensway stop, which is a few minutes from the houses.
When to get there
Guided tours run Tuesday through Sunday in the afternoons. The site is closed throughout the holiday period, from Christmas Eve until early January. The exhibition space and bookshop are open from lunchtime until early afternoon.
The best National Trust properties in the West Midlands
Along with the Birmingham Back to Backs, other interesting historic properties can be visited in the West Midlands. Moseley Old Hall is an Elizabethan farmhouse with strong links to King Charles II—it also features a traditional English tea room and a 17th-century knot garden. Wightwick Manor in Wolverhampton is a half-timbered Victorian manor house with a fabulous collection of paintings and ceramics.
Travel Like an Expert with AAA and Trip Canvas
Get Ideas from the Pros
As one of the largest travel agencies in North America, we have a wealth of recommendations to share! Browse our articles and videos for inspiration, or dive right in with preplanned AAA Road Trips, cruises and vacation tours.
Build and Research Your Options
Save and organize every aspect of your trip including cruises, hotels, activities, transportation and more. Book hotels confidently using our AAA Diamond Designations and verified reviews.
Book Everything in One Place
From cruises to day tours, buy all parts of your vacation in one transaction, or work with our nationwide network of AAA Travel Agents to secure the trip of your dreams!