Bookings for one of Birmingham’s most anticipated cultural festivals open in just two weeks – on Saturday 9 August at 12pm.

Festival organisers are urging history lovers, architecture fans, and curious explorers to save the date and start planning early, as many events book up fast and offer rare, one-off access to some of the city’s most fascinating buildings and sites.

Now in its 11th year, Birmingham Heritage Week returns this autumn from 12 to 21 September 2025, offering over 150 guided tours, talks, open days and walks across the city – all celebrating Birmingham’s rich industrial, architectural, and cultural heritage.

Despite a challenging period in 2024 following city council funding cuts to cultural and arts projects, the festival has been revived for 2025 thanks to support from Birmingham Museums Trust, the University of Birmingham, the National Trust, Birmingham Municipal Charity, and the William A Cadbury Charitable Trust.

This year’s festival programme features a wide range of new and returning highlights:
- Winterbourne House & Garden – drop-in days with free entry to this beautifully preserved Arts & Crafts home and garden

- St Mary’s College, Oscott – a working seminary rarely open to the public

- The majestic Victoria Law Courts, one of Birmingham’s most iconic red-brick buildings

- The stunning private Arts & Crafts house at 21 Yateley Road in Edgbaston

- Celebrations of Birmingham’s World Craft City status, with events in the Jewellery Quarter including at the School of Jewellery, Assay Office, a talk on Birmingham author Kathleen Dayus and an exhibition about the Jewellery Quarter’s role in the early days of photography

- In north Birmingham, events will span New Hall Water Mill, Sutton Masonic Hall, Sutton Town Hall, Oscott College, St Michael’s Church, Boldmere and Sutton Coldfield station and an opportunity to experience the heat in a reconstructed bronze age sweat lodge in Sutton Park

- Families can enjoy interactive activities at Moor Pool Heritage Festival

The festival team is also still inviting final event submissions from organisations and venues interested in taking part. The deadline to apply is 31 July. To get involved, email Irene De Boo, Birmingham Heritage  Week Co-ordinator, at Irene.deboo@birminghammuseums.org.uk.

The full programme and booking options will be available at birminghamheritageweek.co.uk from Saturday 9 August.

Birmingham Heritage Week is organised by Birmingham Museums Trust and supported by the City Curator.