One week to go until Birmingham Heritage Week 2022

The start of a city-wide celebration of over 150 events showcasing Birmingham’s fascinating history, people and places is drawing closer, with one week to go until Birmingham Heritage Week 2022 (9-18 September).

Birmingham’s Heritage Week returns for its 8^th year in 2022. The popular city-wide festival will shine a spotlight on Birmingham history and will see some of the city’s most important heritage locations and unique buildings opening their doors to visitors.

Events can be booked at birminghamheritageweek.co.uk. Among the many highlights are visits to the The Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House on Banbury Street and a tour of the newly-opened West Midlands Police Museum on Steelhouse Lane.

Heritage Week is also hosting a visit to the Grade II* listed Singers Hill Synagogue on Blucher Street in Birmingham city centre and a Gallery Walk and Talk at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts at the University of Birmingham.

Behind-the-scenes tours of the Alexandra Theatre, The Old Rep theatre and the Electric Cinema are also available to book, while there will be outdoor street theatre in the Jewellery Quarter and additional family attractions featuring model boats, arts & crafts and playground games.

Birmingham Heritage Week 2022 will see regular and popular venues returning. Among them Highbury Hall in Moseley, Birmingham & Midland Institute, the Roundhouse and Birmingham Cathedral in the city centre.

A Buddhist vihara, a Quaker meeting house, a Jewish synagogue, Birmingham Central Mosque, Greek Orthodox Cathedral and The Oratory – Birmingham’s own slice of Rome – will be opening their doors as more religious buildings than any previous Heritage Week host events this year.

For those seeking something more active, they can swim in an Edwardian pool, run 5k, 7k or 12k, kayak in the city’s canals, have a go at bell ringing or enjoy the Cocoa Canal cycling tour.

Irene De Boo, Birmingham Heritage Week Co-ordinator, said: “Heritage Week guided walks explore the city centre and the wider Birmingham area with spaces still available in Balsall Heath, Kings Heath, Aston, Acocks Green, Birchfield, Edgbaston, Handsworth, Moor Pool, Yardley, Sutton Park and the University of Birmingham campus.

“However, with a week to go, events are now selling out, particularly those guided tours, walks and workshops at smaller locations with limited capacity.

“Although there are still places available, don’t leave it too long before booking. The good news is that there is a wide range of events during Birmingham Heritage Week that do not require booking and are ‘drop-in’ events.

“More religious buildings are opening their doors than ever during Birmingham Heritage Week 2022 and for the first time these include Birmingham Central Mosque, Green Lane Masjid, Singers Hill Synagogue and the Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Many local churches, often with spectacular and unexpected interiors, will open their doors for an open day, all without the need to book, and with expert guides at hand.”

Birmingham Heritage Week 2022 is sponsored by Birmingham City Council, organised by Birmingham Museums Trust and is presented as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival.

Visit birminghamheritageweek.co.uk

#BHeritageWeek