Birmingham Back to Backs

Britain's last surviving court of back-to-back houses, preserved by the National Trust to show how Birmingham's working-class families lived from the 1840s to 1970s. Guided tours only, showing authentic period rooms and outdoor privies. It sits below the headline sights but earns its place on a longer visit to Birmingham, especially paired with nearby Jewellery Quarter. Tickets cost £8.50 adult, £4.25 child and 1 hour is enough to see everything without rushing.

Priority: Medium - include with 2+ days Time needed: 1 hour Best for: unique glimpse into 19th Skip if: You have mobility issues with stairs or prefer self-guided visits Cost: £8.50 adult, £4.25 child

Step into tiny terraced houses where families of six shared two rooms. Smell the coal fire, see authentic Victorian furniture, and walk through the shared courtyard with its communal washhouse and outdoor toilets.

Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible due to narrow staircases and historic building constraints

Unique glimpse into 19th-century working-class life in authentically preserved homes. It is not the first thing you should see in Birmingham, but with two or more days it fills a gap the major sights leave. It pairs naturally with Jewellery Quarter and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery - together they fill a solid half-day. Afternoon tends to work best here.

Skip if: You have mobility issues with stairs or prefer self-guided visits

• Book tours in advance online.
• Tours limited to 9 people maximum.
• Wear warm clothes in winter as houses are unheated.

Insider tip: The guide often demonstrates how the shared tap and privy system worked - ask questions about daily life

No photography inside houses due to conservation, exterior courtyard photos allowed