visit brum

Big Brum Open Top Buz Sightseeing Tour

FIXED DATE BUS TOURS FOR 2011
Tickets for all the regular fixed date Big Brum Open Top Buz Sightseeing tours can be purchased on the bus or booked in advance in person at the Rotunda Visitor Centre or Central Library Reception. To book online click here or ring the Oxboffice booking line on 0845 6801926. Tickets for the Big Brum Buz can be purchased at all outlets, tickets for the themed bus tours can only be purchased by contacting Sue at Birmingham Tours on 0121 427 2555/078051 15998, email enquiries@birmingham-tours.co.uk

Guided bus tours and hire of the Open Top Big Brum Buz by arrangement - tours tailored to your organisation or school group requirements contact Birmingham Tours on 0121 427 2555, 078051 15998, www.birmingham-tours.co.uk

BIG BRUM BUZ LAUNCH DAY 2011

Saturday 23rd April St Georges Day

Birmingham Chamber members have been invited to join the Big Brum Open Top Buz launch at 10.30 on St George's Day. Places can be reserved on a first come, first served basis. RSVP by 15th April at the latest to Sue on 0121 427 2555/078051 15998 or email enquiries@birmingham-tours.co.uk

So that no one misses out as part of the St Georges Day Celebrations in Victoria Square we are offering FREE guided half taster tours at 1 and 2.30 from Waterloo Street, Victoria Square.

BIG BRUM OPEN TOP BUZ SIGHTSEEING TOUR

Chocolate, custard, cars,whistles and bangles to the best in the world for science, medicine, education and art – Birmingham has it all
A live guided exciting adventure through the UK’s second city – the Brummagem tour takes you to the commercial heart of the city and includes the major buildings of architectural interest. Following the road to the unique Jewellery Quarter which really emphasises why Birmingham was known as the city of a thousand trades in Victorian times we then travel along Broad Street – the Golden Mile with the Golden Boys. Picking up the highway to Edgbaston – home to the manufacturers of the city and the international cricket ground we link up with the Tolkien trail and the world famous Cardinal Newman Oratory. Entering the city from the East side we get the full panoramic view of St Martin’s Parish Church and the new state of the art Bullring shopping complex with the iconic building of Selfridges.

NEW FOR 2011

Dates:The Big Brum Buz as a hop on hop off tour by request will be running every Saturday and Sunday from 30th April to 25th September – check the route map for bus stops – ticket valid for the day.

Tour times: 10.30, 12.30 and 2.30

Meeting point: corner of Colmore Row and Waterloo Street, Victoria Square, next to the Council House

Tickets cost: £12 adult; £10 concessions, £8 students, £5 children (5 to 15 years), £20 family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children), £8 special Brummie ticket (proof of address or accent will be required!)

NEW FOR 2011 - BIG BRUM OPEN TOP HISTORY BUS 2011

Enjoy a ride on the BIG BRUM BUZ and discover Birmingham's unique community museums on the first Sunday of the month from May to October 2011.

Tolkien and Tudors - 1st May, 3rd July and 4th September - visit Sarehole Mill and Blakesley Hall

Edmund Street 11.30, 13.15, 14.15, 15.15

Sarehole Mill 11.50, 13.35, 14.35, 15.35

Blakesley Hall 12.10, 13.50, 14.50, 15.50 - LAST BUS BACK TO EDMUND STREET

Manufactories and Mansions 5th June, 7th August, 2nd October - visit Aston Hall, Soho House, the Pen Room

Edmund Street 11.30, 13.15, 14.15, 15.15

Aston Hall 11.45, 13.30, 14.30, 15.30

Soho House 12.05, 13.50, 14.50, 15.50

Pen Room 12.15, 14.00, 15.00, 16.00 - LAST BUS BACK TO EDMUND STREET

Tickets cost £3.00 for adults and FREE for children - have your change ready! No pre-booking available, first come first served.

Community Museums will be FREE OF CHARGE on these dates.

BIRMINGHAM THEMED BUS TOURS

THE TOLKIEN TRAIL – THE ROAD TO MINAS MORGAL AND MINAS TIRITH – THE TWIN TOWERS OF GONDOR

The tour begins at Sarehole which is said to have been the model for `The Shire' the home of the hobbits and nearby is Moseley Bog which is recalled in Tolkien's description of the `Old Forest' last of the primeval wild woods where `Tom Bombadil' lived. The route will take us past his home in Moseley where he could take a tram to King Edward's School in the centre of the city and progresses to St Anne's Church where the family worshipped when Tolkien's mother became a Catholic. The trail continues on to the Oratory - the foremost Catholic Church in Birmingham home to Cardinal Newman and passes a number of houses in the Ladywood area where Tolkien lived - the one in Highfield Road being identified by a blue plaque. Living in this area it is possible to see that the Two Towers - Perrotts Folly and the Edgbaston Waterworks Tower would be the basis of the `Two Towers of Gondor' - Minas Morgul and Minas Tirith. Your guide will bring alive the background which led to the creation of these original fantasy novels.

Dates: date to be arranged

Meeting point: Sarehole Mill, Colebank Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 OBG

BIRMINGHAM TOURS RHYTHMS OF THE CITY MUSIC ROCK TOUR – OZZY AND BLACK SABBATH ROOTS

Following in the early footsteps of some of this country’s greatest bands from the 1960’s and 1970’s to discover the roots of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Moody Blues, the Move and many more. Journey back in time and relive the past when music rocked. Check out where Ozzy worked and lived – what would he think about Brum today!

Date: date to be arranged

Meeting point: Chamberlain Square steps down to Paradise Circus at the side of the Town Hall

NEW FOR 2011

CARDINAL NEWMAN CELEBRATION TOUR

Highlighting the wonderful architecture and history of the city we celebrate the life of Cardinal Newman in Birmingham. Following the road to the north side of the city a picture is painted of life for John Henry Newman when he lived in Oscott and Maryvale. Passing the catholic cathedral of St Chad's we enter the unique Jewellery Quarter which really emphasises why Birmingham was known as the city of a thousand trades in Victorian times. Picking up Broad Street - the Golden Mile with the Golden Boys we then take the highway to Edgbaston to discover the Tolkien trail and the world famouse Cardinal Newman Oratory. Finally entering the city from the east side passing St Ann's Alcester Street we get the full panoramic view of St Martin's Parish Church. Newman's beatification was officially proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI on 19th September 2010 during his visit to the United Kingdom.

GENIUS! MATTHEW BOULTON & THE BIRTH OF MODERN BIRMINGHAM

Join Martin Ellis – formerly Principal Curator of the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery on a celebration of the explosive and chaotic development of Birmingham which made it the foremost industrial city in the world. Matthew Boulton – selling what all the world desires.

BIG BRUM BUZ CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TOUR

A very special sparkly tour to light up your Christmas nights - Birmingham Santa Special Christmas Lights. Our tour will take you from the heart of the city in Victoria Square to the glittering magical Jewellery Quarter. We can promise a truly unforgettable tour - Birmingham as you have never seen it before - prepare to be entertained and spooked by ghostly stories from around the city. Prize for the best dressed pub on the night.

Dates: Friday 9th December at 7pm

Meeting point: top of Church Street, Colmore Row, next to St Philip’s Cathedral. The tour lasts approximately one and a half hours finishing at the Old Crown Inn, Digbeth – if you would like to join in a Christmas by Candlelight meal contact the Old Crown Inn on 0121 248 1368.

Tickets cost: £10 per person. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Birmingham Tours on 0121 427 2555/078051 15998 or email enquiries@birmingham-tours.co.uk. We reserve the right to cancel if minimum numbers are not reached. Tickets will be on sale up to 5 days before the actual tour.

BIG BRUM BUZ GHOSTBUSTERS TOUR

Join us on the Big Brum Buz for a guided tour through the darker side of Birmingham. Our tour will take you from the heart of the city in Victoria Square to Aston Hall to the chilling catacombs in the famous Jewellery Quarter. We can promise tales of plague, public execution, hauntings and murder most foul along the way – prepare to be entertained and spooked by ghostly stories from around the city on the most haunted night of the year. Prize for the best costume on the night.

Dates: Sunday 30th October at 6pm

Meeting point: top of Church Street, Colmore Row, next to St Philip’s Cathedral. The tour lasts approximately one and a half hours finishing at the Old Crown Inn, Digbeth – if you would like to join in a Halloween Special meal contact Anthony on 0121 248 1368.

BIG BRUM BUZ BLACK COUNTRY GHOST TOUR

With the Black Country's famous top medium, ghost hunter and the Express & Star's very own psychic agony uncle, Philip Solomon join us on our first Black Country Ghost Tour. We can promise tales of plague, public execution, hauntings and murder most foul along the way – prepare to be entertained and spooked by ghostly stories from Willenhall to Bilston to Tipton and Dudley and more. Where is the moving statue? the Laughing Cavalier and the Little Alley Wench - the only way to find out is come and join us!

Date: date to be arranged

Time: 7.30pm

Meeting point: Willenhall-Wakefields Car Park

Tickets cost: £10 per person. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Birmingham Tours on 0121 427 2555/078051 15998 or email enquiries@birmingham-tours.co.uk. We reserve the right to cancel if minimum numbers are not reached. Tickets will be on sale up to 5 days before the actual tour. Fish and chip supper available on request by ringing Sue on 0121 427 2555, 078051 15998 or emailing enquiries@birmingham-tours.co.uk

BIRMINGHAM BROADCASTS– your favourite shows including the Archers, Brum, Hustle, Survivors and Doctors

A live guided exciting adventure through the UK’s second city – the Birmingham Broadcasts tour takes you to the commercial heart of the city where Colmore Row featured in Hustle – was it filmed at 4 in the morning! Broad Street – the Golden Mile with the Golden Boys can boast not only that the TV series Survivors featured Baskerville House and the former ITV Central studios standing in for a fictional hospital but that the Archers was first recorded in 1951 from a BBC recording studio in the Hyatt Hotel. Even Cliff Richard’s film in 1973 `Take me Higher’ highlighted Alpha Tower. Many Birmingham streets and landmarks can be seen the Brum children’s TV series including Aston University and travelling past the former BBC site at Pebble Mill we are reminded that the BBC Drama Village in Selly Oak produces Dalziel and Pascoe, Doctors and The Afternoon Play.