FIXED DATE BUS TOURS FOR 2010
Tickets for all the regular fixed date Big Brum Open Top Buz Sightseeing tours can be purchased on the bus or booked in advance through Birmingham Box Office on 0121 303 2323 - www.birminghamboxoffice.com, Call Centre Ticket Sales line on 0844 8884415, TIC on 0121 202 5000, in person at the TIC in the Rotunda or online at www.visitbirmingham.com. Tickets for the Big Brum Buz can be purchased at all outlets, tickets for the themed bus tours can only be purchased through the Birmingham Box Office on 0121 303 2323.

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

BIG BRUM OPEN TOP BUZ SIGHTSEEING TOUR

The live guided bus tour is the only introduction to the global city with a local heart – wish you were here! The tour begins in the commercial heart of the city at Colmore Row and includes most of the major buildings of architectural interest including St Philip’s and St Chad’s Cathedrals, the Victoria Law Courts, the Town Hall, Victoria Square, the Council House, Art Gallery and Library. The route takes you through the unique Jewellery Quarter which really emphasises why Birmingham was known as the city of a thousand trades in Victorian times. Travelling along Broad Street – the Golden Mile look out for the Golden Boys! We discover some of the more recent developments in the last 10 years such as the International Convention Centre, Symphony Hall and the National Indoor Arena. Moving into Edgbaston – home to the manufacturers of the city and the International Cricket Ground we then enter the city from the East Side so that 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.

Dates: Dates to be confirmed.

Tour times: 10.30am, 12.00 noon, 1.30pm, 3.00pm.

Meeting point: Church Street, Colmore Row, next to St. Phillips Cathedral– approximately one hour round trip.

Tickets cost £10 adult, £5 (children 5-15 years), Senior (60+£8) Student (requires valid Student - £8), family (2 adult + 2 children - £20).

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.

RHYTHMS OF THE CITY – BIRMINGHAM ROCKS!

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 was not just great but very loud! Visit Birmingham’s proud musical heritage – the city rocks!

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 10th 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 Anthony on 0121 248 1368.

Tickets cost: £10 per person. Booking is essential through the Birmingham Box Office – 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 31st 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.

Tickets cost: £10 per person. Booking is essential through the Birmingham Box Office – 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 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: Tuesday 4th May

Time: 7.30pm

Meeting point: Willenhall-Wakefields Car Park

Tickets cost: £10 per person - booking is essential through the Birmingham Box Office – 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