Back again for its 4th year, Roundhouse Birmingham – a Grade II* listed building at the heart of Birmingham’s canal network with a renewed purpose as a hub for exploring the city – is excited to launch its 2024 tour season from 27 March.
Guests can enjoy new kayak and boat tours on Birmingham’s famous canals, guided tours of the uniquely shaped building, and walking tours taking guests into the city to explore Birmingham’s significant history.
The 2024 season will also see well-loved tours return, like the award-winning Bustling Birmingham kayak tour and Birmingham Bingo – a city walking tour with a competitive edge, as well as three new tours, including:
· Birmingham Highlights – a short kayak tour taking guests around the best of Brum’s canal side landmarks.
· More Canals than Venice – a new walking tour where guests learn how the canals helped Birmingham become the city of a thousand trades and kickstart an industrial revolution. And of course, they explore whether Birmingham really does have more canals than Venice.
· Cobbles and Canals – a new bank holiday special package tour where guests can spend the day learning about the Roundhouse’s fascinating history and the canals that helped make Birmingham the city we see today. With a break for lunch between tours, giving guests the perfect opportunity to enjoy a picnic in the courtyard or try the newly opened independent, family-run Italian restaurant on-site, Ristorante Caffe Arena.
Anna Pickton, Operations Manager for Roundhouse Birmingham, said:
“We’re excited to start another season at Roundhouse Birmingham. With the return of much-loved tours and three new tours for our visitors to enjoy, there are lots of options for locals looking to learn more about their city or guests visiting Birmingham for the first time who want to see the city differently.
“Birmingham has a rich industrial heritage, and our tours offer a fun and engaging way to learn something new about this wonderful city. Whether you’re a history lover wanting to discover the city’s past or looking for a unique way to see Birmingham’s canals, we’re delighted to be able to offer something for everyone.”
As well as a programme of tours and activities, visitors can look forward to special events during the year as the Roundhouse celebrates its 150th birthday starting with a big birthday weekend planned from 10-12 May and finishing with a series of special tours and activities as part of Birmingham Heritage Week in September.
Other activities at Roundhouse Birmingham this year include stand-up paddleboarding experiences, free trails and audio tours, and free ‘Workers of the Roundhouse’ tours which run twice a day on Fridays and Saturdays. Booking through the website is strongly encouraged to guarantee a place.
Tickets for all activities and tours this year are now on sale. You can book tickets by visiting their website or calling 0121 716 4077. If you’d like to know more about their one-off events, sign up to their newsletter.