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Full steam ahead for Birmingham Heritage Week

John BrayTyseley, Birmingham
BBC A green steam locomotive in a railway shed. On the front is the number 7029 on a black boiler coverBBC
Based at Tyseley, Clun Castle was built at the former Great Western Railway works at Swindon in May 1950 and broke the steam-haul record in 1964 between Plymouth and Bristol

A living and breathing example of Birmingham's industrial past is helping to bring city history to a modern generation.

Birmingham Heritage Week 2026 returns in September, with tickets for the dozens of events available from Saturday.

On the timetable this year is a tour of Birmingham's Tyseley Locomotive Works, where Vintage Trains' fleet of steam and diesel locomotives, which travel across the UK hauling mainline rail tours, are maintained.

Vintage Trains' managing director Nick Ralls said: "We are a working depot and people don't get much of an opportunity to actually see the working parts. You see a nice, gleaming locomotive, but behind that is all the muck and graft."

A green steam locomotive in a railway shed. In golden lettering are the words Earl of Mount Edgcumbe
An engineering shed at a train depot. A light green locomotive frame is on a track surrounded by engineering equipment.
Tyseley is also home to Earl of Mount Edgcumbe was built in 1936 and is an authentic Great Western Railway locomotive. Originally named Barbury Castle, she was renamed in 1937 after one of the directors of the GWR
Birmingham has a proud history with steam locomotives. "We are preserving the importance of steam and what it means to Birmingham in particular," said Ralls

Irene De Boo, Birmingham Heritage Week co-ordinator, said: "This year's programme really shows off the breadth of what Birmingham has to offer.

"These are places people walk past every day without knowing what lies inside – and Heritage Week is our chance to open them up.

"It's a brilliant opportunity to see the city we live and work in through completely new eyes."

Birmingham Heritage Week The inside of a mail delivery tunnel. The tunnel snakes around with a lights on the left hand sideBirmingham Heritage Week
Birmingham Heritage Week has teamed up with Network Rail and Mailbox to offer three tours of the tunnels linking New Street Station with the former Royal Mail sorting office on Wednesday 16 September
Birmingham Heritage Week a red brick tower surrounded by trees. The sky is grey and the tower has six arched windowsBirmingham Heritage Week
The 18th Century Perrott's Folly in Edgbaston is rarely open to the public, but for the first time is part of Birmingham Heritage Week on three dates in September
Birmingham Heritage Week A union flag outside a row of old red-brick housesBirmingham Heritage Week
A guided wander around Yardley's historic old village, unlocking almost 1,000 years of history, takes place on Friday 11 September
Birmingham Heritage Week A green clock tower in front of a red brick building with two grey office blocks directly behindBirmingham Heritage Week
Author and photographer Jonathan Berg will guide people around Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter on Sunday 13 September
Canal reflections of a concrete pillars underneath a road system.
A guided walk underneath the Gravelly Hill Interchange, universally known as Spaghetti Junction, takes place on Tuesday 15 September
Four sailing dinghys on a reservoir. The vessels have lime green sails.
The history of Edgbaston Reservoir will be explored during a walk on Monday 14 September
Birmingham Heritage Week A collection of cemetery catacombs surrounded by trees. There is a grassed areas in the foreground with gravestonesBirmingham Heritage Week
On Saturday 19 September, tours of the Warstone Lane Cemetery catacombs will take place

Birmingham Heritage Week runs from Friday 11 September to Sunday 20 September.

Tickets can be booked from Saturday 15 August.

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