Digbeth, Public art and Peaky Film Guided Walking Tour

Digbeth has a way of pulling you in. This 2-hour guided walk links public art, Birmingham’s early growth from a market hamlet, and real Peaky Blinders connections, all with a route that stays close to the city’s creative energy. You start in the Bullring and work your way toward historic Digbeth and Deritend, with plenty of photo-ready street scenes along the way.

Two things I really liked: first, the focus on public art in context, so murals and street pieces feel like part of the city’s story, not random decoration. Second, the guide, Jonathan Berg, brings that writer and photographer energy, and his passion shows in how he points out what you should notice on each street. It makes even familiar-looking walls feel like they have clues.

One drawback to consider: this is a walking tour on pavements, footpaths, and towpaths, and it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Quick reasons this walk is worth your time

• Jonathan Berg’s public art lens makes murals and street scenes easier to read.
• Digbeth and Deritend history connects the city’s evolution to what you see today.
• Peaky Blinders film locations give the fan side a real sense of place.
• Custard Factory and Red Brick Market add a modern creative-street blend to the walk.
• A short, practical route of just over 4 km keeps it from dragging.

Starting at the Bullring, then walking into a different Birmingham

The tour kicks off at the bronze Bull statue by the Nike Superstore in the Bullring Shopping Centre. That start matters. You’re in the most central, mainstream part of Birmingham, then you gradually shift into a neighborhood that feels more scrappy, creative, and slightly off the usual tourist track.

From there, you move toward Digbeth and Deritend, and the ground changes too. The route uses pavements, footpaths, and towpaths, so it feels like a real local walk rather than a straight line to obvious landmarks. If you like city wandering with a purpose, this format works well, because you get both direction and spontaneity.

You also end up close enough to the area’s film buzz to feel it. Digbeth’s ongoing changes, including HS2 and the Metro tram plans, add to that sense that the neighborhood is in motion, not frozen in time.

Meet Jonathan Berg, and learn how to see street art like a map

This tour is conducted by Jonathan Berg, an author and photographer who runs Positively Birmingham walking tours. He also has a book focused on the public art of Birmingham, with special attention to Digbeth, so you’re not just getting facts, you’re getting a way to look.

I like tours where the guide teaches you a skill, not just a route. Here, the skill is noticing. Jonathan points out how public art connects to the people, the edges of the city, and the personality of streets. You start to spot patterns: how murals sit where they do, how imagery relates to place, and how street creativity becomes part of neighborhood identity.

It’s also clear the tour is built for conversation. The guide’s enthusiasm comes through in how he shares what to look for, and the included headset helps keep the experience smooth even when you’re walking and passing distractions.

From the Bull statue to Digbeth: the story Birmingham tells with its streets

The walk begins with an iconic, very recognizable landmark, and then it shifts into the historic Digbeth & Deritend area. The point is not just geography. It’s the idea that Birmingham grew in stages, and you can trace that growth while you walk.

You’ll hear how Birmingham developed from a market hamlet. That may sound abstract until it’s placed against what you see around you. Market towns leave behind routes, clustering, and uneven development. Digbeth carries that kind of imprint, even as it changes again and again.

This is also where the tour’s theme clicks. Digbeth isn’t only about Peaky Blinders. It’s about how a working, changing part of the city became a canvas, and how today’s street art sits on older layers of everyday life.

Public art in Birmingham: what to watch for on Digbeth walls

You’ll spend real time on the public art side of the tour, and it’s more than stop-and-look sightseeing. The tour treats street art like an urban language, so you’re not just trying to take a good photo. You’re learning how to understand why certain pieces are placed where they are.

A smart thing on this walk is the balance between explanation and freedom. The route moves along pavements and footpaths, which means you can pause, reframe your shot, and still keep momentum. The tour setup with headsets helps, because you can keep listening without needing to hover near the guide.

If you care about visual culture, this is one of the better ways to learn it. You’ll pick up a sense of how Digbeth artists and styles shaped the look of the neighborhood, and how that relates to Birmingham’s broader public art identity.

Peaky Blinders film studios and Digbeth LOC: the selfie stops make sense

The tour’s Peaky Blinders connection is a big draw, and it’s handled in a way that feels grounded. The area is used for the Peaky Blinders feature film, with production underway at Digbeth LOC studios. That means the show-like atmosphere is tied to a working creative space, not just a themed photo spot.

One of the standout moments is the chance to see Peak murals at Digbeth LOC studios, with a strong selfie factor. These are the kinds of images you can find online, but seeing them in the real neighborhood, with the street context around you, is the difference between wallpaper and place.

If you’re a fan, you’ll likely enjoy how the tour links screen-world vibes to real streets and real walls. And if you’re not a fan, you can still enjoy it, because the film thread acts like a thread you can follow into the area’s street-art identity.

Custard Factory and Red Brick Market: creative Birmingham beyond the murals

After the film and public art highlights, the walk reaches the Custard Factory and Red Brick Market. This is where the neighborhood’s creative side turns into something more practical and human-scale.

Custard Factory is the kind of place where you expect independent makers, studios, and everyday creative energy. Red Brick Market adds that market feel, so you’re not only seeing street culture, you’re also getting a sense of how people actually use the space.

For me, this is a key value piece of the tour. If you only focus on art and film locations, you can end up feeling like you toured a set. These stops help you feel the neighborhood’s current rhythm, and it gives you options afterward, like grabbing a drink or a snack if the timing works.

Digbeth’s modern momentum: HS2 and the Metro tram effect

Digbeth isn’t just a story about the past. The tour points out that modernity is pushing into the area, and that makes the whole experience feel current.

You’ll hear excitement about the coming of HS2 and the Metro tram. Even if you don’t know the details of those projects, you can sense the city planning energy when a neighborhood is shifting and re-anchoring itself in relation to the centre.

This is an important tour angle because it helps you avoid the trap of treating Digbeth like a museum. It’s changing now, and public art is part of that change, too. The murals and creative spaces become signals that the area is evolving while still holding onto identity.

What to expect on the walk: pace, distance, and comfort

The route is just over 4 km, designed to fit into a 2-hour experience that takes you from the city centre down to bohemian Digbeth. That distance is manageable for many visitors, but you should plan for real walking time plus stop moments.

The terrain includes pavements, footpaths, and towpaths. That’s the kind of mix that can feel slightly different from a smooth city sidewalk. It’s also why this tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

If you can, bring your own 3.5 mm jack earphones. The tour includes headsets to help you hear the guide clearly, and having your own earphones can make the experience more comfortable. It also helps if you’re in a louder spot near the Bullring or moving past groups and traffic.

Price and value: what you get for $20 per person

At around $20 per person for a 2-hour guided walk, this feels like good value if you want more than a basic sightseeing loop. You’re paying for more than time on the street. You’re paying for interpretation.

You get Jonathan Berg’s guidance, plus a structured route that hits the Bullring, historic Digbeth and Deritend, public art highlights, Peaky Blinders film studios at Digbeth LOC, and stops at Custard Factory and Red Brick Market. The inclusion of headsets is also a small but meaningful cost saver, because it removes the common problem of struggling to hear the guide in busy areas.

So the real question is not whether $20 is low or high. It’s whether you’ll use the guide. If you enjoy street art, city history at street level, and the film-location angle, the price is fair for what you get.

Who should book this walking tour

I’d point this tour toward three types of visitors.

First, book it if you like street art and public art and want guidance on what to look for in Digbeth. Second, book it if you’re a Peaky Blinders fan and want to experience the connection in the actual neighborhood, especially around Digbeth LOC studios and the Peak murals. Third, book it if you want a focused, two-hour walk that gives you a richer sense of Birmingham than the usual city-centre route.

If you dislike walking on footpaths and towpaths, or if mobility is an issue, this is not the right fit.

Should you book the Digbeth, public art, and Peaky Blinders tour?

Yes, if you want a practical 2-hour Birmingham experience that blends history, street art, and film-location energy. I like that it starts in the familiar Bullring area, then takes you into Digbeth and Deritend with enough structure to make the public art and Peaky Blinders connections feel meaningful.

Skip it if you need step-free, smooth surfaces, or if you want a mostly indoor or landmark-only day. And if you’re expecting long museum-style stops, this is not that kind of tour. This is street-level Birmingham, with interpretation built in.

FAQ

Where is the meeting point?

Meet at the bronze Bull statue by the Nike Superstore in the Bullring Shopping Centre.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts 2 hours.

How far do you walk?

The route is just over 4 km.

Who guides the tour?

The tour is conducted by Jonathan Berg.

What is included with the ticket?

A headset is included to help you hear the guide clearly. You can also bring earphones with a 3.5 mm jack.

What sights and stops are included?

You’ll cover Digbeth and Deritend history, Birmingham public art, Peaky Blinders connections at Digbeth LOC studios, and you’ll visit the Custard Factory and Red Brick Market.

What language is the tour in?

The tour is in English.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility impairments?

No, it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Can I book without paying right away?

Yes. You can reserve now and pay later.