Birmingham is full of iconic landmarks. There’s the futuristic Selfridges building, the breathtaking Library of Birmingham, and the mesmerising Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. But a short walk from all of these, one of Birmingham’s most underrated landmarks, is the city’s last surviving court of back-to-back houses preserved in time: Birmingham Back to Backs.
Similar houses (around shared courtyards) were once built all the time in industrial towns like Birmingham to cope with rapidly increasing populations. They were, however, later labelled a health hazard in the mid-19th century, and the Public Health Act (1875) put a stop to any more being built. National Trust has since taken over the court at 50–54 Inge Street and 55–63 Hurst Street.
Turning it into a museum, you can discover what working people’s lives were like 200 years ago. Take guided tours of the carefully restored, atmospheric courtyard and houses moving from the 1840s through to the 1970s. It also houses the only collection of work by a Caribbean tailor in the UK. George Saunders operated a shop here for many years and left numerous items to the National Trust.
Okay, so most Brummies probably know and love Birmingham Back to Backs. But a new study from SumUp, a financial technology company for small businesses, has revealed the most underrated hotspots in the UK. Looking at the top-rated landmarks on TripAdvisor, it uncovered the UK’s hidden gems via various metrics, such as reviews, tourists, and searches. It’s complicated, so we’ll spare you the boredom, but Birmingham Back To Backs came second overall.
It narrowly lost out to Wasdale Emerald Pool (which, if you’ve ever seen it, is a worthy winner) as the most underrated hotspot in the UK. Yet, despite this, with over 4,000 reviews boasting an impressive 85% five-star rating, but only 508 Instagram posts, Birmingham Back To Backs remains underrated yet unquestionably worth a visit.
Peaky Blinders fans should be particularly drawn to the location, “as it inspired elements of the show and helped to recreate an authentic representation of the city’s gritty historical atmosphere.” Meanwhile, Booklovers should also take note, as Birmingham Back to Backs also has a secondhand bookshop (Court 15 Books) that keeps this unique spot thriving.
If you’d like to visit, you’ll need to pre-book a guided tour to Birmingham Back to Backs, which you can do so here.