Birmingham Digbeth: Public Art Walk & Peaky Blinders Film Sites

Summary

Digbeth’s public art scenes canals and Peaky Blinders sets

You’ll walk through Birmingham’s Digbeth with a local author-guide, spot bold street art around every corner, stroll quiet canals where history lingers, and maybe catch a glimpse of Peaky Blinders film sets. Expect unexpected details, real stories behind murals, and that odd feeling when old meets new in one afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Digbeth's history and art

• Start by the Bull statue
• Walk past historic church near The Cube
• Walk Digbeth streets, see public art
• Visit bohemian Custard Factory area

Top questions

Where does the Digbeth public art tour start?

The tour starts by the Bull statue in Birmingham city centre.

Is there a guide for the Peaky Blinders film locations?

Yes, Jonathan Berg leads the tour; he’s a local author currently writing about Birmingham’s public art.

Does this day trip include entry to any attractions?

No entry fees are needed; it’s all walking and exploring public spaces like Digbeth streets and canals.

Will we see actual Peaky Blinders filming sites?

If time allows, you may visit Digbeth.com studios where filming is happening.

Are headphones required for this walking tour?

You’ll need headphones with a 3.5 mm jack for the live audio receiver; they can supply some for a charity donation if you don’t have your own.

Is lunch included during this Digbeth tour?

No lunch is included; you can explore cafes or food spots nearby before or after.

Can small children join this walking tour?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in prams or strollers during the tour.

How physically demanding is this walk through Digbeth?

You should have at least moderate physical fitness as it involves walking through city streets and along canals.

What’s included

Your afternoon includes guided walks led by local author Jonathan Berg (with live audio receiver so you won’t miss his stories), plus time to see street art around Custard Factory and possibly peek at active Peaky Blinders film sets—just bring your own headphones or borrow some for a small charity donation.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I didn’t really know what to expect from a day wandering Digbeth — everyone talks about the Peaky Blinders stuff, but honestly, it was the mix of old bricks and wild colors that got me. We met Jonathan by the Bull statue (he’s writing a book on Birmingham’s public art — proper local), and right away he started pointing out these tiny details in the buildings I’d never have noticed. There was this faint smell of coffee drifting from somewhere, mixing with paint and rain on concrete. Kind of weirdly comforting.

Walking past the old church, someone in our group tried to guess how many layers of graffiti were under the latest mural. Jonathan just grinned and said even he’d lost count years ago. The canals were quieter than I expected — just a couple of cyclists passing by, their wheels hissing on wet stone. He told us about how Birmingham basically grew out of this market hamlet into “the workshop of the world.” I could almost picture it, though now there’s neon signs bouncing off puddles everywhere. The main keyword for me? Digbeth: unpredictable but somehow familiar.

The highlight for most people was probably seeing where they’re filming the new Peaky Blinders movie — we actually got close to the Digbeth.com studios (I tried to take a selfie but my phone decided to freeze at exactly the wrong moment). Someone asked if Cillian Murphy ever pops by; Jonathan just laughed and said if he did, nobody tells him. We ended up near the Custard Factory — honestly, I had no idea that was a real place until today — where you get this mash-up of bohemian shops and spray paint in places you’d never expect. It felt like every corner had its own story or secret handshake.