Museum of the Jewellery Quarter

Fantastic little museum. Like stepping back in time. Had a guided tour by Steve, whose knowledge of the history of the building people who worked there was amazing. It's not fully restored yet but what there is available to see is well worth the visit. I will Definitely be going back again once it is fully restored.

What a fascinating museum! Our guide, Steve, told us so much about this former working factory, and painted a clear and interesting picture of how all parts of the manufacture of jewellery occurred. Couldn't recommend it more highly!

visited on a saturday,8th nov 2025 Romanian lesbian visitor, passionat about history making,in my yought i worked with gold so i had an idea. The guided tour was amazing, our guid young woman name Olivia veryy passionating demostration and answer to all my questions. you are allow to take pictures but without flash. thank you Olivia for the amazing guide Mihaela from Manchester.

Asbestos in the basement felt like a silent killer sneaking and searching for an opportunity to spring out of captivity. Very informative tour, knowledgeable guide.

Such an interesting place. The history of jewellery making and how things have changed and how so much has not. Great place and the tour guide really knew her history. Thank you so much for a truly enjoyable experience

I was very happy to hear the museum was reopened and had a gret time there!! A very interesting part of Birmingham's history! Our guide Carl was so nice and explainer things so well. The staff was also very friendly and helpful. I do recommend going!

A truly fascinating visit! Our guided tour (ca. 1 hour) was done by a knowledgable, dedicated volunteer (our guide grew up just a few streets from the museum) and the entire museum and preserved factory space is beautifully presented. You can see the tools, work benches, office and all the steps involved in making a piece of jewellery from order via the raw materials and hand-stamping and tooling to shipping. Some machines still work and the tour guide will activate them to let you experience the workspace. You can ask questions and we learned a lot about the city’s jewellery trade in the industrial age. The little shop also has a neat selection of Birmingham (social) history and fashion history publications. Highly recommend visiting!

An absolutely outstanding project and experience. I visited with my 11-year-old daughter, along with a friend and her three children, and we were fortunate to have a private tour led by Steve. What an extraordinary individual. Steve created an immersive, engaging experience so authentic that, for a moment, we all felt transported back in time. His knowledge, passion, and storytelling brought history vividly to life for both children and adults alike. This place is truly worth visiting and supporting. It offers an exceptional educational experience—rich, inspiring, and unforgettable. A remarkable example of how learning can be made meaningful and alive ✨💕🙏🏻

Museum of the Jeweller Quarter is another little gem within the JQ. With changing exhibitions, there's always something new and curious to see - but even if you don't want to pay to enter, their gift shop is SO MUCH BETTER than most museum gift shops! The shop has cabinets of local and national jewellers work in a wide range of prices meaning you can usually find something you like AND can afford - and then if what you're after is actually some more heritage information, they have books and trinkets linked to the area and the staff in the shop are extremely helpful! I picked up a keyring sized pair of working pliers which are awesome and always get me comments when I have my keys out!

In my opinion, the Jewellery Quarter should be celebrated even more than it already is, such is its contribution to the city's history and its independent spirit that proves there's more to shopping in Birmingham than the Bullring. If you agree with me on that, then you may have already taken a tour of the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter - if not though, then what are you waiting for?! A time capsule that demonstrates the practices and effort that went into one family business who thrived in the area during the mid-20th century, the guided tour that takes visitors around the Smith and Pepper workshop is a treat for local history buffs and anyone interested in the jewellery industry. As I now work for a local jewellers in the Black Country area, I found it really interesting to get a sense of the dedication to the craft all jewellers share and the metalwork demonstration shows you the men who make the shiny things in action. A great little gift shop is free to visit even if you don't want to take the tour, and showcases an array of unique and affordable pieces from local designers that you will definitely want to come away with. Great for a lazy weekday pop-in, an educational school trip or if you're on the lookout for a gift with a difference.

To be fair I wish I hadn't of bothered, after I came out the amazing pen museum I decided to give this place a go; what a let down. I had to pay £5 to look round two rooms that were dull and not that engaging, didn't even find the need to take pictures. I did not want to wait almost an hour for a tour so I had heard that the other two rooms were good, lies. I was in and out of the building in a matter of 10 mins and 2 of them were paying an expensive price to get in and another two using the toilets! Disappointing, don't think children would find it altogether engaging either!

A visit to the Jewellery Quarter isn't complete without a trip to the museum. Easily one of the best free attractions in the Birmingham, it's up to you whether you want to fork out the £4 for the tour or just have a look around the exhibits (which is free). Make sure you check out the times for the tour beforehand! The workshop is a real slice of history and worth the meager price tag! The exhibits are laid out to show the history of Jewellery (with examples from all over the world) and give you a real insight into how the construction and cultural meaning of this kind of cosmetic artifact has developed into the modern age. They also have displays from local designers and a good range of Jewellery for sale! A really nice way to spend a Saturday morning.

This small but perfectly formed museum has moved into the spotlight in recent years. It was named "Best Small Visitor Attraction" in the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2010 and it also featured in the New York Times guide to 36 Hours in Birmingham earlier this year. It is located in the old Smith and Pepper jewellery factory that closed back in 1981. Time appears to have stood still, with the factory resembling something from 1901 rather than 1981. You can get a tour of the factory, which is near perfectly preserved. If you're lucky you'll also catch a live demonstration - it always strikes me how hot and dirty the jewellery making process can be. There's an excellent gift shop selling locally made jewellery, a cafe and some changing exhibitions. You can visit these for free, whilst the tour will set you back a mere £4.00. It is totally worth it and you'll walk away with a really sense of pride in Birmingham's industrial and creative past. I know I did!

A jewel in the crown of Birmingham is the jewellery quarter. An area of the city which is famous for it's jewellery and metal making heritage. The museum is set in a former jewellery making firm which ceased trading in the early 1980's after eighty years trading. Unlike most museums which have artifacts restored and put on display, here the artifacts were left behind when the business closed it's doors so you get a real sense of what it was like working in such a place. Tools, benches, machinery, overalls, all sorts of equipment have all been left behind as though time has been paused for future generations to witness. The museum is small but tells a big story. My tour guide was very knowledgeable on the hour long tour which includes a jewellery making demonstration where I learned many of the manufacturing techniques are still used in the area to this day. There's a museum shop which stocks a small range of locally made jewellery and there's a museum cafe offering light lunches, teas and coffees. As I was leaving a small group of school children were arriving for a hands on history lesson. Well worth a visit.

We visited the museum yesterday, The tour was absolutely fascinating and nostalgic. Congratulation to the Tour Guide, she really knew her stuff and really interesting John S Sermon, Evesham

The museum is based on a 'time-capsule' jewellery factory. There are many museum shops which sells locally made designer maker jewellery in the Jewellery Quarter. You can relax in Café with great fresh coffee and baked caked. You can find the jewellery which you really want in the Jewellery Quarter.

Fantastic museum, detailed and interesting tour with demonstrations of machinery. Nice little shop, no pushy staff and soon to open cafe. Unbelievably completely free! Perfect introduction to the jewellery industry.

On a day out in Birmingham this is one of two places not be missed. The Shropshire Hoard is one and this is the other. An amazing place so often this kind of museum has representative things but this the real thing. The doors were closed one day and everything was left, it feels as though everyone has gone for lunch. Don't miss out on the guided tour it is fascinating.

Super museum in the Jewellery Quarter, which has its own Metro stop. It only takes a couple of minutes from the Metro to the Museum. Really fascinating tour of the factory, ending up with having your own little souvenir stamped out on one of the machines. Makes you realise what conditions were like when this was fully operational. Really worth a visit, and lots of jewellery shops nearby.