2.5-hours Walking Tour Of Birmingham Into Black Heritage Madiba

We did this walking tour in September. Marcia our guide was there to meet us and we were in a small group. The tour was extremely interesting and Marcias enthusiasm for the history of the area was very evident. Marcia had photos of the area in previous times and really bought all that had occurred in the area to life. A must do if you are in the area. Thank you Marcia for a fascinating afternoon.

I thoroughly enjoyed my tour with Marcia from Black Heritage Walks. We started off in SoHo House with a little meal and were greeted by Sandy from Legacy West Midlands who created a warm, welcoming space for us. Marcia took a lot of time to explain the links between the Industrial Revolution and the British Empire. I learned about the leading industrialists such as Boulton as well as the life and impressive actions of the abolitionist Olaudah Equiano. During our walk through Handsworth, Marcia pointed out many historical buildings and narrated interesting past events. I learned so much and would definitely recommend this tour to history nerds and/or people who aim to get to know Birmingham beyond the city center sites. Thank you for your time and expertise, Marcia!

An incredibly stimulating tour highlighting the Black history of Birmingham. A must do experience to get important context on this vibrant and interesting city. Thanks to Marcia for her wealth of knowledge and her enthusiasm and commitment for the stories to be told. I can’t rate this experience highly enough.

Marcia is AMAZING! She is so knowledgeable and passionate. We learned so much and were treated like family. As an American it was intriguing to learn about our intersecting histories. I can't wait to return and take every tour they have to offer! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

We found the walking tour excellent - Marcia was a brilliant guide, and her enthusiasm was infectious. We were made really welcome at the Centre with tea, and even a birthday cake! We found out lots of information that we had no idea about previously and would recommend the tour to anyone interested in black history.

This was a brilliant walking tour exploring how the Black community struggled and triumphed and shaped Birmingham decades ago. And learning that they joined in comradeship with the Irish and Indians, was truly a great history lesson. Marcia was so insightful and fun. I loved learning Nelson Mandela came to this city and the community welcomed him home like a family member, simply beautiful. I felt like I've just touched the surface so I'll book another to learn even more. Thanks Marcia, you were lovely

This tour was very interesting, we learn a lot from Marcia, a wonderful teacher. The activity was very well planned and entretaining. We very much recommend this experience.

What a great experience! Marcia is a great tour guide and exceeded our expectations! She adapted her tour to our needs. Her knowledge about the Black UK culture and it's history in Birmingham was excellent! (Not to be confused with the Black Country tours.) She helped us gain an understanding about the Black experience from 1800s to present day! We were very pleased to have chosen the correct experience through the Madiba Black Heritage Walks Network tour. We ended our tour with a custom clothing experience through a local tailor. We are truly ready for our Stevie Wonder concert! Thank you Marcia!

I had the pleasure of taking a walk with Marcia as our guide. It was a fantastic experience, Marcia was nothing short of exceptional—knowledgeable, engaging, and genuinely passionate about Birmingham's rich black heritage. What stood out most was how Marcia made the tour interactive, encouraging us to engage with the city's history through interesting facts and thought-provoking questions.

On this walking tour we learnt about some of the Afro-Caribbean influence and history of the Handsworth area of Birmingham. We enjoyed it and found out things we didn't know or hadn't thought about before. Our guide, Marcia was lovely. She was knowledgable and passionate and made us very welcome. She challenged us too. There is a lot to see on this tour including a couple of impressive murals that you wouldn't know about unless you were local to Handsworth. As a bonus, at the end of the tour we visited the shops and take-away restaurants in the area. The freshly baked samosas we had were outstanding. I would recommend this tour for anyone interested in finding out a bit more about the amazing contribution black people have made to not only Birmingham but to the world. Also, to hear about some of the unpleasant aspects of the past so that we don't make the same mistakes again.

Our tour guide, Marcia was well versed and knowledgeable about Black History in Birmingham and showed us local sights while giving us plenty of background to understand what we were seeing and how it fit with Black Heritage. She is a product of that history and you can tell how important it is to her. This tour gives a great overview and a lot of information was packed into the well paced 2.5 hours but there is so much more to see and learn. The value truly exceeded the price and my expectations. I would return to take other tours with Marcia. A highlight of my trip to Birmingham.

Reading the reviews before I booked I can wholeheartedly agree that Marcia is one heck of a guide. We walked and talked and I listened and learned, occasionally adding my own relevant experiences of Handsworth. It was an honest, informative, eye-opening and enjoyable walk. I look forward to experiencing many more walks that Black Heritage offer and to meet the rest of the Black Heritage team soon. Thank you Marcia

This walking tour was an informative experience of the notable omission of acknowledgment of some cultural history in the city of commerce in Handsworth Birmingham. There is much to see and understand in the streets being walked daily and the tour guide was very knowledgeable delivering information and sharing stories of the area. If you, like me, enjoy exploring places of note from a different perspective filled with relatable gems to add to your knowledge bank this is the walking tour for you.

Fascinating walk with tour guide Marcia, bringing to life the buildings, amenities and introducing us to some of the local characters from this multi cullural part of Birmingham. Marcia is very knowledgeable and even took time to repeat the earlier part of the tour due to my late arrival.

It was a great experience, fun and informative. I come from France and I am very happy to have done it. The guide was passionate and flexible, merci beaucoup. Julie

What an amazing experience my partner and I had on this tour. My partner grew up in Birmingham but rediscovered this treasure hidden in plain site. We learnt the history that isn't spoken about that created what we know today as modern Birmingham. An abosuletely must do tour!!

Learning about the reality of things we thought we knew and hearing an unbiased truth of past times was very interesting.Our guide Marcia was a really great guide. Her knowledge of the heritage around Handsworth is amazing. We would highly recommend this tour. It was raining when we were out and Marcia was really kind to us and made us a cup of tea at the centre when we got back so that we could dry out.

I had a wonderful experience on the Madiba walk with Marcia. The was filled with history and Marcia is a wealth of knowledge. I learned so much about how Jamaicans and Asians came to Birmingham and really settled into the area. I would have loved to go on another tour of a different area, however my flight plan did not permit me the time. If I ever find myself in Birmingham again, I'll be sure to check the Black Heritage Walk Network for more opportunities.

I found this walk extremely enjoyable. Marcia was knowledgeable and informative. I would highly recommend this walk to all those who wish to further their knowledge of black history.

A fantastic tour that started off at the Soho House Museum where I was able to view the Vanley Burke exhibition followed by a tour of Handsworth and the rich Black History that is in Handsworth. I've known about the things on the surface level that have been in the press about Handsworth but the details that Marcia went into about the Buildings and how they are linked to history about Black People for hundreds of years and pre post WW2 Caribbean migration. I can't say how great it was. If you're looking to do a tour don't hesitate. I'm looking forward to doing another walk with Marcia and her team.

We went as a couple, but this amazing tour is suitable for anyone. Solo travelers, groups, everyone. Marcia was the perfect guide. I can't recommend this tour enough, especially, if like us, you are Black, and/or are interested in learning more about the Black history of the area. Marcia is so knowledgable and speaks with such passion. I promise you that you will thoroughly enjoy the experience! Book it now.

Marcia is incredibly knowledgeable and engaging, and I learned so much about the rich and complex history of the area. Highly recommended!

Wandering around Handsworth might not be at top of everyone's to-do list when visiting Birmingham, but it should be. Unfortunately, Handsworth is always connected to the word "riots" in my mind and, I suspect, many people's but I had a fabulous time discovering the area with Marcia. Not only does she know the narrative and the facts, her enthusiasm and passion for local history is infectious. If you're keen to find out more about Birmingham and the role played by the people of Handsworth, then this is the tour for you. I also have to add that it's such a shame to see so many important places and events forgotten

Such an interesting and informative walk with Marcia! She had so much knowledge to share and a real passion for sharing about the area and the history of a Birmingham. I really hope the Nelson mural happens!

Brilliant afternoon with the lovely Marcia who was passionate about the history if the area. Wonderful day

Lovely guided tour with interesting perspectives. I really enjoyed the walk, the guide was open to questions, knowledgeable and really nice. I would definitely recommend it !!

Very informed, kind and open to many questions. It was lovely to be shown by such passionate advocates for more fuller British heritage to be learnt and revealed to folks.

This tour is a very interesting and different way to discover Birmingham. The guides are very nice and very interesting. I would definitely recommand!

Wow, that was deep! Historian, Marcia, poignantly narrated Black and Irish history of a key historical area, Handsworth, helping to keep alive an important narrative that could otherwise be lost, just as many of the key historical buildings in the tour sadly deteriorate, abandoned and neglected. You would never know you’re going past such important historical sites, as they sit there crumbling, and you wouldn’t believe the incredible, beautiful stories of historical figures like Muhammed Ali and Nelson Mandela in Handsworth, not even remembered with a plaque! I see the whole area and city in a much better historical context now. Well done Black Heritage Tours - really looking forward to one of your other tours asap & thank you so much brilliant Marcia!

Interesting tour around the Handsworth area of Birmingham with Marcia, an excellent tour guide. Marcia presented the tour in a very interesting way, interactive and open to interesting conversation, thoroughly enjoyable. I can recommend this tour to anyone who wants to understand local history and who wants to understand some of the struggles that the black community had tom contend with not that so many years ago.

Big thanks to Gary, who made the experience enjoyable, he is very friendly and has extensive knowledge about the area, which contributed to our overall experience . We would definitely recommend this walk when visiting Birmingham. Thanks Gary!!

Very rewarding tourist visit, a guide who listens and knows the city well. Both interactive and informative. This tour allowed me to learn more about the black community in this city and to meet new people. I recommend it 100% if you are visiting Birmingham.

Learnt so much black British history that I did not know as well as the role of Birmingham in the industrial revolution.

Tour guide was amazing, she was just so knowledgeable, the tour was thought-provoking,she emphasized how much knowing history properly affects how we see the world today and the tour was a real eye-opener. It was really interesting to see just how much history in this area has affected the world as a whole.

LOVED my walking tour with Marcia! She was so knowledgeable and kind! I came by myself as I was only in Birmingham for the day and Marcia made sure I made it to the meeting spot safely. One of the highlights of the tour was getting to see where former enslaved person, abolitionist and writer, Olaudah Equiano, lived for a short period of his life. He is someone I have taught about in my History classes and getting to learn more lesser known facts about him was truly a teacher’s dream! If you are ever in Birmingham, hand downs, do a walking tour with Black Heritage Walks Network!

We booked this walking tour based on good reviews and were really glad we did. Marcia was our guide and her love of the area and subject matter was apparent from the start. She’s super friendly and super knowledgeable and always willing to answer questions. We stopped at many seemingly innocuous buildings only to discover their surprisingly rich history. Easy to get to from the city centre and would unreservedly recommend. Thanks Marcia.

Two of us went on the Madiba tour of Handsworth alongside our guide Marcia, who is very knowledgeable about local social history. If I say that we gained a glimpse into the realities of living as a black person in Birmingham in the 3rd quarter of the last century, then it sounds as though that was a distant time, a distant experience the impact of which may feel remote. Until you realise that many of those people are still alive and living in the West Midlands today. Their children and grandchildren live today with freshly told recollections of the prejudice and practical hardships endured a mere 50-80 years ago. It turns out that many of these children and grandchildren still face similar obstacles even in 2021. Marcia highlighted (sadly derelict & neglected) local buildings (some of architectural interest, some of socio-economic interest) which housed the emergence of a local economy as black residents, denied access to mainstream services, turned increasingly toward self sufficient commerce within the Handsworth community. We gained insight into the anguish of mothers then and now who spend their days worrying that their sons will be subjected to police stop & search due to so called “sus” laws (“the blacker you are the more suspicious you look”). We smiled at the informal social settings offered by illicit shebeens secreted literally in the basements beneath the alibi of middle class residences (to party is human). And we ended our tour at the eminent and architecturally beautiful grammar schools, to which sadly but few of the local community gain access; an apt reminder that education, if it were equal, offers the way forward to our communities achieving their potential. *** Highly recommended, thought provoking, activity. ***

This walk was, quite simply, superb. The guide, Marcia, was full of knowledge and so enthusiastic - we learnt so much about the black spirit and how interlinked with Birmingham's (and Great Britain's) development, black immigration was. The weather was drizzly but it didn't detract from the fascinating linking of places business and development. And it wasn't simply 'black' but showed links, troubles and touched on the problems of other identifiable groups such as the Irish. The three hours passed before we knew it. We (three of us) cannot recommend this walk highly enough; it is worth a trip to Birmingham alone.

We had an absolutely wonderful walk, despite the weather being less than dry and toasty. This is such an interesting part of Birmingham with so much hidden just below the surface, but Marcia dug down with enthusiasm, patience, and incredible knowledge to provide a walk which had me emotionally captivated throughout, and planning my next walk in Brum. I can thoroughly recommend this experience.

Waited an hour for tour guide to arrive and they did not show. Chased numerous times with calls and texts to be told that the tour guide was running late. No ETA provided. Chased again to be told (30 minutes later) that the tour was cancelled. Luckily the weather wasn’t too nippy. Met three other lovely people (including a young child) who were also looking forward to the tour and were disappointed by its cancellation. I appreciate that traffic is tricky in the city, however this incredibly unprofessional experience has meant I am reluctant to book again. Not the Black History month experience I was hoping to have.

This was a hugely enjoyable and fascinating tour of Handsworth, led by the wonderful and enthusiastic Marcia. It explored the injustices and dark times faced by the black community, but also celebrated the high points such as the community spirit and the visits by people such as Nelson Mandela and Muhammed Ali.

As I lived in Handsworth from my early teens until my mid twenties, it was a lovely (and informative) trip down memory lane! Marcia, my guide, was warm and friendly and had taken the time to find out as much about the area (as it pertained to people of colour) from the distance past to the present. I learnt things I didn't know about buildings I have passed many, many times over the years; I was also able to fill, clarify or confirm some of the gaps in her knowledge too. Unfortunately (though very fortunate for me, as the walk was very tailored to me 🥳) I was the only person who turned up for the tour. ☹ I would highly recommend this tour for anyone who wants to see some stunning, though usually neglected, buildings, and those interested in the learning of the contribution that black people have made to Birmingham, focused through the lens of Handsworth. This tour can only get better and better over time!

I could never have imagined the level of detail and knowledge that was covered by the BHWN team during our brilliant walk. We also met some vibrant and memorable local people through serendipity during the walk which enhanced the day. All in all a fantastically well-led walk that provided great insight into the context and history of the local area.

Learning about what Soho Road used to look like was fascinating. Many of the buildings were used for different things and the demographics of the high street was a lot different. It was also exciting to learn of Muhammad Ali's and Nelson Mandela's connection to the area.

What a wonderful way to learn about the lives lived. The history is ricjh and interesting. Our guides were knowledgeable with an infectious passion for sharing and preserving of the story of the black community in Birmingham. I will be back and will encourage others too.

Was a pleasant way to spend a sunny afternoon, walked within a mile radius of Birmingham, our tour guide was informative and welcoming, there were no unanswered questions. We thoroughly enjoyed learning more about an area and its residents we often drive pass.

Went on the Madiba walk at the weekend - my first in-person cultural activity since lockdown #1. It was a brilliant experience. Really well looked after by the walk leaders inc Covid protocols - felt very safe. Very interesting and informative walk uncovering history that you just wouldn't see otherwise. Fascinating and moving stories about Black heritage and achievement. Would recommend to anyone interested in learning more about this part of Birmingham.

The weather was not kind but it was a very informative tour. The two people who lead it were very inthusiatic and we learnt a lot about Handsworth. My wife and I would recommend this tour for people who want to find out more about Birmingham from a different perspective.

Garry was a great, accommodating and knowledgeable tour guide. He took us around Handsworth Birmingham uncovering the rich but sadly lost Black history of Handsworth. It’s a must walk tour for anyone interested in learning more about Black history!