Birmingham Back to Backs

Birmingham Back to Backs is a historical house museum with several connected dwellings that share walls and open onto small courtyards. This layout was typical of 19th-century urban housing and offered densely packed accommodation for working families.

The complex was built in the early 19th century to house the growing number of factory workers in the city. Over the decades more than 500 families lived here before the site was protected in the 20th century.

The furnished rooms span four periods from 1840 to 1970 and show how daily life evolved for working families in industrial Birmingham. Objects, furniture and fittings reflect the style of each era and give a sense of how people lived and worked in these tight spaces.

The National Trust runs guided visits in small groups, so booking ahead is necessary. Narrow staircases and low ceilings make access difficult for visitors with limited mobility.

This site is the last complete court of back-to-back houses in Birmingham, even though thousands of such dwellings once filled the city. The tight arrangement with only one outer wall per house was a common solution to housing shortages in industrial towns.

Location: Birmingham

Address: 55–63 Hurst Street, Birmingham, England

Website: https://nationaltrust.org.uk/birmingham-back-to-backs

GPS coordinates: 52.47434,-1.89722

Latest update: December 22, 2025 15:37