No visit to Birmingham would be complete without seeing the legendary Museum of the Jewellery Quarter.

You can go on a unique tour of the original factory with its 200-year-old history. You'll get to understand and appreciate the skill of the jeweler's craft and the ancient crafting skills that have made Birmingham the center of the British jewellery industry.

This perfectly preserved workshop has changed very little from the beginning of the century. For over 80 years it has been run by the Smith and Pepper family, who produced all the jewellery from the factory.

In 1981 the factory was closed down and it was turned into a museum. It?s contents were left the exact same as they were on the final day of production. You can see everything even down to the final mugs of tea.

The tour


The guides use the latest video and display techniques to take you through the fascinating story of this 200-year-old jewellery quarter and the ancient skills they practiced. They'll demonstrate jewellery making techniques right there on the Jeweller's old bench. They can even tell you about your own jewellery. You can find out where it was made, when and by whom. Maybe it was even made here in Birmingham in the Smith & Pepper's old factory.


The area

Nearly all of the jewellery made here in Britain has been produced in the workshops of Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter. With over 100 jewellery shops, this is the epicentre of the British jewellery industry. Bargain hunters and jewellery lovers come from all over to find that special purchase. A lot of the shops will do custom made designs and most undertake repairs.

In the museum shop you'll find an excellent selection of modern jewelry made by Birmingham's top designers. There's also a wide selection of souvenirs and books, as well as a refreshment area and an information service.