What is the JQ
Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter has been making jewellery since the 1760s — 250 years of unbroken trade. Today over 100 working jewellers operate from Victorian workshops; 40% of all jewellery made in Britain comes from this small area.
- Boundaries: Around Vyse Street, Frederick Street, Warstone Lane
- Nearest: Jewellery Quarter tram or Snow Hill rail (10 min walk)
- Vibe: Victorian heritage, working trade, foodie scene
Top Things to Do
- Museum of the Jewellery Quarter (free) — preserved working jewellery shop, last operated 1981
- Pen Museum (£8) — Birmingham invented the modern steel pen nib (75% of world supply by 1850)
- St Paul's Square — Georgian square, the only one in Birmingham
- JQ Cemetery (Warstone Lane) — atmospheric Victorian cemetery, catacombs
- Buy jewellery directly — 100+ shops along Vyse Street
- Hatchings & Co — bespoke ring workshop, design your own
- The Big Peg — independent jeweller co-op
- Coffin Works (£8) — preserved Victorian coffin-fittings factory
Best Restaurants
- Adam's — 2 Michelin stars, tasting menu £140-180, book 2+ months ahead
- Carters of Moseley — modern British, just out of JQ
- The Wilderness — fine dining, modern
- The Lord Clifden — gastropub with garden
- Anderson's Bar & Grill — steaks
- Otto Wood Fired Pizza — best pizza in Birmingham
- The Button Factory — independent café and bar
Where to Stay
- Hotel La Tour — 4-star, walking distance
- The Edgbaston — boutique B&B (5 min taxi)
- Premier Inn JQ — budget, central
- Airbnb in restored warehouses — characterful, mid-priced
Walking Tour Route
- Start: Snow Hill station
- Walk to St Paul's Square (5 min) — Georgian church, gardens
- Down Caroline Street to the Pen Museum (10 min)
- Coffin Works (5 min walk)
- Vyse Street — see working jewellers (15 min browsing)
- Museum of the Jewellery Quarter (free, 30 min)
- JQ cemetery and catacombs (15 min)
- End at Lord Clifden pub for a pint, or Adam's for fine dining
- Total: 2-3 hours
💎 Bespoke jewellery: JQ jewellers will design + make custom pieces in 4-6 weeks for less than retail elsewhere. Hatchings & Co, Brown & Newirth, Kalfayan all reputable.