Route developed by: Martin Phelan

Checked by: Helene Pursey

(A) John Bright Street was named after the Rochdale-born Quaker, John Bright (1811-1889), Liberal statesman and member of the House of Commons from 1843-1889.

[1] Standing with your back to the RNIB Offices, turn left along the pavement past the NCN5 sign

(B) The NCN5 is one of the National Cycle Routes instituted by Sustrans, this one runs from Reading to Holyhead.

[2] Walk under the theatre archway (or bridge!) past the Victoria Public House and around the corner into Station Street. Cross the street, taking great care, to St George House on the corner. Pavement is broken up, cracked and uneven, be careful when walking along this road. Cross over at the pedestrian crossing, here taking great care. Bear left past the Crown and then bear to the right along Station Street. On the right here is The Electric Cinema  and the Old Rep Theatre.

(C)The Electric Cinema opened on 30th December 1909. This 100-seater theatre is the oldest working cinema in the UK and gives an insight into cinemas as they were before the days of the multi-screen edifices that exist now.

(D) The 378-seater Old Rep Theatre opened in 1913 and is home to the Birmingham Stage Company.

[3] Follow the pavement around into Dudley Street (opposite here is the former Bus Station, ‘Midland Red’) and cross the end of Hinckley Street to pass under Smallbrook Queensway. Beware here of vehicles entering and leaving Dudley Street Car Park and also Bath Passage, further on the right. Note on the left, Debenhams with its “Trite” but obvious post-Modernist tower. 

[4] Cross using the two linked pedestrian crossings ahead and then turn right along Ladywell Walk and pass the Arcadian Shopping Centre entrance on the left with its “Chinese arch”. At the pedestrian crossing, do not cross but bear left towards The Old Fox.

(E) The Old Fox was established in 1891, and was the ‘local’ for the Back-to-Back houses. It has a variety of beers on offer and has been in the Good Beer Guide since 2000.

[5] At the Old Fox, look to the left at the National Trust Back-to-Backs on the opposite side of Hurst Street. These are worth a visit for an insight into some Birmingham homes of the past.

(F)These Back-to-Backs are what remains of a type of housing now mostly vanished from Birmingham. The homes shown take the visitor from the 1870s to the 1930s. The stairs inside can be very steep and narrow.

[6] You are facing the Hippodrome . From here, turn right along Hurst Street and cross Smallbrook Queensway by the pedestrian crossings. It is essential to cross here as this is a very major road.

(G)The Hippodrome opened in 1899 as a music hall and circus and was rebuilt in 1925 as a 2000-seat theatre.

[7] Keep ahead along Hill Street to rejoin the outward route at St George House. Here turn left along Station Street and cross the street, again. Using the right hand side of Station Street as the left hand pavement is very uneven. Bear left past the Victoria to return to John Bright Street and the RNIB.