Birmingham Travel Guide

Museum of the Jewellery Quarter

Take a journey back in time at the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter. Housed in an original jewellery-making factory dating from the early 1900s, the enchanting family-run firm of Smith and Pepper provides a window into the ancient crafts and skills that made Birmingham the centre of the British jewellery industry. The factory is presented exactly as it was left when abandoned in 1981 (after 80 years of jewellery-making), even down to the coffee cups that workers neglected to take with them. The museum also uses state of the art technology to present the history of jewellery-making in the Midlands to newcomers. Over 100 jewellery shops line the streets of the Jewellery Quarter, and are a popular attraction for bargain-hunters and shoppers looking for a special purchase. Awarded Best Small Visitor Attraction in the Enjoy England Awards 2010, the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter provides an interesting and compelling day out for visitors to Birmingham.