The Jewellery Quarter sits roughly one mile northwest of Birmingham city centre and has produced jewellery continuously since the 18th century. At its peak the district manufactured around 40 percent of all jewellery made in the UK, and today more than 100 working jewellers still operate alongside independent restaurants, bars, and creative studios. The area’s street grid of Victorian terraces, red-brick workshops, and Georgian townhouses remains largely intact, making it one of the best-preserved industrial heritage districts in England.
What is the Jewellery Quarter known for?
The Jewellery Quarter is internationally recognised as the centre of Birmingham’s goldsmithing and silversmithing trade, with Vyse Street and Warstone Lane forming the historic core where working craftspeople have operated for over 200 years alongside retail showrooms, auction houses, and gem dealers. The district is also noted for its remarkable architectural coherence, retaining gas-lamp-style street furniture, original factory facades, and the Grade II listed Smith and Pepper factory — now preserved inside the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter — exactly as it was when production ceased in 2008.
- Museum of the Jewellery Quarter on Vyse Street: a fully preserved jewellery factory open to the public
- Warstone Lane Cemetery, a Victorian cemetery with catacombs dating from 1847
- The Golden Square, a modern public space at the heart of the district used for events and markets
- Retail showrooms and independent makers selling direct from workshops on Vyse Street and Spencer Street
Best things to do in the Jewellery Quarter
The single best activity is a guided tour of the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter on Vyse Street, where visitors watch a film about the factory’s history and walk through preserved benches, tools, and unfinished stock left in place since 2008; beyond the museum, visitors can commission bespoke pieces directly from working goldsmiths, browse antique jewellery dealers, and explore Warstone Lane Cemetery’s atmospheric Victorian catacombs.
- Commission or buy bespoke jewellery directly from maker-retailers on Spencer Street
- Walk Warstone Lane Cemetery and view the Neoclassical catacombs built into the hillside
- Attend the regular street food and craft markets held at Golden Square
- Visit the Pen Museum on Frederick Street in the adjacent Hockley district for Birmingham’s broader craft heritage
Where to eat and drink in the Jewellery Quarter
The Jewellery Quarter has a dense concentration of independent cafés, brunch spots, and evening bars clustered around St Paul’s Square and along Vittoria Street and Caroline Street, with options ranging from specialty coffee shops to wine bars housed in converted Victorian workshops.
- St Paul’s Square: Georgian square ringed with pubs and restaurants, anchored by St Paul’s Church dating from 1779
- Independent brunch cafés along Vittoria Street popular with local makers and creative workers
- Cocktail and wine bars on Caroline Street and the surrounding streets, busiest Thursday through Saturday evenings
Where to walk in the Jewellery Quarter
The most rewarding walk runs from St Paul’s Square north along Regent Place to Vyse Street, then west along Warstone Lane past the cemetery to Icknield Street, covering the district’s key heritage assets, independent shops, and Victorian streetscapes within roughly one mile on mostly flat ground.
- St Paul’s Square to Vyse Street: passes the church, Georgian terraces, and workshop facades
- Warstone Lane to the cemetery catacombs: quieter route with significant Victorian funerary architecture
How to get to the Jewellery Quarter
The easiest way to reach the Jewellery Quarter is by West Midlands Metro tram, with the dedicated Jewellery Quarter stop on the Green Line (Line 1) providing a direct connection from Birmingham city centre in under ten minutes.
- West Midlands Metro: Jewellery Quarter stop, Green Line (Line 1) from Birmingham Snow Hill
- Birmingham Snow Hill railway station: approximately 10-minute walk southeast of the district
- Birmingham New Street station: approximately 20-minute walk or one tram stop via Snow Hill
- Multiple National Express West Midlands bus routes serve Hockley and the surrounding streets
Best time to visit the Jewellery Quarter
The Jewellery Quarter is accessible year-round, but late spring and early summer bring the best conditions for walking the outdoor spaces and attending events at Golden Square, while the annual Jewellery Quarter Festival — typically held in summer — opens private studios and workshops to the public for unique behind-the-scenes access.
