A salutary reminder how hard life was 200 years ago for the working class, this was an interesting tour around the only three remaining back to back houses left in Brum. We were lucky to have as our volunteer guide, Ross, who was informed and funny and filled our nearly two hour tour with references and anecdotes, bringing the tiny, dark, sparse, fascinating homes to life. (e.g. “Night soil would be dumped out of town as a “soily hill” in an area now known as (posh) Solihull!). Book well ahead as the NT run up to 16 tours per day, each for 8 visitors (space is limited and stairs steep) but they fill up fast. No walk ins!

We had visited the Back to Backs many years ago but returned yesterday with friends who had never visited previously. The booking process was fairly simple online and our tour was for 11am. However, unfortunately due to illness of a guide the NT telephoned the day before and asked if we were prepared to move the time but still on the same day. I note from the reviews that there are complaints about not being able to get tickets owing to capacity limits having been reached but on our tour a number of individuals who had pre-booked failed to turn up. I assume that the no shows were NT members as there is no financial loss to them but if someone cannot make the visit for any reason then it is common courtesy to go online and cancel or telephone. The tour itself lasted about an hour and a half and was led by Richard. The layout of the tour and the time line explored is informative and interesting and our guide certainly could not be faulted in his delivery and interaction. It was an unusual experience as far as the NT is concerned to find that for most of the tour visitors are encouraged to touch and examine the exhibits. We all thoroughly enjoyed our tour and one of our friends commented that it was one of the most interesting NT visits that they had been on, largely due to the guide. One thing that visitors need to be aware of is that there are a number of steep narrow stairs to be negotiated and if you are slightly infirm, elderly or nervous they may cause some difficulty. The Back to Backs are in an interesting part of Birmingham and there are numerous other attractions and sites within reasonable walking distance.

Jeff with his Brummie and yet slight Black Country dialect, made our visit informative, humorous and enriching. With his own personal background with his own family living within these type of houses in Birmingham and explaining the community spirit residents had within the central courtyard. He brought to life a bygone era and the conditions people had to regrettably live in. We are so fortunate today compared to the past. Many visitors would learn the meaning of the verbal slang "gozunder" reference to a chamber pot or "potty" (Goes Under the Bed). Ourselves being familiar with this and also recall the use of the then "Sports Argos" newspaper as a substitute toilet paper after reading it. It is excellent for children, as unlike other "living museums", they are encouraged to try and "top and tail" on a bed (sleeping with your head at the other person's feet, creating distance and a sense of separation, from siblings in the bed). It was very interesting to learn of specific residents professions. One craftsman creating clock hands from brass and another being the tailor to Buckingham Palace horse guards parade uniform and his tailor shop is now left in a time capsule. There are some steep house steps for those with mobility issues. Public toilets are in the courtyard, accessed via the book shop. At the time of our visit we were not able to visit the exhibition as that was being changed, but a previous you tube reviewer stated it was worth going upstairs to peruse. The location is within minutes walk of The Birmingham Hippodrome and a "gem' in the city centre. It is operated in small groups and photography is welcomed. Visit and keep this "historical' attraction as reviewed 1st place, in a city centre full of a variety of attractions for everyone .

What an excellent place. Tucked away in the center of the City, it's like stepping into the past and experiencing how hard life was for the people who lived there. Excellent value for money, made better by our lovely guide John who was so informative. Just be aware, that there are several narrow and very steep stairways that would be really difficult for some to manage.

A small piece of history well preserved. The tourguide, Ian, brought the past to life theough his stories and illustrations. It was quite interesting to see how the working class lived in the 18-hundreds, even into the 19-hundreds. Because the homes are well furnished with relevant furniture and domestic appliances it is easy to picture them living there. A must see in Birmingham. Take note of the fact you need to make reservations in advance, the tours are usually filled up.

A really interesting place and such an eye-opening contrast with the usual type of National Trust property. Our guide was Jeff who was brilliant: a winning combination of superb knowledge of social history complemented with information about his own ancestors who had lived in this once very common type of property, and about those of the folks who lived in these particular properties during different eras. Details of their lives, occupations and more, were all told without shying away from the often dreadful reality, but also with some light humour and in Jeff's soft Brummie accent. I'd recommend this visit to anyone with an interest in history, but particularly those with people on their family trees who would have lived in these conditions, and by some miracle actually survived! It's essential to pre-book a tour, allow some 90 minutes and usual number is 8 people. Highly recommended :)

As new members of the national trust, the back to backs were our first real visit. We have talked about going before but hadn’t done it. What an amazing place !. The guided tour lasts around an hour and a half and our knowledgable guide Linda bought it to life. The back to backs have been recreated from basically derelict buildings and give an incredible view into the past. How families lived like this even up until the 1960’s is unbelievable. It bought back memories for both of us and different features came into view. Absolutely fantastic and a hidden treasure for the city.

I’ve been to Birmingham many times but I wasn’t aware of a NT property right in the heart of it! I would highly recommend people to take some time out of their day to go and visit. Our tour guide Jeremy was fantastic, very friendly and knowledgeable (all of the staff were great). It is worth mentioning that the stairs inside are very steep and require both hands free but this was mentioned to us before starting the tour and they allow you to keep bags at reception.

A brilliant, educational and informative day out. History is really brought to life visiting these historical properties preserved through different eras. Hearing about the real families who lived in the houses made it even more fascinating. Jeff was a fantastic, knowledgeable guide who ensured we all learnt something on the tour. Highly recommended experience.

This is part of the National Trust, and is exceptionally well done. Hard to imagine sixty people living in such a small space, and grateful that all the smells associated with that were not part of the tour. John, who is a volunteer, gave great insights into a very interesting piece of socio-economic history. There were the sad stories brought to life by John, but also the stories about a sense of community that did not carry forward in modern social housing. There are steep stairs, not recommended for those with mobility issues. Special note for Canadians - At time of writing it costs $Cdn74. plus tax for a family membership for the National Trust of Canada. This gets you free admission to many interesting sights in Canada, where it becomes a must have for international travellers is that it gets you free access to over 1000+ National Trust properties in England, Scotland, Australia, and more through the International National Trusts Organization’s visitation program INTO Places.