Birmingham in 1964: 13 old pictures showing what life was like for Brummies 60 years ago

Published 15th May 2024, 15:02 BST

Updated 15th May 2024, 15:15 BST

Birmingham was a very different city in 1964 - from the music to the culture - we’re looking back at some old photos from the year to see how much has changed in 60 years

Today we’re travelling 60 years into Birmingham’s past to check out 13 old photos and see just how much the city has changed.

In Birmingham, 1964 was a year that saw the completion of the Bull Ring Centre and His Royal Highness Prince Philip, came to the city to open the centre.

Plenty of new housing was also built across the city, and it was also a year in which The Beatles came to visit, playing a gig at the Odeon.

The city was starting to rapidly change in the 60s post-war years with many still suffering from poverty. The city centre of course looks a lot different these days with New Street Station being completely rebuilt with Birmingham becoming a metropolitan city in the years to follow.

Here are 13 old pictures looking at life for Brummies in 1964.

A RAF band performing at the east court of the Bull Ring Centre, with shoppers watching from the spiral ramp in the foreground. From 14th to 27th June 1964, a display by the Royal Air Force was set up in the Bull Ring Centre. The display included a British Folland Gnat fighter jet. Over the two weeks of the display, concerts were also held at the east court by an RAF band. Artist John Laing plc.

1. Bull Ring Centre

A RAF band performing at the east court of the Bull Ring Centre, with shoppers watching from the spiral ramp in the foreground. From 14th to 27th June 1964, a display by the Royal Air Force was set up in the Bull Ring Centre. The display included a British Folland Gnat fighter jet. Over the two weeks of the display, concerts were also held at the east court by an RAF band. Artist John Laing plc. | Getty Images

Bull Ring Centre, Birmingham, 1964. A view of the Bull Ring Centre with crowds of people outside on the day of the opening ceremony. The photo shows union jacks on top of the centre, flags to the front of the Woolworth store, and large crowds of people. A convoy of official looking cars is also visible. Artist John Laing plc. (Photo by Historic England/Heritage Images via Getty Images

2. Redeveloped Bullring centre

Bull Ring Centre, Birmingham, 1964. A view of the Bull Ring Centre with crowds of people outside on the day of the opening ceremony. The photo shows union jacks on top of the centre, flags to the front of the Woolworth store, and large crowds of people. A convoy of official looking cars is also visible. Artist John Laing plc. (Photo by Historic England/Heritage Images via Getty Images | Getty Images

View of shoppers and residents, including recent migrants from Commonwealth countries, queuing at a bus stop on a shopping street on 11th November 1964. (Photo by Reg Burkett/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Image

3. Shopping in 1964

View of shoppers and residents, including recent migrants from Commonwealth countries, queuing at a bus stop on a shopping street on 11th November 1964. (Photo by Reg Burkett/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Image | Getty Images

Senior staff in the construction of the Bull Ring Centre being presented to HRH Prince Philip on the day of the opening ceremony. The staff members waiting to be presented to the Duke are seen here

4. Bull Ring Centre opening ceremony

Senior staff in the construction of the Bull Ring Centre being presented to HRH Prince Philip on the day of the opening ceremony. The staff members waiting to be presented to the Duke are seen here | Getty Images

Birmingham Housing Poverty

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