It’s no secret that Birmingham has a rich history behind its modernity.
In fact, there’s plenty of places in Birmingham, that prove this point.
Of course, there are well known historical sites, that I’m sure many Brummies have learnt about on a school trip.
What springs to mind, chief among them is of course, the legacy of Cadbury chocolate.
As well as, Birmingham’s industrial heritage which is often celebrated through the ubiquitous reality of the city being covered by canals.
However, there’s plenty of historical happenings that seem to have either flown under the radar or generally underappreciated.
That’s why heading into 2026, we’d like to highlight some quirky historical sites that we think deserve more attention.
Take a look below:
1. Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Prince Lazar
Located in the Bournville, the Church was founded by members of the Serbian community in 1968 who settled in the UK after WW2. | picture courtesy Birmingham Heritage Week
2. Needless Alley
The first is that it wasn't actually called ‘Needless Alley’ in the first place rather it was named in honour of the various needleworkers who lived on the street. Though, another theory is and some have speculated in the past that the name is a pun on how the street used to be known for having lots of sex workers and brothels, thus earning the name, Needless Alley. | Mimi Ibrahim
3. Birmingham Town Hall
The town hall recently received a blue plaque from Birmingham Civic Society to mark an extraordinary moment in literary history: the first-ever public reading of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, which took place at the venue in December 1853. | B:Music
4. ODEON cinema
Now a wedding venue, this building located in Perry Barr was once home to the world's first ODEON cinema, which stands for Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation. | Google maps