Digbeth & Custard Factory — Birmingham's oldest neighbourhood and its most vibrant creative heart. Digbeth's history dates back to the 7th century, making it Birmingham's original settlement, while The Old Crown pub standing on High Street dates back to 1368 — the oldest building in the entire city. Around the corner, the Custard Factory was where Alfred Bird invented the world's first instant custard powder; after the factory closed in the 1960s it fell into disrepair until the 1990s when pioneering developers transformed it into a creative quarter — today home to over 400 independent businesses: tattoo studios, record shops, design firms, VR experience centres, retro bowling alleys, the independent Mockingbird Cinema, and jaw-dropping street art. Digbeth's walls are a museum without a roof — from a photorealistic giant mural of Peaky Blinders protagonist Tommy Shelby to abstract graffiti, every step brings a surprise. After dark, the Digbeth Dining Club street food market blazes with lights as Jamaican curry goat, Argentinian empanadas and Japanese katsu sando fill the air with smoke and aroma. A one-day in-depth tour takes you from the Industrial Revolution to the cutting edge of the creative economy.
From The Old Crown's medieval timber frame to the Custard Factory's neon lights, from world-class street art to the multicultural flavours of Digbeth Dining Club — step into Birmingham's oldest neighbourhood and feel the historical pulse from the Industrial Revolution to the creative economy
Start your morning from Birmingham Moor Street station — just a 9-minute walk to Digbeth High Street. First stop: The Old Crown — Birmingham's oldest building, constructed in 1368, its black-and-white timber frame striking in the sunlight. Prince Rupert's troops fought fierce battles here during the English Civil War; today you can sit at the same oak table and order a local craft ale, feeling 650 years of history settle in your glass. Walk one minute along Gibb Street to reach the Custard Factory — this Victorian factory complex was where Alfred Bird invented instant custard powder, and is now one of Britain's most successful creative regeneration projects: over 400 independent businesses housed within red-brick buildings where rough brick walls coexist with neon lights, graffiti and metal sculptures. After snapping photos at the angel wing graffiti wall and green humanoid sculpture in the factory courtyard, begin your Digbeth street art exploration — from abstract spray paint to the photorealistic giant mural of Peaky Blinders protagonist Tommy Shelby (commissioned personally by series creator Steven Knight), every alley is an open-air gallery. Find a café for an afternoon break, then head straight to Digbeth Dining Club as evening falls, tasting global flavours from Jamaican curry to Vietnamese pho in the open courtyard. As night deepens, move on to The Rainbow or Dead Wax to experience Birmingham's rawest live music and DJ culture.
A sunny restaurant on Floodgate Street with a menu inspired by Mediterranean travels, balancing deliciousness with sociability — an open kitchen lets you watch fresh ingredients become beautiful dishes. Offers gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and halal options. £12-£20 per person, paired with organic wines and handcrafted cocktails.
A Birmingham burger legend that started as a Digbeth Dining Club street food van, self-described as "purveyors of filth" — the signature cheeseburger with smoked bacon and caramelised onions is dangerously addictive. Pair with local craft beer. £12-£18 per person, located beneath the Digbeth arches.
A low-key fine dining restaurant hidden inside Digbeth's oldest building. Named after grams, the menu changes seasonally, championing Birmingham local produce with creative presentation — the "Brummie Welcome" amuse-bouche and "Custard Factory Tart" dessert are clever tributes to the city. £40-£60 per person, advance booking essential.
Modelled after Budapest's famous "ruin bars," with exposed beams and peeling walls creating an industrial vintage atmosphere. Features a library room with leather sofas and board games, a menu centred on Sunday roasts and traditional British pub grub, plus an excellent craft beer selection. £10-£18 per person.