Sandfields Engine
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Thinktank Museum
Outside view Sandfields
Eramus Darwin House
Eramus Darwin House
Sandfields Driver
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Old Smethwick Canal Pumping Engine Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust, licensed under CC0
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Old Smethwick Canal Pumping Engine Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust, licensed under CC0
Old Smethwick Canal Pumping Engine Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust, licensed under CC0
Soho House
Handsworth
Handsworth
Handsworth
Talk from Industrial Revolution expert, Dr Malcolm Dick
Guided walk of 18th Century Birmingham
Library of Birmingham Archives
Sherbourne Wharf Canal Trip
Erasmus Darwin House and Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum
James Watt, who died in 1819, was a scientist, inventor and engineer, who was crucial to both the Industrial Revolution and the Enlightenment. He was part of the Lunar Society in Birmingham, where he worked with inventors and industrialists including Matthew Boulton, Erasmus Darwin and Josiah Wedgwood. This fascinating and critical phase of history is explored on this superb tour that takes in Birmingham and Lichfield in the company of Dr Scott Anderson and Dr Malcolm Dick from the University of Birmingham.
Available Departures |
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| 15 - August - 2025 | £ 689.00 | Travel Info Book Now |
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Provisional Timings |
Day 1: Arrive independently at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Birmingham, from 15.00
This evening there will be a welcome reception, dinner with wine and a talk by Dr Malcolm Dick - ‘James Watt: the Enlightenment, Invention and Birmingham.’
Day 2: Birmingham including canal cruise
A full day exploring the history of the influential Lunar Society and the commercial and cultural side of Birmingham in the 18th Century. We start with a walking tour with Dr Malcolm Dick starting at St Martin's in the Bullring and visiting the Digbeth, Nelson's statue and New Street, Centenary Square and Broad Street, ending at the Library. Next, we visit Birmingham Library where Dr Malcolm Dick will show you some special material relating to James Watt within the library archives. After lunch (not included) we continue with a walk to Sherbourne Wharf for a city heritage cruise on the Birmingham Canal. From here to the award-winning Thinktank Museum of Science to view the Smithwick Engine, the oldest working steam engine in the world. Second talk this evening from Dr Scott Anderson - 'The Industrial Revolution - A Story of Context and Evolution' and dinner at the hotel.
Day 3: Lichfield including Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum, Erasmus Darwin House, Sandfields Pumping Station and St Mary's Handsworth
Another fascinating and packed day starts with a journey to Lichfield to visit the birthplace of influential writer, Samuel Johnson, best known for his "Dictionary of the English Language", who lived in this atmospheric Grade I listed townhouse for the first 27 years of his life. Lichfield was also home to pioneer doctor, inventor and poet, Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles Darwin. Nestled in Lichfield's idyllic Cathedral Close, the house is Grade I listed building and is now a museum commemorating Darwin's life. Time in Lichfield for an included light lunch at a local restaurant followed by a visit to the impressive Victorian Sandfields Pumping Station. Finally, to St Mary's Parish Church in Handsworth, the final resting place of Watt, Boulton and Murdock and a fitting end to this fascinating tour. Return to the hotel for approx 17.30.
NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion
Please note: Post tour extra nights are available at a supplement.
Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 43 passengers.
Tour Grading: This tour has been graded as moderate due to the amount of time spent walking and standing for viewing at attractions. This is a busy itinerary including a long city centre walk followed by uneven surfaced canal walk on Day 2. Please visit the mobility page on our website for further information, or call our team prior to booking if you have any questions.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Delta Hotels by Marriott Birmingham
Four-star hotel centrally located in the heart of Birmingham, set behind a traditional facade. Facilities include a spa with indoor pool and gym, bar, restaurant and very comfortable rooms with all modern amenities including free wifi, TV, telephone, air-conditioning, safe, hairdyer and tea/coffee making facilities.
Parking: £13 per day onsite and payable directly to the hotel
Please note that all our UK tours start and finish at the relevant hotel.
You can normally check in from 3pm onwards but hotels will always be happy to store your luggage if you arrive earlier in the day.
For full details of how to get to the hotel, directions and the nearest train station, please click on the hotel website or call our office for details. These will also be sent automatically with your confirmation.
The welcome reception and first evening dinner / talk will commence at about 6pm - full details will be sent with your joining instructions about 10 days prior to the arrival date.
A very interesting short trip
Review by Anonymous who travelled 16-August-2024
Very good trip. My only comment is that, as an engineer, I would have liked to heard some more about the engineering aspects of the Boulton and Watt engines. I appreciate that I am probably in a minority here!
Review by Anonymous who travelled 16-August-2024
I had a very enjoyable time. Malcom and Scott were first rate, knowledgeable about the subject and enthusiastic in putting it across. Now, about booking more tours like this….
Review by Wall who travelled 16-August-2024
Excellent weekend. Well run and informative. The food was not outstanding at the Marriott. Nice lunch in Lichfield. Dr Johnson's house did not work. Standing for 25 minutes for a lecture doesn't work for over 70s!
Review by Brown who travelled 16-August-2024
Travel Editions feedback:
We are delighted that the tour was a success. Your comment is noted, and we will look at this for Dr Johnson's house.
We saw and did so much and I loved it all! Birmingham is a beautiful city with fabulous architecture, history and trees plus lovely friendly people. Lectures before dinner could have been a touch shorter
Review by Shaw who travelled 16-August-2024
Review by Anonymous who travelled 16-August-2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this tour despite the changes to the original programme. We were fortunate to have Malcolm Crick with us the whole time in addition to Scott Anderson and both their lectures were really interesting, offering new slants on the Industrial Revolution. The Sunday in delightful Lichfield was a good substitute for not being able visit either Soho House or Aston Hall. The Hotel accommodation was very good, with helpful staff, even though the food was a bit pedestrian.
Review by Marriott who travelled 18-August-2023
Generally I thought the trip was excellent. My only criticism was the food at the dinners,which I felt were a bit disappointing .I have already mentioned this to Delta hotels
Review by Hodgson who travelled 18-August-2023
The trip to Lichfield was an excellent alternative to the visits to Soho House and Aston Hall which could not go ahead. There was time to walk around and peep into the cathedral as well. It gave a wider view of the Lunar Society. I found an hour at the library archives was too long. The hotel was generally very good although they did not have tea and coffee making facilities in the rooms or water. The steak pie was disappointing - a runny stew with a hard pastry lid is not a proper pie.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 18-August-2023
A very interesting tour where I learned a lot about the historical period covered.
Review by Kessler who travelled 18-August-2023
Food at hotel a little disappointing. The inclusion of the visit to Lichfield was excellent with enjoyable and interesting talks at the two museums. The bistro was also very good. It was unfortunate that none of the Burne-Jones windows were visible and no one had thought to tell Scott or Malcolm. We particularly enjoyed the walking tour of the centre of Birmingham, especially along the canal.
Review by Stirling who travelled 18-August-2023
We suggest that if the tour is revised for next year that it focuses on the Lunar Society, with an emphasis on the philosophy of science rather than the beginnings of the industrial revolution - which has become caught up in the global warming crisis.
Review by Buchanan who travelled 18-August-2023
For the most part, the tour was as enjoyable and well-organised as usual. Just a couple of niggles - the walking tour of Birmingham on Saturday was very interesting, but went on about an hour too long. Also, I don't remember anything in the booking information about a separate parking charge at Birmingham Marriott. Just a bit irritating to be told on arrival that I had to pay out another £39.00. regards Roger Hughes
Review by Hughes who travelled 18-August-2023
The tour was very enjoyable and packed a lot in. Malcolm Dick is very knowledgeable and took us to interesting places. It was unfortunate we missed out on Aston Hall and Soho House but he organised the Lichfield venues which were well worth visiting. The hotel was comfortable but the main meals could be improved upon.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 18-August-2023
a very good and interesting tour . The hotel rooms were good but I felt that the food could have been better.
Review by Candler who travelled 18-August-2023
Review by Anonymous who travelled 19-August-2022
Hotel super; really appreciated the "accessible bathroom, which has now unfortunately become a necessity! I found the walk on day one too much and more than the brochure me to believe. I wish I had taken a taxi from Centenary Square to St Paul's Square; even my Brummie wife had no idea it was so far! The canal-side pavement was very difficult. But Malcolm is such an enthusiast! He is so knowledgeable and keen to share it.
Review by Nicholls who travelled 19-August-2022
Review by Anonymous who travelled 19-August-2022
Excellent use if time and good pace.
Review by Lunn who travelled 19-August-2022
Though obviously outwith your control, it was a pity that the Birmingham Museum was closed and we were unable to visit the relevant gallery. Day 1 rather lacked focus as a result, though we enjoyed the visit to the Archive. We understand why the visit to the Thinktank was included, but the museum is geared to families and was noisy and crowded. Very much enjoyed Soho House and St Mary's Handsworth on day 2; Aston Hall, however, had only the most tenuous connection with Watt via his son. It's an interesting building but added little if anything to our specific understanding of Watt and the Industrial Revolution. The two lectures were very good, Malcolm Dick is very knowledgeable and a thoughtful guide, and the arrangements were smooth and efficient. As a positive suggestion for Day 1: Had you thought of adding a canal trip, which might help focus attention more on the Industrial Revolution?
Review by Fraser who travelled 19-August-2022
The tour managers were excellent. Tour had to be amended owing to a closure at the museum, but this did not deter from the overall enjoyment or subject matter of the holiday. There were a few moans about the walking from the rest of the group, but this holiday was advertised as level 4 so we can't see any reason why anyone should complain.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 19-August-2022
Full-on and slightly tiring, but overall very enjoyable and stimulating. Can't wait to choose another destination next year!
Review by Jameson who travelled 19-August-2022
Review by Anonymous who travelled 19-August-2022
Review by Anonymous who travelled 19-August-2022
Review by Anonymous who travelled 09-July-2021
I really enjoyed the whole experience, the hotel was very good, the staff were helpful and friendly Th tour guides were also very good, and sensitive to the needs of the group, The whole weekend was excellent and the unexpected extras , like brochures and cups of tea with muffins were much appreciated.
Review by Stevenson who travelled 09-July-2021
Another delightful weekend with TE. Almost 10 out of 10 but my quibbles, and they are quibbles, are: The evening talks are a little too long - I think 45 minutes rather than the hour would be a more suitable time The time spent at Soho House, even taking the meal into account, was too long compared with Aston Hall.
Review by Morris who travelled 09-July-2021
Review by Levy who travelled 09-July-2021
Sorry had to rush off at the end, no time to give a real thank you to Scott and Malcolm . Everything went off perfectly, could not be improved in any way. Only concern I had was how much to give as a tip??? No amount could honestly have represented my appreciation. And since none of us has much actual money (=cash) these days, it makes tipping difficult. I hope this sum can be factored into the cost of the holiday. Otherwise I shall make sure I have cash on my next trip. Sorry. Wonderful trip - tremendous. I learnt so much about my home city that I never knew or cared to know, before. Thanks. Marion Hill
Review by Hill who travelled 09-July-2021
Review by Anonymous who travelled 09-July-2021
Apart from having to chase up the final joining instructions, the weekend was very good and well organised.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 09-July-2021
Hotel staff were outstanding and both guides were very attentive
Review by Geraghty who travelled 09-July-2021
A very enjoyable weekend, with interesting places to visit and everything well explained by our very knowledgeable tour manager and expert guide. More Industrial Revolution-themed tours please ! Only one quibble - would have preferred to have dinner before and not after the evening lectures as with the Travel Editions trip I did earlier this year. Anon
Review by Ellison who travelled 27-September-2019
Review by McLeavy who travelled 27-September-2019
Review by Anonymous who travelled 27-September-2019
Please pass our thanks to Malcolm Dick whose depth of knowledge of the history of Birmingham and the very interesting exhibition in the Library to which he made a substantial contribution added considerably to the enjoyment of the tour. Our Tour Manager had a great sense of humour which was also a great asset.
Review by Bennett who travelled 27-September-2019
An excellent tour that was very well run by the manager and the tour guide whose local knowledge is second to none. The only very minor suggestion I have is that the evening talks, after a full day, should last no longer than about 45 minutes.
Review by Daugherty who travelled 27-September-2019
As expected Scott Anderson ran an excellent, well organised tour and the guest guide, Malcom Dick, was excellent
Review by Hollamby who travelled 27-September-2019
Review by Anonymous who travelled 27-September-2019
I thought that this tour might have been a bit dry and dusty. I couldn't have been more wrong. Dr Malcolm Dick was so interesting and so very patient with my questions. One of the evening meals was very poor. However those of us who stayed an extra night had a good meal on that third night. The hotel staff were very helpful and efficient. The coach driver was not familiar with Birmingham and that shortened our visit to Aston Hall. If there were further tours in Birmingham led by Malcolm Dick I would be very interested.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 26-July-2019
I would have liked a map to drive to the hotel. It wasn't easy to find. My hotel room was fine, but other parts of the hotel were poor - there was a fuss about choosing the dishes from the dinner menus, the white wine was warm, the food was disappointing generally and very poor on the Saturday evening, I asked for the FT for Sunday morning but the Sunday Times was delivered. I believe staff were not trained properly. I did not like paying the hotel a car parking charge of £13 per day.
Review by Johnston who travelled 26-July-2019
The accommodation and breakfast were perfectly satisfactory but the evening meals the poorest of those in any hotel in which we have recently stayed. I ate mine with no pleasure and my wife returned most of hers.
Review by Joiner who travelled 26-July-2019
Travel Editions feedback:
We are very sorry for the standard of the evening meals and have taken this up with the hotel We were pleased to learn you enjoyed the rest of the short break.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 26-July-2019
