Coffin Works
Coffin Works
5
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
A Victorian Coffin Fittings factory, restored by Birmingham Conservation Trust and opened as a museum in October 2014. The shelves and workbenches at Newman Brothers are full of original stock and tools of the trade. With the original machinery working again, you can truly experience how this old Jewellery Quarter firm once operated on a day-to-day basis, producing some of the world's finest coffin furniture, including the fittings for the funerals of Joseph Chamberlain, Winston Churchill and the Queen Mother.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Address
Neighbourhood: Ladywood
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5.0
976 reviews
Excellent
782
Very good
162
Average
26
Poor
3
Terrible
3
liz
Tamworth, UK3 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Very enjoyable and informative visit. The tour guide Chris was very knowledgeable and was able to answer any questions we asked. Nice to be able to have a coffee at the end of the tour. All staff very friendly.
Written 25 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adele A
London, UK6 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
A really interesting place and the guided tours are brilliant! A must-visit if you like anything a bit different or you enjoy Victorian history!
Written 2 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shazza19
Bristol, UK8 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
We opted for a tour with a guide and we’re really glad we paid the extra. Our guide Mark was excellent - very knowledgeable, engaging and entertaining. Although a museum about the company’s production of coffin and funeral items might not sound interesting it really was, and everything is done respectfully and sensitively throughout. It is like going back in time with lots of items left in situ from when the Coffin Works closed. Mark told us fascinating things we’d not have known if we’d just gone around on our own. Thoroughly recommend visiting.
Written 28 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HW31
Dudley, UK160 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
Booked a guided tour and had Chris as our guide, he was brilliant - a pool of knowledge, humour and full of stories about the factory and people who worked there. The whole place was fascinating, a real slice of manufacturing history in Birmingham mixed with the social history of mourning and how things changed over the decades. Really impressed and thoroughly recommend a visit. Was great to have the guided tour then be able to walk round again and take photos and have a closer look at things and ask other volunteers questions.
Written 21 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rbannist
Aboyne, UK6 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
One of the best coffin furniture museums that I’ve been to.
They don’t have any coffins but if you like the bits that attach to coffins, this is the place for you.
Book now to avoid disappointment!
They don’t have any coffins but if you like the bits that attach to coffins, this is the place for you.
Book now to avoid disappointment!
Written 14 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
William M
3 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
People laughed when I told them we were going to visit the Coffin Works on our trip to Birmingham. However it was the most interesting, eye opening and enjoyable visit of our short break to the city. The first thing we learned from the guide was that they never made coffins but the furniture that adorned them plus the finishing material inside and the ornate shrouds worn by the corpse. The process for making the furniture looked like very hard physical work in cramped conditions, very dangerous heath and safety had not been invented then !
Written 10 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ros&Steve
5 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
The staff were really enthusiastic and made our visit to this fascinating museum a really good experience. Something very different, probably unique and well worth a visit.
Written 13 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
natalie e
1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Friends
Me and my friend visited the museum on Saturday and had a wonderful time. We learned so much about their industry from a bunch of the loveliest people I have ever met who where just so happy to tell you stories and facts about the place, anything you wanted to know. I especially loved hearing stories about Joyce Green and have gone on to research more about her and the place since returning home. A lovely little discovery in the heart of Birmingham i promise you would not regret a visit.
Written 11 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Corina T
7 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
Amazing experience! Got the guided tour led by Billy, who is a treasure trove of insightful information and lots of curious stories. You have to come see this place if you're ever in Birmingham - you get a crash course in the history of the city and its trades as well, plus the history of the funerary trade is super interesting too.
Written 17 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ppbretreat
Birmingham, UK146 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Very interesting visit to the Coffin Works and our tour guide Owen was great explaining the history of the company and building. Your took approx 1.5 hours and well worth it.
Birmingham has some fabulous hidden gems. After your visit pop into The Shakespeare pub round the corner fab !!!
Birmingham has some fabulous hidden gems. After your visit pop into The Shakespeare pub round the corner fab !!!
Written 11 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alessandra A
Turin, Italy33 contributions
Dear KatKent1, could you please share the website you mention as a source of info for your Birmingham tour? thanks Alex
KatKent1
Kent, UK39 contributions
Hi! I'm sorry but I have only just picked up your question. I can't remember the exact website I used as I just googled things to do in Birmingham and found the Coffin Works on it.
RaistlinEyes
3 contributions
The Mothers Day review left me speechless. Did she pick out her favourite?
Jaybird
Chesterfield, UK3,334 contributions
I am fortunate enough to have an imaginative daughter who puts some thought into taking me somewhere different for Mothers Day. I had an excellent time - much better than all those mothers who got an overpriced bunch of flowers and a carvery meal at their local chain pub. Yes it was a giggle when she told me where she was taking me but we did get a photo fo me posing with a coffin - because we have a great sense of humour.
Is there entry fee to this site? What days of the week & time is the site opened
Suze_Carter
Birmingham, UK14 contributions
Thanks for getting in touch. There is a charge of £5 adults, £4 concessions and £3 children for one hour's guided factory tours. We are opening on 13 September all day for free, however, as part of this years's Heritage Open Days event. Hope to see you! Suzanne
pam y
Harvington, UK1,025 contributions
Hi. How would I book a tour please. I can't find your web site! Do you do yours on Saturdays and what is the lenght of the tour and cost
Thanks
Pam
Suze_Carter
Birmingham, UK14 contributions
Hi Pam our tours run daily including Saturdays on the hour from 12 until 3, then a shorter tour at a quarter past four. We are closed Mondays. The tour lasts about 1 hour and costs £5 adult, £4 concessions and £3 child. you can prebook to guarantee a place on 0121 2334790 if you google coffin works it should come up first. Look forward to seeing you! Best wishes, Suzanne
UkEcho
uk3 contributions
we have a standard poodle he is a pet .do you let dogs in.thank you
Suze_Carter
Birmingham, UK14 contributions
Sorry, only assistance dogs allowed in the museum. Thanks for asking. Suzanne
Sue N
Kinver, Stourbridge, United Kingdom38 contributions
How far are u from the station please?
Suze_Carter
Birmingham, UK14 contributions
Hi Sue. We are about 10-15 mins walk from New Street and 5 mins from Snow Hill (exit into the Jewellery Quarter). There are more details on our website including maps. Sorry it won't let me paste a link here. See CoffinWorks / visit / Directions
Hope to see you! Best wishes, Suzanne
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Claim your listingCOFFIN WORKS: Tickets, Tours & Tips (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Coffin Works
- Coffin Works is open:
- Thu - Thu 11:00 - 14:00
- Fri - Sun 11:00 - 16:00
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