On the trail of Peaky Blinders, Black Sabbath and the perfect pint an alternative guide to Birmingham

"The release this week of the Peaky Blinders movie The Immortal Man (much of which was filmed in and around Birmingham this time) will undoubtedly generate a new wave of interest, particularly in the Black Country Living Museum in nearby Dudley, whose authentic recreations of streets, houses and industrial workshops appear in key scenes in the TV show and the film."

"At the Digbeth Loc. Studios, where much of the new movie was shot, fans can also see Peaky Blinders murals created by artist Mr Murals. A walking tour of the city with a guide dressed as Edward Shelby (from 20pp, viator.com) is well worth a couple of hours, while historic mugshots, artefacts and the original cells in which members of the real-life Peaky Blinders gang were once held are now on show at West Midlands Police Museum."

"The city has also become something of a pilgrimage site for heavy metal fans, especially since the final Black Sabbath concert at Villa Park last summer and Ozzy Osbourne's passing just over two weeks later. There are Ozzy and Sabbath landmarks all around the city, including another of Mr Murals' artworks on Navigation Street, near New Street station."

Peaky Blinders has driven substantial tourism growth to Birmingham and the West Midlands since 2013, despite most of the series being filmed in other northern locations. The release of the Peaky Blinders movie The Immortal Man, filmed primarily in Birmingham, is expected to generate fresh visitor interest. Key attractions include the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, which features authentic period recreations used as filming locations, and Digbeth Loc. Studios where the movie was shot. Visitors can explore Peaky Blinders-themed walking tours, view murals by artist Mr Murals, and visit the West Midlands Police Museum displaying original gang artifacts. Birmingham has also become a pilgrimage destination for heavy metal fans following Black Sabbath's final concert and Ozzy Osbourne's death, with numerous band landmarks and murals throughout the city.

Read at www.theguardian.com