SWX!

With our tenth outing since 2012, Still Walking breaks the tradition of featuring several tour guides from different walks of life by featuring a programme taking inspiration from the new guidebook ‘111 Places in Birmingham That You Shouldn’t Miss’. All the walks are being led by the author and founder of Still Walking, Ben Waddington. There are plenty of new walks in the mix, as well as enduringly popular routes and themes.

To promote the book—and to promote the city—the walks will be re-run as events sell out, during the spring and summer months. So even if a walk is sold out by the time you try to book, by adding your name to the waiting list we can get in touch when we add more iterations of the walk.

Be sure to order a copy of ‘111’ too when you book your tickets; you can collect this at the beginning of the walk. We are offering this at the discounted rate of £12 ( the RRP is £13.99). If you can’t wait, we can also post you a copy!

Walk info

The walks have limited spaces, so booking ahead is essential. We discourage ‘walk-ups. Payment is by Paypal; please get in touch if you are unable to pay this way. Tickets are £7.50 each (unless otherwise stated) and the times and starting points are listed for each event. Not sure where a particular location is? Please get in touch and we will make sure you know how to get to the meeting point. The walks are mostly linear, which is to say they don’t end up where they start. Please let us know in advance if you need any advice or assistance in returning to the starting point, or in continuing your journey.

The walks are on average about 90-100 minutes in length, or around two miles, with several places to stop. Some walks are rather longer and those of over two hours will incorporate a rest stop. All the walks are either stair-free or can be made to be so. There will be several road crossings at pedestrian crossings or suitable locations. Please advise us in advance of any mobility issues you have and how we can make your experience with SW a positive one.

Most of the walks conclude with a social moment with rest and refreshments at the nearest available outlet. All walk attendees are welcome to stay on for further conversation and to comment on the locations and themes of the walk, the 111 book, or indeed anything!

Please wear shoes suitable for urban walking and arrive prepared for the possibility of rain (the walks are scheduled to avoid the rainiest seasons). In the event of extremely heavy or relentless rain, we will reschedule the event, with as much notice as is possible. For this reason, please check your email ahead of setting out for the start of a walk. If you can’t make the rescheduled event we will offer you a refund.

We will refund your ticket if you are no longer able to attend with a day’s advance notice.

About Still Walking

Still Walking is a social enterprise business incorporated as a community interest company in 2015. Our aim is to bring a creative approach to guided tours and walking events in Birmingham and in cities and countries further afield. Our events are aimed at the walking community which may be comprised of curious citizens, visitors to the city, urban explorers, people seeking active social events, researchers, students, artists and a variety of creative participants. Our community is united by a desire to extend their awareness of their environments, encounter new outlooks, knowledge and experiences, to grow closer to their city to enhance their health and sense of wellbeing.

We have staged nine programmes of walking events since 2012, bringing over a hundred new guided tours to Birmingham’s walking community, and working with over seventy different guides from all walks of life. Most of these have been co-created or supported by the SW team.

The festivals are merely the most visible aspect of the whole Still Walking experience. There’s a lot of activity behind the scenes: undertaking research, forging partnerships, supporting the new guides and advising on walking activity around the country.

The SW team

SW Directors: Ben Waddington, Roxanna Collins, Darryl Georgiou

Festival intern: Heidi Geppus

Web design: Ben Waddington