Birmingham โ land of canals, curries, and the birthplace of heavy metal. This summer, the cityโs cranking everything to 11 with a full-on Black Sabbath trail. Think of it like a treasure hunt, but instead of gold coins, youโre chasing riffs, murals, and pint stops. ๐ธ
So lace up your Docs, grab a map, and letโs take a tour of every Sabbath landmark in Brum. And aye, Iโve even thrown in beer breaks โ because it wouldnโt be a proper crawl without โem, would it? ๐ป
1๏ธโฃ Working Class Hero โ Ozzy Osbourne Exhibition
๐ Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
Start big. This exhibition is pure metal history: Ozzyโs stage outfits, handwritten lyrics, rare photos, and the rise of an Aston lad into the Prince of Darkness. ๐ฆ
๐ Pub pit-stop: Head round the corner to The Old Joint Stock, a Victorian boozer that looks posh but pours a cracking pint.
2๏ธโฃ Black Sabbath Photography Exhibition
๐ Victoria Square / Council House
Next up โ the visual feast. Gig posters, live shots, and backstage snaps of Sabbath through the decades. See the bandโs hair get longer, the riffs heavier, and the trousers more outrageous.
๐ Beer break: Nip into The Briar Rose Wetherspoons nearby. Cheap pints, sticky carpets, and probably someone arguing about whether Heaven and Hell beats Paranoid.
3๏ธโฃ Black Sabbath Mural
๐ Piccadilly Arcade
Boom โ giant Sabbath faces staring you down in glorious technicolour. ๐จ This is your Instagram moment, mun. Throw the horns, pull your best Ozzy face, and whack #SummerOfSabbath on it.
๐ Beer stop: The Trocadero is just round the corner โ a proper Brummie boozer with stained-glass windows and the kind of atmosphere where youโd expect Geezer Butler to just appear.
4๏ธโฃ Ozzy the Bull
๐ Grand Central / New Street Station
The famous Brum bull has gone full Prince of Darkness. Sunglasses, Sabbath bling โ the works. ๐โก Itโs ridiculous, itโs brilliant, and itโs VERY Ozzy.
๐ Quick pint: Slide into The Railway, hidden just off the station โ small, loud, and full of character.
5๏ธโฃ Black Sabbath Bench & Bridge
๐ Broad Street / Brindleyplace
Take a breather, literally. Sit on the Sabbath bench, gaze over the canals, and soak in the riffs that made Brum the home of heavy metal. The bridge lights up at night, too โ proper atmospheric if youโre a bit tipsy by then.
๐ Beer time: Youโre spoilt here โ try The Figure of Eight if you want it cheap, or The Brasshouse for riverside vibes.
6๏ธโฃ Life-Sized Ozzy in Bricks
๐ Selfridges, Moor Street
Yes, Lego Ozzy. A full-on, life-sized plastic Prince of Darkness staring at you while you shop. Itโs weird, itโs hilarious, and itโs worth every second. ๐งฑ๐ค
๐ Beer break: Wander over to The Windsor โ cosy and classic, with a jukebox that better have some Sabbath on it.
7๏ธโฃ The Crown Pub
๐ New Street
End your crawl where it all began โ The Crown, the pub where Sabbath cut their teeth in the early days. Imagine standing in the same room where โParanoidโ was first belted out. Order a pint, raise it high, and toast the gods of heavy metal. ๐ป
๐ Final tip: By this point, youโll probably be half-cut. Grab some chips or a late-night curry โ Birminghamโs got you covered. Proper job.
โก THE SABBATH CRAWL SURVIVAL CHECKLIST โก
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Map of Brum (or just follow the noise of riffs)
โ
Strong legs for walking (and moshing)
โ
Phone battery โ for selfies with Lego Ozzy
โ
Pint money ๐ท
โ
Black t-shirt uniform (mandatory)
๐ค Verdict
This isnโt just sightseeing โ itโs a pilgrimage. Brumโs Summer of Sabbath is the closest thing to walking through a live riff. From museums to murals, from Lego Ozzy to sticky-floored pubs, itโs everything a Sabbath fan could want.
So what are you waiting for, butt? Get your arse to Birmingham, raise a pint, and shout it loud: โWe sold our souls for rock โnโ roll!โ ๐คโก








