Every city has its landmarks.

Birmingham has a giant bull, a legendary late-night café, a curry that became famous across Britain and four lads from Aston who changed music forever.

Trying to squeeze Birmingham into six colour swatches was never going to be easy.

Nevertheless, I had a go.

The Birmingham Colour Palette celebrates some of the places, people and institutions that have helped shape the city. Some are world-famous. Some are known best by Brummies. All of them have earned their place.

Old Bus Cream

Before apps told you exactly when your bus would arrive, there was a simpler approach.

You stood at the stop, hoped for the best and kept an eye out for those familiar blue and cream buses.

Old Bus Cream celebrates a transport network that carried generations of Birmingham residents to school, work, football matches and shopping trips. If you grew up in Birmingham, chances are you spent a fair chunk of your life staring out of one of those windows.

Mr Egg Yellow

Ask any Brummie of a certain age about Mr Egg and prepare yourself for a conversation.

Part café, part institution, part lifesaver after a night out, it occupied a special place in the city’s heart.

For many Birmingham residents, a visit to Hurst Street wasn’t complete without it.

Jewellery Quarter Gold

Birmingham has been making beautiful things for centuries.

The Jewellery Quarter remains one of the most remarkable parts of the city, with workshops, independent businesses and a heritage that stretches back more than 250 years.

Jewellery Quarter Gold celebrates the craftsmanship that helped put Birmingham on the map.

Tikka Red

Every city has a signature dish.

Birmingham has the Balti.

Whether you’re fiercely loyal to one restaurant or enjoy trying somewhere new every time, few things feel more Birmingham than sitting around a table with friends, mopping up sauce with a naan and debating who makes the best curry.

Tikka Red is my tribute to one of the city’s greatest culinary achievements.

Bull Bronze

Let’s be honest.

Every Birmingham resident has arranged to meet somebody by the Bull at least once.

Usually while surrounded by dozens of other people who had exactly the same idea.

The Bullring Bull has become one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks and a permanent fixture in family photos, tourist selfies and shopping trips.

Sabbath Black

Birmingham gave the world heavy metal.

Not bad for a city occasionally accused of being dull.

Black Sabbath emerged from Aston and changed music forever. Decades later, their influence can still be heard around the world.

Sabbath Black celebrates a Birmingham success story unlike any other.

Bringing Birmingham Home

Together, these six colours tell the story of a city built on industry, creativity, humour, food and resilience.

Our Birmingham Colour Palette is available as wall art, mugs, tea towels, coasters, fridge magnets and more. Whether you’re buying for a proud Brummie, a former resident or someone who simply loves the city, each piece tells a story worth sharing.

Browse the Birmingham collection and discover Birmingham through colour

Looking for a thoughtful gift with a local story? Discover our full collection of colour palettes inspired by Britain’s cities, counties and coastlines, available as wall art, mugs, tea towels, coasters and fridge magnets.