Birmingham’s best canalside walks

There’s nothing quite like a canal walk. Rambling through the city centre. Listening to the buzz of people. Taking in the sights, among the families of ducks and geese. It’s familiar. Homely. And secretly very impressive. 

Rumour has it, Birmingham has more miles of canal than Venice, so you’re in for a real treat. Here are five of the best canal walks in Birmingham, as hotly debated behind our bar at the Malt House. 

Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line

Distance: Approximately 6 miles
Suggested start point: Bournville
Suggested end point: Smethwick Galton Bridge Station

This walk takes you along the main line of the Birmingham Canal Navigations and offers a fascinating mix of industrial heritage and modern urban landscapes. Along the way, you’ll pass through industrial areas that have been transformed into creative hubs, as well as some of the most iconic parts of the city's canal network, such as Gas Street Basin and the Mailbox. 

It’s a great choice if you want to experience Birmingham on foot, giving you plenty of city views and photo opportunities. It’s also just the right length to work up enough of an appetite for a pub lunch. As luck would have it, the Malt House is right on the way, where you’ll find a warm welcome, delicious pub food and a whole host of craft ales to choose between. 

The Worcester & Birmingham Canal

Distance: Approximately 30 miles but as long or as short as you make it
Suggested start point: Gas Street Basin
Suggested end point: Highbury Park

The Worcester & Birmingham Canal takes you from the vibrant centre of Birmingham, through the green hills of Worcestershire, to the cathedral city of Worcester – but you can enjoy a scenic portion within the city. And at 30 miles long in total, we’d recommend choosing the scenic portion. 

The route takes you through a mix of suburban settings, offering a quieter, more natural experience than the city centre, and is perfect if you’re seeking a nature-filled canal walk in Birmingham, away from the hustle and bustle of town. It’s especially wonderful in the summer when the Edgbaston Reservoir and beautiful greenery around Selly Oak really come to life. The only thing prettier is our summer beer gardens. 

The Digbeth Branch Canal

Distance: Approximately 2 miles
Suggested start point: Aston Junction
Suggested end point: Warwick Bar

This route runs through one of the city’s most up-and-coming areas, Digbeth; a district known for its street art, creative spaces, and food scene. And while the canal path itself is peaceful, the surrounding scenery is more like an art exhibition that will make you feel like you’re strolling through an art museum rather than the city centre. 

You’ll also see some lovely views of the Custard Factory and other industrial relics, which are slowly being redeveloped into cultural hotspots. An ideal walk if you’re after a shorter stroll that ends up somewhere fun. Or if you’re looking to kill some time before the game. Did we mention most of our Birmingham pubs show live sport? 

Grand Union Canal

Distance: As long or short as you make it
Suggested start point: Gas Street Basin
Suggested end point: Catherine-de-Barnes

The Grand Union Canal is the UK’s longest and most famous canal, connecting Birmingham to London, lasting a total of 137 miles. Obviously, we don’t expect you to do that, but it’s possible to walk some of the canal route through Birmingham, which is the best portion of it in our opinion. It’s full of outstanding historical architecture, as well as award-winning gardens, and is a quiet, peaceful alternative to the modern life of Birmingham. 

It’s also a popular spot for leisure activities and is frequently used by walkers, cyclists, boaters and kayakers, if you fancy the real canal walk experience. It’s thirsty work though, so make sure you stop off for a pint when you’re done

The Birmingham & Fazeley Canal

Distance: Approximately 6 miles for the shorter version, but much longer if you want it to be
Suggested start point: Gas Street Basin
Suggested end point: Midpoint Park

In its industrial heyday, the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal was shut away from the city behind high walls. Today, it’s free for everyone to explore – and it’s definitely worth exploring. The start of the route takes you past many central Birmingham landmarks, before meandering through some picturesque countryside and small towns, offering a relatively peaceful and scenic journey. 

It’s great if you want to explore quieter parts of Birmingham’s canal system while still being close enough to the city centre to find a decent pub and food.