12.5km Hippodrome Square Edgbaston Cycle

This there-and-back route starts at Hippodrome Square, through the Gas Street basin, to the Peace Pagoda at the Edgbaston Reservoir, Summerfield Park, and ends at All Saints Park. The route is mostly along quiet roads and is well-paved or marked. You can use Parkopedia to find parking spots near you before and after your journey. Hire a bike with Brompton Bike Hire, West Midlands Cycle Hire, or On Your Bike.

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Hippodrome Square, with the Hippodrome, is the place to be for all things cultural and colourful. Hundreds of shows and events are hosted in the Square and theatre every year. From big names to local celebrities, there’s something for everyone. The Hippodrome is an independent charity with a volunteer board of trustees. To get a taste of Birmingham’s cultural scene, you can view and book tickets here.

From the Square, turn onto Hurst Street, cross the main road, and turn left onto Hill Street. Then turn left onto Lower Severn Street, National Cycle Route 5. At the end of the road, turn right along Suffolk Street, then left under the bridge on Navigation Street, and right toward Holliday Street. Turn left onto Holliday Street, then right onto Bridge Street. After 120 metres, walk your bicycle down to ride along the canal on your left.

Continue along this path on the canal under the Broad Street Tunnel. Cross over the bridge, just after the SEA Life Centre, and turn left to continue along the canal. Ride under the Sheepcote Street Bridge, then take the ramp up onto St. Vincent Road and turn left.

When the road splits, continue straight on the pathway between the houses to turn right onto Ledsam Street, then left onto Guild Close. Follow the curve of the road, then turn left towards Ladywood Middleway. Cross over the first road at the pedestrian crossing, turn right at the next pedestrian crossing and road, then turn left onto the narrow pathway that takes you onto Monument Road.

Continue through Monument Road, over Icknield Port Road, and keep a slight left onto the pathway that goes around the houses to your right. Continue straight past Shetland Close and Clark Street to get onto Shire Close, where you will see the Peace Pagoda. Turn left onto Olster Street, then right onto Reservoir Road to arrive at Edgbaston Reservoir.

The Peace Pagoda is an oriental-style sacred tower. In Buddhism, it is also called a stupa or caitya. As the name suggests, a pagoda symbolises peace, compassion, and other qualities of the Buddha. One of the main symbols of Buddhism is the pagoda, which is the earthly embodiment of the Buddha’s mind.

This pagoda will serve three functions: it will be a place of worship for Buddhists to carry out their customary rituals; it will be a centre for non-Buddhists to learn about Buddhism; and it will be a haven of peace and tranquillity for both groups. If you want to find out or learn more, you can visit their website here.

Edgbaston is home to the Archery and Lawn Tennis Society, the oldest lawn tennis club in the world. The name Edgbaston means “village of a man called Ecgbald,” with Ecgbald meaning “bold sword” or “bold edge.” In the 1800s, a wealthy family controlled the area and banned factories and warehouses from being built there.

This restriction made the area highly desirable for wealthier residents. Edgbaston became known as the area “where the trees begin,” and it is obvious why. Nearby, on 21 Yateley Road, is a Grade I-listed private house that is open to the public for tours.

Circle the Reservoir to the right or do a full loop of the reservoir to turn right toward Icknield Port Road, turn left onto Icknield Port Road, turn left onto Summerfield Crescent, then right onto Link Road. Turn left onto Gillot Road, then right onto E Gate to reach Summerfield Park. You can ride around here as you like and find your way back onto Icknield Port Road.

Summerfield Park is a traditional Victorian park with a brick bandstand. This bandstand is also where Joseph Chamberlain (once the mayor of Birmingham and MP) held his retirement party. The park was purchased from the glass-making Chance family and opened in 1876, making it one of the oldest parks in Birmingham. Many of the park’s historical features, such as the bandstand and the tree-lined paths, remain today.

Continue straight onto Winson Green Road, over the bridge, right onto Norman Street, and after 150 metres, left under the Norman Street archway, and over Asylum Bridge. Turn right at the end of the path, following the curves into All Saints Park.

Asylum Bridge got its name from the buildings on the other side of the large, red-bricked wall. In the 1800s, a new canal line was cut to create a shortcut, which formed a sort of island at Winson Green. The authorities then took the opportunity to build institutions on this secluded island. “The Madhouse,” “The Badhouse,” and The Workhouse” were institutions for treatment, punishment, segregation, and isolation.

The workhouse housed over 2000 inmates by 1889, most of whom were low-income families put to work in exchange for bad food and a poor environment. The infirmary is now Birmingham’s City Hospital and the prison still serves its purpose today. You can see the old asylum from All Saints Park, which is now a hospital.

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Resources:

If you enjoyed this route, see our 21km Bournville and Rea Valley Cycle.

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Download the GPX file here.

Information gathered from various sources, including Wikipedia.