This is a short, green 6km (4 mile) circular walk from Birmingham city centre along leafy canal towpaths and tree-lined streets – a little green oasis in the heart of England’s second city.
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Route overview
Part 1 of the Short Green “Country Walk” in the City
Start the walk at Brindley place, by the Costa coffee shop at the centre of Brindley Place. Looking towards the East, head towards Cafe Rouge, passing it on your left, then head down the steps onto the canal towpath (map point 1). For an alternative step-free start, follow the dotted line around the back of the Sealife Centre.
Brindley Place Birmingham
Turn right at the bottom of the steps and carry along, underneath the bridge that has Broad Street above, heading towards the Mailbox. Keep following the canal towpath and when you see a metal bridge rising straight ahead over to the Mailbox (map point 2), don’t go onto this bridge but follow the canal towpath round to the right and keep following the canal heading away from the main buildings and keep walking!
The Mailbox and The Cube have some of the best restaurants in Birmingham, as well as hotels, boutique cinemas, and Grade A office spaces already occupied by some of Birmingham’s up-and-coming new businesses and even BBC!
Part 2 of the Short Green “Country Walk” in the City
You will walk under a few road bridges, but the canal here leads out to the University of Birmingham and is a lovely leafy walk away from the city centre.
Birmingham University The Vale Canals
Part 3 of the Short Green “Country Walk” in the City
After walking through quite a long tunnel (it is lit, and you can see the openings at both ends!), you will come across a small brick humpback pedestrian bridge over the canal (map point 3). Take this bridge, which will take you into the University of Birmingham’s Vale student village area. Once off the bridge, follow the main campus road down to the right towards the lake. Take some time to walk around the lake, sit down, and watch the ducks!
Part 4 of the Short Green “Country Walk” in the City
Walk all the way around to the back of the lake (map point 4), going round the back of it in an anti-clockwise direction, and take the path which leads up the hill. Follow this higher path towards the tall residential Chamberlain Tower (map point 5) and head up the path to go to the far side of this tower on its left. Turn right around the back of the tower to come out onto Church Road.
Birmingham University The Vale
Turn left along Church Road and keep following this road until you come to St George’s church in the centre of a roundabout ahead of you (map point 6). This roundabout is becoming a bit of a foodie’s destination – with a Michelin-starred restaurant, bistro pubs, brunch cafes and a cocktail bar all on or just off this roundabout! Birmingham is itself a real foodie hotspot with four Michelin-star restaurants – more than any other English city except London. Take a walk to the other Michelin-starred restaurants of Birmingham in our Moseley and City Centre walks!
Part 5 of the Short Green “Country Walk” in the City
Keep walking straight along Church Road with St George’s church on your left, then cross over at the pedestrian lights to head up Highfield Road (map point 7) to the junction with Harborne Road (map point 8).
Simpsons Restaurant Edgbaston
Turn right onto Harborne Road and follow this road along to Five Ways Island (map point 9), passing several restaurants, home interior stores, Morrisons supermarket and the Marriott hotel on your left at the end near the roundabout.
Part 6 of the Short Green “Country Walk” in the City
Take the underpass into the centre of the roundabout and out the other side to walk back along Broad Street (map point 10), one of the main night-time entertainment hubs of Birmingham, until you reach Brindley Place on your left as you pass over the canal and back to the start of this walk!
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Resources:
If you enjoyed this route, see our Stourbridge Canal Walk
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