BIRMINGHAM CRUISE FROM ALVECHURCH
Route Info | Boats | Map overview of route | Cruising Notes | Maps & Guides | Links | Pub Guide
You can do this route from :
Alvechurch Marina.
Cruise to Birmingham's Gas street Basin & Brindley place with it's waterside pubs and colourful boating community
Experience Britain's second city, a thriving cosmopolitan centre, with some of the finest shopping, culture and visitor attractions in Europe.
This is a lock free cruise and is ideal for novices!
Route Info
Read our cruising notes to help you plan your canal boat holiday
Read our cruising notes.
Cruising Notes
Once setting off from Alvechurch, you soon leave the traffic behind and cruise through lovely Worcestershire countryside to your 1st Tunnel at Wast Hills which at 2726 yards is one of the longest in the country!
For your 1st nights stop it is nice to cruise for an hour to Hopwood & then stop by Bridge 67 where there is a convenient pub- The Hopwood House, by the Canal.
Day 2
Continuing on through the Tunnel, for those with children you might want to stop at the visitor moorings at Cadbury World, Bournville (booking is advisable), which is 1 mile north of the Kings Norton Junction. It is sign posted from the canal. There is an exhibition dedicated to the history of chocolate, audio visual displays, Victorian Birmingham & a Jungle to explore!
About 3 miles later you arrive at the Gas Street basin & Brindley place which is in the heart of Birmingham's canal network, and has been redeveloped into a unique experience where traditional narrow boats moor up next to cosmopolitan cafes and bars. The surrounding area is a vibrant arts & entertainment area and there are many shopping options within a short walk. Moor up next to the Sea Life centre. On your doorstep will be every type of cuisine you can think of, from Caribbean to Nepalese, from Thai to Italian. Also clubs and bars, Theatres, Comedy and live entertainment and Cinemas.
Amongst some of the attractions are the National Sea Life Centre & the Jewellery Quarter Discovery centre, also many fine Art galleries and over 500 restaurants offering every choice of food! The jewellery quarter dates back over 250 years, and is still home to over 400 jewellery businesses. It is a designated conservation area with only 200 listed buildings, and has been described by English heritage as a unique historic environment in England.
For shopping a visit to the new Bullring is a must, which covers an area the size of 26 football pitches and a has a huge range of shops.
Close by is the national Indoor Arena, one of the busiest large scale indoor sporting & entertainment venues in Europe.
Day 3
Day 4
Alvechurch to Cambrian Wharf/Gas Street basin is 4.75 cruising hours each way.
NB: This route has been provided as a guide only. Information may become inaccurate or out of date. You should always check with the marina that the route is possible within your time frame, current weather conditions and canal stoppages etc.
Boats
Maps and Guides
Useful Links
Link Description | Website | Telephone |
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Pub Guide
Pubs available on this canal route:-
Pub Name | Pub Address | Distance from Alvechurch | More Info | |
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Pitcher And Piano | The Waters Edge, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HP | Full Details | ||
Tap And Spile | Gas Street Basin, Birmingham B1 2JT | Full Details | ||
The Country Girl | Raddlebarn Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham B30 3DZ | Full Details | ||
The Crown Inn | Withybed Lane, Alvechurch B48 7SQ | Full Details | ||
The Goose | 561 Bristol Road, Selly Oak B29 6AF | Full Details | ||
The Hopwood House | Redditch Road, Alvechurch B48 7AB | Full Details | ||
The Peacock Inn | Icknleld Street, Kings Norton B38 0EH | Full Details | ||
The Slug And Lettuce | The Waters Edge, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HL | Full Details | ||
The Weighbridge | Scarfield Wharf, Alvechurch B48 7SQ | Full Details | ||
The Bulls Head | 77 The Green, Kings Norton B38 8RU | Full Details | ||
All Bar One | Waters Edge, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HL | Full Details | ||
The Barge And Barrel | Factory Road, Tipton DY4 9AU | Full Details | ||
The Flapper | Cambrian Wharf, Kingston Row, Birmingham B1 2NU | Full Details |
NB: Distances are as the crow flies and will vary for actual canal boating travel distance.
The information above is provided in good faith to assist you with planning your canal boat holiday. Information accuracy cannot be guaranteed, however, if you do see something that needs updating, please don't hesitate to contact us.