Stroll Birmingham’s finest stretch of canal

One of the Best Things to Do in Birmingham is to stroll Birmingham’s finest stretch of canal. Birmingham is fortunate to be located in the center of the nation's canal network and boasts more miles of canals than Venice, making for some gorgeous walks in the sun. For the ideal city center route, turn toward Brindleyplace, where there are numerous pub pit stations.

Birmingham's extensive network of canals served as the foundation for the city's development, but the best place to experience them is on the meandering 45-minute walk between Gas Street Basin and the University of Birmingham.

When you walk along the Old Line canal past Five Ways, the towpath transforms into a bucolic cornucopia of overhanging vegetation and sudden calm. The vibrant waterside cafés, bistros, and restaurants of Brindley Place and The Mailbox are great for refreshments. A treat to explore are the opulent university grounds and the underappreciated Barber Institute of Fine Arts.