Your floating hotel on the Canals and Rivers of the UK

Our guide to the waterways of the UK in detail.

Pictures of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.

Kings Norton to Birmingham.

This canal is built to connect Birmingham directly with the River Severn. It climbs steeply up out of the Severn valley in its first fifteen miles going through fifty-six locks to do so, thirty of them in the great flight at Tardebigge. In its second fifteen miles it has no more locks, but four tunnels as it goes right into the heart of Birmingham.

After climbing up from the River Severn from King's Norton the canal then cuts it way through the factories and housing estates on the way passing through Bourville the home of Cadbury's chocolate. Edgbaston is the home of Birmingham University and many of its buildings can be seen from the canal. . For much of the route it follows a railway, the relaxation of canal travel contrasting with the commuters rushing along in the trains.

The last tunnel, Edgbaston, 105 yards, not only has a footpath through it, but it also has street lighting. All this section of the canal has an excellence and very well used towpath.

Finally after a sharp right angle bend in the shadow of the mailbox development you come to Gas Street basin and Worcester Bar, an end of junction with the BCN, for many years navigation was not allowed, hence the 'bar'. Eventually a stop lock was installed, represented today by the narrow passage through it.. The Worcester and Birmingham finishes in the heart of Birmingham like it started in the heart of Worcester but unlike Worcester where the canal quietly crept through the suburbs in Birmingham it penetrates to the centre. Here in Birmingham is a vibrant townscape bars, housing, conference centres all compete for attention with numerous restaurant and trip boats.

More pictures of this canal?

Pictures from Worcester to Kings Norton

A history of this canal. / General information on the canal.

Find our information about other canals and rivers on the canal index page.

If you have any questions then do ring us on 07977 229103
or email us at martinreed@reedboats.co.uk