Birmingham
Various lengths
EASY
West Midlands
A variety of short walks exploring Birmingham's historic, fascinating and now remarkably walker-friendly city centre as well as some excellent parks in the wider City Council area. For alternative routes around the city centre see the Birmingham: Britain's Canal City and other waterway leaflets listed on the Birmingham and Black Country Waterways page.
Gateway to the Heart of Birmingham
Seven short interconnecting routes, all around 2km/1.5 miles, exploring central Birmingham between the National Indoor Arena, St Paul's Square, Chamberlain Square, the Mailbox, the Bullring, the market area and Millennium Point. They include canal towpaths, good quality pavements and traffic-free streets, paths and walkways, and visit many interesting new developments. Ideal as health walks for beginners or simply to explore the city.
- Chamberlain Square to the Mailbox
- Chamberlain Square to the markets
- Chamberlain Square to St Paul's Square
- St Paul's Square to the NIA
- Millennium Point to the Bullring
- The Bullring to the Mailbox
- The Mailbox to the NIA
Jewellery Quarter Pavement Trails
Two short street-based trails through the recently regenerated Jewellery Quarter to the northwest of the city centre, marked out by specially-designed pavement plaques. Plaques are located in pavements on both sides of the road so the total length of around 1.5km/1 mile can be doubled by walking up one side and down the other to locate all the points of interest.
- Findings Trail Newhall Street and Graham Street
- Charm Bracelet Trail Newhall Hill and Frederick Street
Walk 2000 routes
22 short routes (2km/1.5 miles) have been marked out in Birmingham's parks and open spaces. Details are most of these can be found on the Walk 2000 website below; the others are easily found by visiting the parks themselves. The routes are:
- Aldridge Road Recreation Ground
- Aston Park
- Brookvale Park
- Calshot Park
- Cannon Hill Park
- Castle Vale
- Cherry Orchard Recreation Ground
- Cotteridge Park
- Edgbaston Reservoir
- Fox Hollies Park
- Handsworth Park
- Kings Heath Park
- Perry Hall Playing Fields
- Queen's Park, Harborne
- Shard End - Norman Chamberlain Playing Fields
- Sheldon Country Park
- Small Heath Park
- Soho Pool Wharf
- Sparkhill Park
- Sutton Park
- Trittiford Mill Park
- Ward End Park
Accessibility
These routes are on pavements and hard-surfaced walkways that are generally accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs. The Gateway to Birmingham leaflets (below) include full details of accessibility including information on hills and possible obstructions.
Public Transport
Local public transport is excellent: Birmingham city centre is at the heart of the local and regional transport network and a major hub of the national rail network, with services to most major cities in Britain. The city centre routes connect with or pass close to its three major stations (including New Street, one of Britain's busiest stations), three Metro stops (the Metro runs from Snow Hill station through the Jewellery Quarter and on to Wolverhampton) and principal bus stops. The park routes are all on or near bus stops and stations. The routes fall within the Centro area with bargain fares and passes available: more on the Birmingham page.
Maps
Publications
- Gateway to the Heart of Birmingham: walking in the city. Pack of seven leaflets with colourful maps and additional background information. Free from Birmingham tourist information centre or can be downloaded from the Walk 2000 website (below).
- The Jewellery Quarter Birmingham. Guide to the Quarter with full maps and details of the pavement trails. Free from Birmingham tourist information centre or the information kiosk in the Jewellery Quarter, by the clock on Vyse Street.
Connecting routes
Parks and countryside
Information about other parks with Walk 2000 walks (listed above) can be obtained from Birmingham council.
Contacts
Regions
Local authorities
Visitor Information
Accommodation
