Kayaking into Birmingham - A scenic trip suitable for kayak, canoe or stand up paddleboard (SUP)

This is a very scenic paddle starting at Winson Green and kayaking the Birmingham Canal (on the old loops and the Main Line) into the city centre of Birmingham.

It's suitable for kayak, canoe or stand up paddleboard (SUP).

The put in (and get out) is here (W3W) on the Soho Loop (the old canal). There is very limited parking on the road here (W3W). As always, please park considerately and legally.

Once on the canal, head East towards the Main Line Canal.

You'll shortly pass HMP Birmingham (Winson Green Prison as was). A category B prison that has held many criminals including Fred West, Lee Hughes, Ozzy Osbourne and Charlie Wilson - one of the Great Train Robbers.

It's a weird feeling paddling past the high walls of the prison knowing so much punishment has been dealt within them - including executions too, the last one being in 1962. Paddle quickly past!

The high walls of the prison and the supply tunnel into the prison. Now blocked off of course!

You are now coming to the end of the Soho Loop as it approaches the Brimingham Main Line. This was an update of the canal by Thomas Telford. He realised all the curves and dog legs on the canal were increasing journey times on the canal. A simple solution to provide a straight run into Birmingham was his idea.

Once in place, it reduced the canal length by 7 miles - a significant saving in time and effort for the canal boats and horses drawing them!

Turn left onto the Main Line and you should begin to see the high rise buildings of Birmingham city centre in the distance. The railway line is on your left too - this is a busy line with trains every few minutes going to and from Birmingham New Street and Snow Hill.

Dave kayaking on the Birmingham Main Line into Birmingham

You'll pass the other entrance to the Soho Loop and opposite, on your right, you'll see the exit to the Icknield Loop. Both these loops can be paddled and the Icknield Loop includes the dam on Edgbaston Reservoir.

The reservoir serves to provide top up water for the Birmingham canal network.

It's a straight paddle into the city now and it becomes more and more built up as you go. It's a busy canal boat area too with live on boards and rented boats.

Even some battery operated cruisers can be seen down in Brindley Place.

The apartment blocks in the centre of Oozells Loop provide some funky and convienient canal side living.

Apartment blocks opposite the Roundhouse, Birmingham.

You'll pass the Roundhouse (a popular tourist destination and provider of kayak tours), the Sealife Centre (for all things aquatic) and the Legoland Dicovery Centre (for the young children).

There are plenty of bars and restaurants providing food and drink. It's a busy area at most times of the night and day.

Just by the Sealife Centre, is the three way split of the canal. There is an important mini island here that provided a way to dam the canal legs. This was done during the war to stop bombs breeching the canal and draining the local canal network.

You can take time to get out and have a look round - perhaps partake in refreshments from Ed's Diner (not the Ed we know and love!).

The island by the Sealife Centre, Birmingham

Taking the canal towards Worcester, you'll pass under a few foot and road bridges. One has the tribute to the music legends, Black Sabbath.

This seating bench has silhouettes of the band members and you can sit with them and have your photo taken. Rock on!

The canal opens into a basin area with a very narrow waterway through to the Worcester canal.

This basin provided a cut off between the owners of the individual stretches of the canal.

Years ago, the canal stretches were owned independently and users were charged for using a stretch of canal. So a journey could cover multiple canal owners and a fee charged for each stretch used.

The Gas Street Basin became a termination point where canal boats would be unloaded from one stretch of canal and loaded onto boats on the other stretch of canal. Of course, fees were paid for the privilege.

Nowadays, the canal is owned and managed by the Canal & River Trust so a narrow link through is provided for modern canal boats.

Dave kayaking through Gas Street Basin, Birmingham

You are now approaching the Mailbox. This was a Royal Mail sorting office and recently has been sold and converted into eateries and residential apartments.

The old sorting office has a tunnel going through to Bimringham New Street station. This allowed post to be sent directly - and quickly - to the railway netwrok for onward delivery.

The Mailbox, Birmingham, home of the BBC and plenty of popular eateries

The Mailbox is a good place to turn round and retrace your steps.

On the way back, you can take in the old loops of the canal - Oozells, Ickneild and Soho.

They priovide some excellent scenery and contrast the busy, urban aspects of the canal with the quieter green spaces too.

Depending on your paddling pace, the trip should take 2 to 3 hours and is best enjoyed in brighter weather.

Have fun and safe paddling.

Dave kayaking in Birmingham in a torrential downpour. Still smiling

You can watch the trip videos below:

Part 1:

Part 2:

PS. Paddlesports can be dangerous.
Read our safety disclaimer - here

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