Did you know that there are more miles of canal in Birmingham than there are in Venice? We currently live right next to a canal, just get past the huge fence and the hill of trees and there it is. Of course there are steps to get down there too and we often go for walks alongside the water.
I’ve been promising the littlies all summer that I would take them on a barge on the canal, but we hadn’t managed to get around to it. Then last weekend we had to pop to Birmingham Symphony Hall to buy some tickets and of course the canals are right behind there, so we jumped on a barge and took a little tour. First we had a look around. It really is a lovely area with cafès and bars and often live music playing. The whole place is really pretty but also really busy.
I took lots of photos while on the barge, but also managed to put my camera down and enjoy the views.
There are some amazing buildings to view, both old and new. In this collage you can see the new library (bottom left, I love it but OH hates it and says it looks like a nuclear power plant), the Mailbox (bottom right, a rather nice shopping complex), the Hotel Indigo (top left, it looks like a cube) and some old building which is about to be restored (top right, sorry the guy on the tour did explain more but it was too noisy to hear what he said, it was a lovely building though)
It was a lovely sunny day and we really enjoyed our trip. Hopefully we’ll do it again soon, maybe even take the Santa Barge which I remember doing with my older children many years ago.
I used to live in the West Mids and would be in Birmingham most weekends. It is such a great city and I used to love a Sunday afternoon walk along the canals (following lunch at a nearby pub) – reading this has bought back some lovely memories. Thank you!
#CountryKids
I'm happy to bring back memories for you. My memories are a little different as I used to spend Friday nights in the pubs along the canal, going from one to the other until I had to be very careful not to fall in! 😉
This is so not what I think of when I picture birmingham! It really do9es look like a lovely way to pass the day and wonderful in such a big city. Thank you for sharing with me on Country Kids.
Only yesterday my mum was telling me you can take barge rides there, as we'd love to take the kids. It looks like a great way to spend the afternoon – we'll be there soon! x
Yes, I fancy going on a canal trip down there. Have you seen the Christmas lights display when all the barges parade down the canal? It's amazing. My two like the water taxi.
I think I might try and take a trip just me and my camera one of these days-so much yo photograph 🙂
My favourite holidays were on canal boats.Our local canal is being renovated at the moment after it was closed during the Victorian times.I really should take the kids back to visit.
Such a nice thing to experience. So true with those view it is stunning! #countrykids