Birmingham & Return
Featured Routes

Collect your boat from Springwood Haven Marina, a welcoming marina nestled in a scenic valley of green fields and farmland.

Leaving the marina, you’ll turn left and proceed along a lovely peaceful lock-free stretch of canal, soon passing some interesting old Canal & River Trust buildings on the left.

After about an hour and a half you reach the town of Atherstone, an 18th century market town with a Visitor Centre covering the history of hat-making in the area and a 1940’s themed café. There are plenty of eateries here if you want to moor up for your first night afloat.

A series of 10 locks takes you down the hill from Atherstone and onwards to the village of Polesworth. There is an impressive Abbey, founded in the 9th century by St. Modwena and King Egbert. William Shakespeare went to school there!

Approaching Tamworth, look out for the ruins of Alvecote Priory, a 12th century Benedictine Priory, of which not much now remains, sadly. Continuing into Tamworth, you might want to visit Tamworth Castle, a family-friendly place packed with history but with a crazy golf course and an outdoor play park suitable for children up to 14.

It's time to leave the Coventry Canal and turn left onto the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, where Drayton Manor Theme Park is close to the canal just after the Coleshill Road Bridge. Drayton Manor is full of fun rides, a 15-acre zoo and Thomas the Tank Engine Land!  On the other side of the canal you’ll soon pass the Middleton Lakes Nature Reserve where you can get a fix of nature before heading for the city.

The canal now leads you close to the M42 motorway for a short while before turning away through the 57-yard Curdworth Tunnel and into the urban housing estates of Minworth. Keep going and you are at the aptly nicknamed ‘Spaghetti Junction’ where a maze of roads overhead is held up by 600 huge concrete pillars. Not exactly a thing of beauty in some people’s eyes, but a classic example of 1970s road building.

There are now just 2 flights of locks to navigate before you arrive in the city centre. First up are the 8 Aston Locks, soon followed by the 10 Farmers Bridge locks. Having reached the summit, turn left and you’ll find yourself at Gas Street Basin in the heart of Birmingham.

There are activities and attractions galore in Birmingham. Close to the canal are Sea Life, Legoland and Symphony Hall, and a short walk along the towpath brings you to the Mailbox, a luxury shopping complex housing Harvey Nichols, a boutique cinema and numerous canalside restaurants and bars.

After enjoying your stay in Birmingham, it’s time to retrace your steps back to the countryside and return your boat to Springwood Haven.