BCN
Does Birmingham really have more miles of canal than Venice?
The exact numbers depend on where you draw the city boundaries, but the whole Birmingham Canal Navigations system extends for 100 miles in total. It is one of the most intricate canal networks in the world.
These waterways converge at the city centre bustle of Gas Street Basin, where historic boats and canal architecture mingle with modern-day restaurants, cafes and pubs. But elsewhere on the 'BCN', you can really get away from it all on winding suburban canals and a series of surprisingly rural branches.
The canals were the life-blood of Victorian Birmingham and the Black Country. At their height, they were so busy that gas lighting was installed beside the locks to permit round-the-clock operation. Boats were built without cabins for maximum carrying capacity, and a near-tidal effect was produced as swarms of narrowboats converged on the Black Country collieries at the same time every day.
The BCN has survived remarkably intact, with 100 miles still navigable from a peak of 160. The main lines and city centre canals are well patronised, but the waterways of the Northern BCN remain truly off the beaten track. But should you decide to tackle some of these rarely cruised waters, beware - boating the BCN can become addictive.
Download a Guide and map to Birmingham and the West Midlands’ Canals
Birmingham & Fazeley Canal
Birmingham Canal Main Line
Birmingham Canal Old Main Line
Daw End Branch Canal
Dudley No. 1 Canal
Dudley No. 2 Canal
Grand Union Canal
Rushall Canal
Stourbridge Canal
Tame Valley Canal
Walsall Canal
Worcester & Birmingham Canal
Wyrely & Essington Canal
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