What is it?
Once a major transport hub at the heart of the Industrial Revolution’s thriving canal network, Birmingham’s Gas Street Basin is now home to Brindleyplace – a sprawling complex of restaurants and entertainment venues that cater to city-dwellers and visitors alike.
Is it worth visiting?
No matter the make-up of your group, Brindleyplace has you covered. Kids have the choice of both Legoland Discovery Centre and the National Sea Life Centre, while adults are spoiled by gigs and events at the Utilita Arena, International Conference Centre, Birmingham Rep and Symphony Hall. For contemporary art, duck behind the canal path and find Ikon Gallery which, in addition to its exhibition spaces, also has a neat little gift shop and a Yorks coffee outpost.
What can I eat there?
Chains and indies sit side-by-side from Cosy Club and Pitcher and Piano to the Gin Vault, which boasts 450 varieties of mother’s ruin, and the nearby Coconut Tree, which serves Sri Lankan small plates and affordable cocktails.
What are the prices like?
Entry fees and ticket costs apply to most of Brindleyplace’s attractions. But a walk alongside the winding canal is free – as is sitting among the cherry blossoms in the tree-lined square outside Ikon. In terms of accessibility, the cobbled canal path is a little precarious at times but there’s also a mix of stairs and accessible ramps.
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