Sherborne Wharf, based canal side in Birmingham city centre is a lovely day out, especially if…read moreyou've not been before. You have to visit Sherborne Wharf to be able to hire one of the public available barges, as most of the small barges around the canals are privately owned and not accessible. They do tours through all the canals, and is a great local and somewhat different way of seeing the local canal and Brindley place tourist haunts. It's quieter in the morning, and you may find a bit of a queue during the weekend. Sitting on the barges, yes they are a little small on the inside, but worth the experience! Mind your head if your tall like me. Great to just relax, maybe take some food with you, or, take the dog down by the canal side. Easily reached from Broad Street, a short walk from the Mailbox and round the corner from Brindley place. A lovely and idyllic way to spend an afternoon.

I was recently caught in the position of being a tourist in my home city. A college friend was…read more visiting from London., and I met him at Moor Street Station. After answering his question as to what the differences between The West Midlands, Birmingham and The Black Country were, he asked me where we should go. 'Well, apparently we've got more canals here than in Venice' I said and we walked to Brindley Place (I refuse to call it 'Brindleyplace' like I refuse to call The Bull Ring 'bullring'. You can't just all-one-word places on a marketer's whim). We paid £6 each and then started off. The cruise travels on a route as far as Birmingham University. The sight lines are really good as there are continuous windows running down the length of the boat. The commentary is actually interesting and well-written and delivered, informing you of both canal boat and rail routes along the journey and their role in the development of industry of the area. Additionally, commentary on The Mail Box development gives some modern history to boot, and shows the change from industrial Birmingham to a city-living city. There's a licensed bar on board the boat as well as washroom facilities. An incidental bonus is the detailed graffiti that lines some of the walls along the tow-path, as well as gaggles of water fowl. There are a few canal cruises you can take from Brindley Place, but don't take your chances by going on one that takes you on the grim route north featuring dumped shopping trolleys-This is the one.

Fascinating canal trip in the tunnels. Amazing sound and light show inside caves. The guide /…read moreskipper was a real Black Country guy with great sense of humour and really knowledgable about the history and geology. Price was very reasonable and can go back again on the same ticket.

A lovely way to spend an afternoon after a tour of the countryside as we had the wrong postcode. We…read morewere going to celebrate a friend's 70th birthday and were given the post code from website but this is the website for their office. We called and were given an alternative post code which took us to the centre of Evesham by the river. There is a small car park just at the edge of the park next to the river. We boarded the boat and greeted by the crew. It is a large barge with tables and seats for 24. Our party was 19 so we had the boat to ourselves. We had a quick safety briefing we set off. The skipper commentated as we cruised the Avon. We were served our food. There was a choice of fish & chips, chicken & chips & pie & chips which was preordered. I opted for fish & chips. It came in a box with mushy peas and there were sachets of tartare sauce on the table. The fish and chips were lovely with the scenery going past. We bought drinks at the bar they sold alcohol, soft drinks and hot drinks. £2 for a Coke and £2.10 for a J2O- I was drinking. £3.00 for a cuppa tea. The cruise last 2 hours and cost £16.50. It was a lovely few hours.