England Guide
The West Midlands and the Peak District
Gas Street Basin
Gas Street Basin is the hub of Birmingham's intricate canal system. There are eight canals within the city's boundaries, comprising no less than 32 miles of canal, and although much of Birmingham's surviving canal network slices through the city's grimy, industrial bowels, certain sections have been immaculately restored with Gas Street Basin leading the way. At the junction of the Worcester and Birmingham and Birmingham Main Line canals, the Basin, with its herd of brightly painted narrowboats, is edged by a delightful medley of old brick buildings.
Along the towpath southeast from the Basin is The Mailbox, a talented reinvention of Birmingham's old postal sorting office complete with restaurants, hotels, and some of the snazziest shops in the city – including Jaeger and Harvey Nichols.