Cycling UK Forum

Posted: **14 Feb 2020, 9:39am**

Richard Fairhurst wrote:Personally, from central Birmingham, I'd actually start by cycling south along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal to Kings Norton. Then turn east along the Stratford Canal, which is prettier and has a tolerable towpath (assuming you're not on a skinny-tyred road bike),

Yes, this also misses out one of the cyclist mugging hot spots in Brum.

Posted: **14 Feb 2020, 10:25am**

Si wrote:
Richard Fairhurst wrote:Personally, from central Birmingham, I'd actually start by cycling south along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal to Kings Norton. Then turn east along the Stratford Canal, which is prettier and has a tolerable towpath (assuming you're not on a skinny-tyred road bike),

Yes, this also misses out one of the cyclist mugging hot spots in Brum.

Care to tell us where that is?

Posted: **14 Feb 2020, 11:02am**

The Grand Union Canal down in the Small Heath area.

Not heard anything lately but they have a spate of attacks every now and then. I once had a bloke jump out in front of me waving a stick...then he noticed there were 15 more cyclists behind me and beat a hasty retreat!

Posted: **8 Aug 2020, 8:43am**

Richard Fairhurst wrote:Trains will be fine if you take London Northwestern Railway or Chiltern Railways. If you go by Virgin you'll need to book a bike space.

Personally, from central Birmingham, I'd actually start by cycling south along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal to Kings Norton. Then turn east along the Stratford Canal, which is prettier and has a tolerable towpath (assuming you're not on a skinny-tyred road bike), as far as Lapworth. At Lapworth, go on road to the top of Hatton Locks on the Grand Union. Follow the towpath or (where it differs) NCN 41 to Long Itchington, then take lanes all the way to Milton Keynes. It's moderately cyclable south from there, generally better in those places where it's part of the NCN.

But it depends on your bike - that's what I'd do on a tourer or gravel bike, but on a MTB you could do the lot (slowly) - tunnels excepted - and on a road bike I'd suggest just going by road instead.

Top tip - have cycled birmingham to london a couple of times on road using your excellent cycletravel, fancy trying the canal but understand that some bits near birmingham can be bad - have an exped bike but don't enjoy cycling through mud, nor grassy stuff for long long periods.
By the by, closer to London, the bit of the grand union towpath bertween perivale (ballot box bridge?) and the Black Horse pub Greenford appears to have been improved, maybe further along from the pub as well from works I saw a while ago. This bit was pretty good before but I think the improvements may have partly gone in because of a mega block of flats having gone up across the canal from the pub.

edit - off the top of your head (no need for exactness) how many miles very roughly do you reckon your suggested divert would add to the london birmingham trip?

Cycling UK Forum

Birmingham to London via the canals.

Re: Birmingham to London via the canals.

Re: Birmingham to London via the canals.

Re: Birmingham to London via the canals.

Re: Birmingham to London via the canals.