Getting around Birmingham
Getting around Birmingham couldn’t be easier
We’re well served by local buses, trams and trains, or you could push the boat out and grab a water taxi for a ride on our historic canals – or even cycle on one of our many dedicated cycle. paths.
By train
Eight local rail lines criss-cross the city to ensure quick links to all attractions and venues (as well as connecting to services to other UK cities and towns).
Midland Metro is the latest addition. This state-of-the-art light rail system whisks passengers between Snow Hill Station in Birmingham city centre and Wolverhampton.
For easy day trips out of Birmingham to Solihull, The Black Country, Warwick Castle, Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon, Bicester Village Shopping, the Severn Valley Steam Railway and many other nearby attractions head down to Moor Street station (by the Bullring).
Network West Midlands provides online timetables, fares including day tickets and passes, ticket purchase and route planning. To visit the Centro website use www.centro.org.uk or pop into the Centro store at New Street Station. For National Rail Enquiries call 08457 48 49 50
By bus and Metro
Birmingham is brilliant for buses. There’s a huge network linking everyone to everything.
Network West Midlands has all the online timetables and fare information you need with easy ticket buying and route planning. Alternatively call 0871 200 22 33 for timetable information (Calls from landlines cast 10p per minute) or visit Centro’s many information points around the city.
More and more local buses have facilities such as low floors for easy access for wheelchair users and pushchairs. Birmingham buses can’t be hailed to be stopped; passengers wishing to board or leave a bus, should do so at an official bus stop.
Please remember that you need to give the exact fare to the driver as you board.
By taxi
Birmingham’s well regulated taxis are especially convenient for those with heavy luggage or returning late from a night out.
TOA taxis are Birmingham’s black cab operators. They can be hailed in the street or reached at one of the many taxi ranks in the city centre; the main ones are at New Street Station, Stephenson Street and Digbeth Coach Station.
Make a booking with TOA’s app
Download for iPhone here
Download for Android here
ComCab – The Professional Choice in Birmingham. Taxis represent the quickest, most convenient option for travelling in and around Birmingham and Computer Cab is the leading licensed taxi operator in the city. Computer Cab operates all across Birmingham with a large fleet of taxis available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Every one of our taxis is fully licensed and our fares are regulated by Birmingham City Council. The drivers are also fully licensed with excellent geographical knowledge of the city.
It’s wise to pre-book for journeys of a longer distance or at particularly busy hours. Private hire cars should always be pre-booked and an estimate of the fare secured beforehand.
T.C. Cars private hire taxi company has 300 vehicles, open 24/7. Running for over 25 years they are one of the largest most experienced cab firms around. With the airport at their doorstep they are also ideally situated between Birmingham City Centre and Solihull. Their fleet of NVQ Customer Service qualified, dress coded drivers will pick-up and take you to whereever you need to go. From their 4 passenger saloon cars through to their wheelchair access vehicles and 6-16 passenger minibuses their fleet is fully computerised, metered and GPS tracked. Their drivers also have access to the latest flight arrival times. Call them on 0121 770 2000 for an estimate or advice and when and where to book.
Europcar car hire
Great deals on UK car and van hire. No need to book, just walk in to Europcar Birmingham: 18-20 Bristol Street, B5 7AA.
or call: 0871 384 1127
quoting promotional code: 51758951 for 10% off
• Over 250 UK branches
• Wide range of quality cars and vans
• Free Delivery & Collection (T&Cs)
• One way, hourly, month+ and more
• Clear, honest pricing
Visit the website here
Sixt Car Hire
You can now hire a Sixt car at Birmingham Airport, where they provide a vast range of up to date cars giving customers a great choice of vehicles for all their needs. You can visit them at, Birmingham Airport, B26 3QJ, Birmingham.
By canal
Fancy stepping back in time and letting the rush hour simply rush on by? Then Birmingham’s canals are the way to travel.
With a top speed of three miles per hour, longboats aren’t the fastest way to explore the area. But they certainly give a better insight into our unique heritage.
Head for Gas Street Basin near Brindleyplace. It’s the heartbeat of the busy network; the turning point for narrow boats using the Grand Union, Stratford-upon-Avon and Worcester and Birmingham Canals. There are many ways to enjoy over 200 miles of local canal. Take a leisurely cycle ride or stroll along the towpath (of course, with regular stop-offs at any of the picturesque canalside cafes or Brindleyplace’s floating cafe. Better still, take a short summer trip; starting daily from Brindleyplace. You can even start a relaxing narrow boat holidays from here. Find out more about Birmingham and the regional canals.
By bike
What better way to explore Birmingham and the Midlands than by bike? There are cycle lanes or paths on many of the major routes into and across the city that take in some of the city’s beautiful parks and waterways en route. Information can be found here
By foot
A stroll is a great way to discover Birmingham. There’s so much to see. The city is now full of open and inviting pedestrianised areas. So it’s easy to take a relaxed and safe saunter around the compact centre with attractions, shops and places to eat and drink always close by if the whim takes you.
There’s also a great choice of great guided walking tours or self-guided trails to explore. See our Tours & Sightseeing section for the details.
Mobility for all
Whatever your level of mobility, you’ll find Birmingham a welcoming destination with a high standard of accessibility, helpful people and clear signposting to the majority of attractions, shops and venues.
For further information about assistance for disabled visitors, visit our Accessible Birmingham page.
