[1] Cross Cregoe Street from the Health Centre to use the nearest zebra crossing to cross Bath Row. Turn right along Bath Row, crossing over at the next corner and turn left into Granville Street, walking along the side of the Peace Gardens.

(A) Behind the ruin of St Thomas’s Church, destroyed during World War II, lie the Peace Gardens. These were laid out in 1995 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the war. A large Portland stone monument overlooks the gardens and placed on it are plaques with messages of peace from various religions and countries. When the world leaders came to Birmingham for the G8 summit in 1998, each planted a tree here.

Continue straight along Granville Street and turn third right into Holliday Street (unmarked), keeping on the right hand side of the street.

A short way down the street, on the right hand, is the Birmingham Register Office.

[2] At the zebra crossing in front of the Register Office, cross over to the corner of Berkley Street and Holliday Street and turn into Berkley Street.

The CBSO (City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra) Centre, which has a varied programme of musical events, is on the left hand side of Berkley Street.

Continue up this side of the street to Broad Street. Turn left into Broad Street to reach the zebra crossing, and cross over the street. After crossing, turn right and walk along Broad Street to reach the Brasshouse Restaurant and turn left to walk through the shops (past the Pizza Express and Boots on the left) to an open square by the Birmingham & Fazeley canal. (Keep on towpath and away from canal edge) Turn to the right and take the steps down to the bridge, crossing to the other side of the canal. The entrance into the lower part of the International Convention Centre will be directly ahead.

[3] On the ICC side of the canal, turn to the left and walk along the canal.

The Sea Life Centre can be seen on the other side of the canal.

Continue walking along the canal, passing by the Malt House pub and cross the bridge. A side entrance into the NIA will be directly ahead. Once over the bridge, turn to the right and walk down the ramp to the canal side. Continue along the canal, with the NIA on the left. The canal path narrows slightly as it goes under King Edwards Road. It is important to be alert for bicyclists who ride along the canal also. Walk under the bridge and along the canal, shortly reaching a broader part of the canal where boats are moored.

(B) On the towpath, on the left, is the Waterways Office, which provides information about the canal system. There is also a board with a map of the area. The first set of locks along this stretch of canal leads out of the mooring area.

[4] Follow the towpath down along the locks, paying attention to footing as the paving stones are uneven here. Come off the canal at Summer Row; there is a ramp that leads from the canal up to Summer Row. It is the first ramp that you come to and is just before Saturday Bridge. Directly across the street will be the JobCentre Plus. Turn right up Summer Row, continuing past the Student Residence for Birmingham City University, to the zebra crossing by the multi-storey car park. Cross over to the grass triangle by the traffic lights.

The College of Food can be seen directly ahead.

Use the pelican crossing, then the zebra crossing to arrive in front of the College of Food on Summer Row. Turn to the right and follow the curve around into Great Charles Street.

[5] Walk along the left hand side of Great Charles Street, past the Chest Hospital, to the corner of Newhall Street and Great Charles Street and use the pelican crossing to cross to the right and then follow Newhall Street to Cornwall Street. Turn right into Cornwall Street, staying on the right hand side. At the next corner, turn left into Margaret Street, walking along the front of the Birmingham City University School of Art.

This building was purpose built in 1884/85 as an art school.

At the corner of Margaret Street and Edmund Street, cross to the right, into the passage leading between the Gas Hall and the Waterhall Gallery, both part of the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. Walk straight on coming out into Chamberlain Square. Birmingham Central Library is to the right, up a short flight of stairs, and in the centre of the square is a fountain and monument to Joseph Chamberlain. Turn to the left on entering the square, to reach the entrance to the art museum.

In the museum there is the Edwardian Café for tea, coffee and meals, or a smaller café can be found in the Central Library, on the same floor as the lending library.

[6] Continue past the art museum, and walk down into the next square. This is Victoria Square, with a statue of Queen Victoria directly in front of the Council House, which is on the left as you walk into the square.

(C) The Town Hall, where concerts are often held, is on the right. In the centre of the square is also the statue known as the “Floozie in the Jacuzzi”, and at the top of New Street by the main Post Office, is the statue by Anthony Gormley, the Iron Man.

With the Town Hall on your right, walk through the square, past the Iron Man and the entrance into the Post Office, continuing into Pinfold Street, along the side of the Post Office building. At the bottom of Pinfold Street, turn right into Navigation Street.

[7] After crossing Hill Street, continue along the left hand side of Navigation Street to the zebra crossing at the ramp onto the Suffolk Street Queensway. Cross and walk under the flyover to reach the front of the Mailbox.

By walking up the short street in front of the Mailbox, it is possible to shorten the number of stairs to climb to reach the entrance.

Enter the Mailbox and take the escalator to the 3rd level. Walk along the mezzanine to reach the side exit to Blucher Street (on the left). On leaving the Mailbox walk straight ahead up Blucher Street (not marked). Walk down Blucher Street to Upper Gough Street and turn to the right at the Craven Arms pub. Take Upper Gough Street to Granville Street, turn to the left by the Peace Gardens and use the zebra crossing on Bath Row to return to the Colston Health Centre.