A resident’s guide to walking, running, and slowing down in the Jewellery Quarter’s outdoor spaces
The Jewellery Quarter isn’t the first place people think of when they imagine green space. It’s dense, urban, full of workshops, apartments, and history layered on top of itself.
But if you live here, you know something different: some of Birmingham’s most unique outdoor spaces are hidden right in the middle of it all.
From peaceful cemeteries that double as quiet walking routes, to canal paths that stretch into the city centre, the Jewellery Quarter offers a network of spaces that support everything from dog walks to long runs, lazy Sundays to post-work resets.
Warstone Lane Cemetery
A place for a quiet break, dog walks, and quick resets
Warstone Lane Cemetery has fantastic architecture, wide open spaces and has become a meeting place for people. Built into a former quarry, its tiered catacombs make for a striking amphitheatre like landscape.
It’s not a park in the traditional sense but the community drawn to it have made it feel like a peaceful but well used spot. It has a network of paths, levels, and viewpoints with plenty of benches, trees and greenery.
It's really useful for:• Short, quiet walking loops when you need a reset• A low-stimulation environment (no traffic noise, very little footfall)• A space that encourages slow walking and pit stops rather than rushing through• A 10–20 minute decompression walk• Light dog walking• Sitting on a bench and enjoying the nature
Key Hill Cemetery
The Jewellery Quarter’s closest thing to a hidden park
Key Hill Cemetery feels more enclosed, with bluebells in spring and ivy covering much of the ground through the year. With its dense tree canopy, it has a slightly woodland feel, offering shade on warmer days and a bit of shelter when the weather turns.
The cemetery landscape with its winding pathways and key features like the sandstone gateposts, catacombs and chapel were designed by Charles Edge, an architect who was a board member. His design was inspired by similar garden cemeteries in other cities like Paris, Liverpool, Glasgow and Sheffield.
Recent restoration has added:
• Improved footpaths and drainage
• Seating areas overlooking the catacombs
• Better accessibility across the site
Key Hill is particularly good for:
• Quiet dog walks
• Morning or evening strolls
• Finding nature, it’s a haven for wildflowers, birds and fungi.
The Canal Network: Newhall Hill → Brindleyplace
The Jewellery Quarter’s movement corridor
Then there’s the canal and this is where everything connects up.
Running along the edge of the Jewellery Quarter, the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal cuts through the area and continues straight into the city centre and uninterrupted to many other parts of the city and the UK.
The stretch from Newhall Hill down to the Roundhouse and into Brindleyplace is one of the most useful everyday routes in Birmingham. Flanked on either side by community gardens is an incredibly peacefull space to walk, run, cycle or walk the dog.
For walking, running, and cycling
This is your go to if you want momentum:
• A continuous, traffic free path
• Flat, predictable terrain, ideal for running or cycling
• Easy to extend your route into the wider canal network
You can:
• Do a quick 2–3km loop
• Run into the city centre and back
• Cycle without dealing with junctions or traffic
For sitting and lingering
The canal isn’t just for moving around, it’s one of the best places in the Quarter to slow down.
• Benches line the route for quick stops or longer breaks
• Bars, restaurants, and cafés open out onto the water
• Outdoor seating makes it easy to spend time here, especially in warmer months
Spots like The Flapper & Firkin and The Distillery have some of the largest canal side beer gardens in Birmingham, perfect for meeting friends or settling in for the afternoon.
Both areas are wide and open, meaning they get plenty of sun when it’s out.
Closer to Newhall Hill, you can grab a coffee from Java Lounge and walk a few minutes to find a quiet bench along the water.
How to move along the canal
As the canals are popular routes, be mindful and considerate when using them. Walk single file where the path is narrow, stick to the left and if you are cycling always use a bell to let others know you are approaching from behind or arrive at blind turns and tunnel entrances.
Meeting people and getting outside can feel like a tall order when you live near the city, but regular volunteering groups in the community make it easy. Find out more on our volunteering pages about opportunities:
Find information about living in the Jewellery Quarter, local campaigns, issues and news.
