Running through and around Birmingham's city centre is a 200-year-old canal system. Eight separate waterways make up 32 miles of canals, which are crossed and surrounded by locks, bridges, towpaths, warehouses and offices that once formed a decaying eyesore. The canals have now been cleaned and renovated, and boutiques, cafés, art galleries, pubs and restaurants have sprung up along the banks. Throw into the equation the introduction of impressive new public buildings such as the International Convention Centre, the National Indoor Arena, and the National Sea Life Centre, and you can see why Birmingham's canal system is now a haven for pedestrians, joggers and mums with pushchairs, a mecca for culture seekers and tourists, and a focus for the city's nightlife.

1 Gas Street Basin
The heart of Birmingham's canal network is Gas Street Basin, named after the street that flanks it – the first in the city to get gas lighting. A minute's walk from Centenary Square, at the junction of the Worcester and Birmingham and the Birmingham Main Line canals (cross Broad Street next to the ICC, then walk down the steps to the canal), Gas Street Basin is lined with colourful narrow boats and lovely red-brick buildings. Cafés, pubs and clubs abound along this stretch: the Tap and Spile pub being one of the best. There's a wonderfully Continental feel here, even on cool but sunny winter days when you can sip your drink outside on the waterfront.

2 The International Convention Centre and Symphony Hall
This impressively high-tech building is one of the world's leading conference centres, made up of 11 conference halls and numerous meeting rooms. Of greater interest to visitors, however, is the art deco Symphony Hall, which is part of the ICC. Home to the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, it does not restrict itself to classical music. Check out the programme in advance of your visit, since jazz, folk, rock, pop, and even stand-up comedy, are regularly on the bill. Guided tours of this state-of-the-art building are also available by calling call 0121 200 2000.

3 Old Turn Junction
Come out of the ICC and turn right along the canal until you reach Old Turn Junction, where the Worcester and Birmingham Canal meets both the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and the Birmingham Main Line.This is one of the oldest sections of canal , built in 1769 to facilitate the transport of coal from Wolverhampton.
Sit on one of the many benches, or have a bite to eat at the Malt House, a pleasant modern pub with a lovely balcony overlooking the junction: Bill Clinton famously enjoyed a pint here while attending the G8 Conference at the ICC in 1998. Ducks quack on the central island, boats putter by and the huge National Indoor Arena contrasts nicely with the Thomas Telford-designed cast-iron Roving Footbridge built in 1827.

4 The National Sea Life Centre
It has been suggested that this is an odd place for a major aquarium – you can't, after all, get much further from the sea in the UK. But then, as Birmingham residents point out, all the more need for an opportunity to look at the denizens of the deep.
Open every day (except Christmas) from 10am, with closing times dependent on the time of year, the Sea Life Centre's inhabitants include sea turtles, sharks, and playful otters. There is also a new unit for breeding and rearing seahorses.

5 Brindleyplace
Next to the Sea Life Centre is Brindleyplace, a stunning 17-acre development that has turned an area of redundant factories and canal-side buildings into a superb residential complex in the heart of the city. Collected around two pleasant squares, it has an abundance of shops, cafés, restaurants, bars and clubs, together with a health club, two art galleries and a theatre.
The Ikon Gallery is housed in the impressive neo-Gothic Oozells Street School, and houses a range of temporary exhibitions covering painting, sculpture, photography, sound, film, mixed-media and installation art. Although the Gallery has a flourishing education programme, it's the imaginative and wide-ranging exhibitions that will attract visitors. Number Nine the Gallery is just around the corner and it focuses mainly on painting, sculpture, glass and ceramics, and if a piece takes your fancy, you can usually buy it.
Finally, you should pay a visit to the Crescent Theatre. Established in 1924, it has been based in Brindleyplace since 1998. It has two auditoriums seating 346 and 120 respectively, and produces a range of work from Shakespeare to modern musicals. The tickets are usually priced from around £7 upwards.

6 Take a boat trip
There are other ways to explore Birmingham's canal network than by plodding along the towpaths. A water taxi service operates along the canals, but for a more detailed exploration, various firms run tour boats. Second City Canal Cruises offers a leisurely one-hour heritage tour, complete with commentary and a cup of coffee. The trip takes in the renovated city centre, as well as historic stretches that haven't changed in centuries.
Boats depart from Gas Street Basin, where there's also a canal shop, and seats can be pre-booked by calling 0121 236 9811. Tours are priced at around £3 per trip (£2 concessions) and can be tailor-made to suit your particular needs and interests. Credit cards are accepted and well-behaved dogs are welcome.