Though Birmingham is landlocked, locals have long found creative ways to savor the water during warm summer days. In the 1970s, before affordable travel to coastal areas was common, residents embraced what was nearby — including Edgbaston Reservoir, affectionately known then as Birmingham’s ‘beach.’
Located less than two miles from the city center, the reservoir was an easy, scenic walk on sunny days. Back then, it hosted a manmade beach and a fairground, becoming a beloved spot for families and friends to sunbathe, paddle, row, and fish. One iconic photo from July 3, 1973, captures fishermen of all ages alongside people relaxing in deckchairs by the water. Another shows Ian Fish, 21, soaking up the summer heatwave of 1976 while sunbathing on a patch that would usually be submerged by four feet of water.
Edgbaston Reservoir’s story, however, stretches back much further. Originally a small pool called Roach Pool, it was enlarged in 1827 by the famed engineer Thomas Telford to aid Birmingham’s canal system. By damming the stream feeding the original pool with an earth embankment near the Icknield Port Loop, it came to be known as Rotton Park Reservoir. Today, it spans a vast 70 acres and is recognized as a quiet wildlife haven and Local Nature Reserve right in the city’s heart.
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Since 1990, the Friends of the Reservoir group has worked diligently to protect and promote this historic site, preserving its unique character and natural beauty. Visitors now enjoy a range of leisure activities including sailing, canoeing, windsurfing, walking, cycling, and birdwatching—all reminders of Edgbaston Reservoir’s enduring role as Birmingham’s treasured urban oasis.