Recently, with the introduction of the Low Traffic Neighbourhood Scheme and some other COVID-related changes, we realise there have been some growing concerns about access into Kings Heath. We hear your thoughts, and while most of these changes are beyond the control of Kings Heath BID, we want to do everything that we can to help make it as easy as possible to get into the Heath! We have compiled a list of local transport links, car parks, bike route maps and alternative methods of travel, please read on to find out more. And please share with anybody that might find this resource useful.
We have also put together a handy map that outlines all of the below! Take a look and click the image to enlarge, download and print for yourself!
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Local Car Parks
For anyone that has never used this website before, Parkopedia is a great tool to help locate nearby car parks. You simply have to input your desired location. When we do this for Kings Heath, you can see that those of us that travel by car still have plenty of parking options at fairly reasonable prices. Below are just a few of the best places we recommend parking.
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Findlay Road Retail Park
Free parking for customers using businesses at Findlay Road Retail Park (Homebase, The Gym, Toolbase etc.)
2 hours maximum stay, no return within 4 hours.
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Alcester Road Retail Park
This car park is open 24/7 and allows for 24 hour parking at surprisingly low cost.
1 hour – £0.50
2 hours – £1.00
3 hours – £1.50
4 hours – £2.00
5 hours – £2.50
6 hours – £3.00
24 hours – £5.00
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Institute Road
Parking on Institute Road is also very cost-efficient around the clock, as it is also open 24/7.
1 hour – £1.00
3 hours – £1.50
4 hours – £2.00
24 hours – £3.20
Early Bird – £1.20
(Monday – Friday, 4am – 7:30am up to 24 hours)
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St. Dunstan’s Catholic Church Car Park – Institute Road
2 hours – £1.00
3 hours – £1.50
8 hours – £3.50
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High Street (opposite Loco Lounge)
Again, you are able to park on the high street at low cost all day Monday – Sunday, however the prices do change on a Sunday.
Monday – Saturday
2 hours – £1.10
4 hours – £2.30
24 hours – £4.50
Bank Holiday – Free
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Sundays
2 hours – £1.00
10 hours – £2.00
Bank Holidays – Free
You will also find ample, time-limited car parking at Sainsbury’s, Lidl, Asda and Ambassador Taxis.
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Bus Routes
Thinking of heading to Kings Heath via Bus? There are a number of routes that will drop you directly at various points of the High Street – the 11A, 11C, 35, 76 and the 50. You can use the routes to travel to Kings Heath from a number of locations, including Birmingham Airport, Snow Hill train station, Birmingham Metropolitan College, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham University, Fort Dunlop, and many more. Stops can be found all along the high street, on Institute Road, Addison Road, and at All Saints Church. Moovit is a great online tool that provides free maps, live directions and an abundance of travel information in and out of Kings Heath.
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Cycle Lanes
We are very lucky to have plenty of cycle lanes here in Kings Heath for those that prefer to get around on 2 wheels. More cycle routes pop up all the time as Birmingham City Council continue to expand the works, measures and initiatives within their Cycle Revolution scheme. Kings Heath has various cycle stands along the High Street where you can lock up, particularly towards Alcester Road South. You can plan your cycling route with this google map that shows trails, dedicated lanes, bicycle-friendly roads and dirt/unpaved trails. Avid cyclists will be pleased to know that Kings Heath is home to 2 widely respected independent bike shops that will cater to all of your cycling needs.
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Gorilla Coffee Cafe and Workshop
At Gorilla Coffee, they boast a fully equipped workshop that can deal with all your servicing needs. From consultation and advice on a custom build, to an on the spot tube change, their team has got you covered. Gorilla Coffee Workshop offers 2 formal services: the Domestique and the King of the Mountain. In addition to in house servicing work, their experts offer a mobile pickup and delivery business for when time is of the essence and you can’t get to the workshop.
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Bike Pro Racing is a family business, established in 1986. At the start, they sold mountain bikes, BMX bikes and skateboards. As skateboards became less popular, the focus shifted completely towards bikes. The team has maintained their position as one of Birmingham’s premier bike suppliers by not only selling bikes but stocking a vast range of parts and accessories, enabling riders to customise and improve their riding experience.
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Within Walking Distance
Of course, walking is a fantastic form of exercise and there are no end of walking and running routes to enjoy locally. The GetOutside website offers tools to help you exercise safely, including user-created maps at varying intensity levels depending on whether you’re looking for a leisurely walk around Kings Heath or a more demanding workout. These routes connect you to many of the local amenities, meaning you can stop for a much-needed break at many of our local food and drink hotspots.
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One of our favourite routes is the 3 Parks Walk, which takes you on a loop of Kings Heath Park, Cannon Hill Park and Highbury Park over 10 beautiful kilometers. Pubs, tea rooms and toilets close to the route offer breaks as and when you need them, while ponds, lakes, gardens and more make this route an absolute treasure to experience.
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Finally, check out this great video that highlights how fantastic our High Street is. This virtual walk showcases our local independents and demonstrates how unique shopping is here in Kings Heath and how easily accessible these hidden gems are by foot. If you enjoy the video, you can find part 2 here.
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Electric Scooters
It’s hard not to have noticed the arrival of almost 1,000 e-scooters on the streets of Birmingham in recent months. The initiative was introduced ahead of schedule due to the pandemic and aims to provide another green alternative to car travel while supporting social distancing and reducing pollution levels. Annoyingly, the Voi boundary map cuts short just before Kings Heath (Queensbridge Road and A435 junction), however you can still use the scooters from the city centre to get to the start of Kings Heath High Street. We’re hoping the boundary map will soon be extended to include Kings Heath, like we have seen in other areas. You will need at least a provisional driving licence to be able to hire one of these scooters, although the cost to do so is surprisingly high. At £0.20 per minute, you’re looking at £12 per hour. Alternatively, regular users can enjoy unlimited rides for a cost of £40 per month. In order to get started, visit the Voi website to find out more and download their app.
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Taxis
It goes without saying that Taxis are always available in and around Kings Heath at reasonable rates. Ambassador Cars are open 24 hours a day – you can visit their taxi rank base (73 High Street, B14 7BH) or call them on 0121 444 1111 (“0121, all the 4s, all the 1s!”) We also have app-based providers like Uber and Ola, or a number of other local firms at our disposal. Check out this list of taxis and minicabs local to Kings Heath.
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What are we missing? Let us know in the comments! Let’s work together to spread the word that Kings Heath is still open for all!