Birmingham: Sunrise, Sunset and The Golden Hour

There are a few options for good places in Birmingham to watch the sunrise or sunset. However, there are more places that benefit from the golden hour’s light. The sun at the beginning and end of the day creates some great lighting, hence the name ‘golden hour’. A nickname locally for these is Brumrise and Brumset, particularly on social media.

The sun, being low in the sky, changes the appearance of many of the Birmingham buildings. The first and last hours of daylight are the best times to take photographs in any city.

Sunrise & Sunset Times In Birmingham

The best way to check sunrise and sunset times is to ask Google. Alternatively, many weather apps also include sunrise and sunset times below the weather. Identifying a great day to see the low sun is trickier. In Birmingham, it relies on the British weather, which is unpredictable. Clear skies or those marked with partial cloud cover often deliver the best results.

Places to see the sunset in Birmingham?

The most fruitful spots to take the camera for sunset shots.

The Jewellery Quarter & Hockley

There are various suitable spots in the Jewellery Quarter area where the sky is great towards the end of the day. My particular favourites are near the Chamberlain Clock and Warstone Lane cemetery. The side roads facing west also often have great colouring, particularly in the summer months.

The Chamberlain Clock in the Jewellery Quarter often gets some very colourful skies at sundown. If you stand near the pub for the best views, traffic permitting, you can see the whole town.

Warstone Lane Cemetery in the Jewellery Quarter is a great backdrop as the sun sets. The gravestones and trees enhance the experience; however, this is a quiet place to enjoy the show.

The walkway above the catacombs in Warstone Lane Cemetery is a brilliant spot to watch the day end. The height and scenery make this quite a special place.

Sunsets in The City Centre

The central areas on the hill near Colmore Row, Victoria Square and Centenary Square are nice at sunset. Coupled with the interesting architecture, these sometimes make for great subjects for photography.

St Philip’s Cathedral on Colmore Row is a great backdrop for when the sun goes down. Some sunsets can be very striking. The blend of architectural styles sure makes an interesting photo.

Locally known as Pigeon Park, the grounds of St Philip’s Cathedral are a great vantage point for some interesting sundown photos.

Edgbaston Reservoir

As well as being a great place for a walk or nature spotting, Edgbaston Reservoir is fantastic at sunset. The best places to observe this are at the east end of the lake towards the Sailing Club or Peace Pagoda.

The view from near the sailing club is pretty special during the late sun, and the reflections are pretty too.

Digbeth & Canals

The Digbeth Branch canal and a few sites in Digbeth are nice at sunset. Also, the views from trains coming over the viaducts in the city can be beautiful.

When travelling to Birmingham on a train from the southeast, sit on the left. The views coming into the city can be very vivid from the train window. It’s just a shame the windows are not spotless, and you cannot slow the train.

The canal towpath between Curzon Street Tunnel and Curzon Locks has some great Birmingham skyline views and faces west. This leads to some great colourful skies above the cityscape.

Canal Between Jewellery Quarter & Brindley Place

Another nice place in Birmingham to see the sunset is walking along the canals from the Jewellery Quarter towards Brindley Place. The skies tend to be nice here, and one of my favourite spots is Farmers Locks.

Cannon Hill Park

The city’s most popular park is a brilliant spot for watching the sun go down. An advantage is that Cannon Hill Park has some great benches to sit on and watch the show.

Just outside the city centre in Moseley, there are many vantage points to watch the sunset. The park is one of my favourite places for a long dog walk in the city.

The New Main Line

Walking along the New Main Line Canal just outside Birmingham is a fantastic spot for sunset.

An excellent spot is near the bridges by the Icknield Loop. The whole stretch is a pleasure to walk as the sun sinks low.

The footbridge behind the Sea Life Centre at Brindley Place is a delightful spot. The sun says goodbye, looking down the canal that leads to Edgbaston Reservoir & Wolverhampton.

Leasowes Park, Halesowen

Just outside Birmingham, near Halesowen, is Leasowes Park, a beautiful place for a walk in the countryside. It’s easy to reach on the National Express X9 or X10 routes from the city centre.

The banks of the Lapal Canal are a brilliant spot to watch the sun set or enjoy golden hour. During this time, the wildfowl also seem to come to life. The tree-lined banks and reed beds certainly add a dimension to the low sun, too.

Many other places on the high ground in the park offer the same view. One with seats and a quiet spot is in the Memorial Orchard.

Places to see Sunrise in Birmingham

The best places in the city I have found for watching the sunrise or early golden hour are the following:

St Martin in The Bullring Church

Near the Bullring Shopping Centre is St Martin’s Church, the best spot in the city for sunrise. Above this is a terrace raised above the church. The gap between the Bullring building and the church is a popular spot for sunrise photographers, and it delivers.

The first sunlight of the day is reflecting off the shiny exterior of the Selfridges building next to St Martin in the Bullring Church. This wild area is fantastic for sunrise hunters seeking a wonderful photo or a spiritual experience.

The sun is finally showing itself in the gap between the church and the Bullring. The balcony overlooking this area offers great views at any time of day.

The sky just before sunrise, taken near the Bullring shopping centre in December.

Selfridges Car Park in The City Centre

Depending on opening hours, Selfridges’ car park is a delightful spot to watch the sun come out to play. In summer, the timing may mean it’s not accessible, so check their hours before you go.

Digbeth from above at sunrise, taken from Selfridges’ car park. The gritty buildings and red skies certainly caught my imagination.

Jewellery Quarter

There are a few suitable spots in the Jewellery Quarter area of the city.

Looking down Ludgate Hill from St Paul’s Square is a magnificent view as the sun comes up. The colours and the blend of architectural styles in the shot really are great. As a bonus, there are benches to sit on and a cafe for coffee.

Birmingham City Centre

Some other hotspots for hunting in the morning sun.

The morning sky looking down Paradise Circus from Centenary Square has some glorious colours. The reflections on the windows of the tall buildings enhance the view here too.

Some mornings, the grass near St Chad’s Cathedral in Snow Hill has some great colourful skies. The reflections from the tall buildings add a dimension to the early sunlight.

Canals At Dawn

I enjoyed epic skies at sunrise while walking along the canals in the city. These epic photos were from when the skies were doing very strange things early in the morning. This is on the canal between Snow Hill and The Gun Quarter.

Gas Street Basin on the canals towards the Mailbox is also pretty special. The pretty boats, reflections and bridges combined with sunrise can be very pleasant.

Places enhanced by the Golden Hour in Birmingham

Parts of Birmingham that are very photogenic during the golden hour.

St Martin in the Bullring Church and the Bullring Shopping Centre during the morning golden hour. The colours here are fantastic, especially on the building’s discs.

The sky along the canal by Bordesley Middleway is very nice as the day ends. The canal picks up some great reflections too. In this photo, the canal is frozen for a unique scene.

Big Brum during golden hour in the evening from the terrace of Dishoom, an Indian restaurant.

The colours of the Colmore skyline are fantastic at first light, as seen from the Selfridges car park. The sun brings some colour to the area and some interesting reflections.

During both the early and late light, Victoria Square becomes even more photogenic than usual. The buildings ooze more colour, and interesting shadows appear. The Council House and Big Brum clock steal the show.