Some friends of ours have a narrow boat which they live on semi-permanently, and they love the canal area of Brum (Gas Street Basin, I think it's called). They are two crusty gentlemen of a certain age, who certainly aren't the sort to go in for gentrification or trendiness, but they're always saying what a marvellous atmosphere there is down there.

I'm angling for them to take me on a trip down that way... *g*