Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025

IgersbirminghamUK organised a walk around Spaghetti Junction on a warm Saturday afternoon at the beginning of August. For this blog entry, I have 24 frames which is the number of a roll of film. These pictures were taken with either my iPhone or Fujifilm x100vi. The stories and sights under the motorway are always changing and always surprising. Enjoy this photo essay.

Figures

People move around the complex concrete structures. They look apologetic for their presence as the concrete really does enjoy its own company.

Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Figure in the subway
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
A walk home with the noise of cars above.

Cyclists

People move quickly on the towpath nobody wants to stay too long as they may get lost in the concrete.

Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Cyclist between the pillars.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
There is light in the dark that guides the cyclist.

Pillars

The main feature of the concrete structures is the pillars. Reaching to the sky they hold the roads in place. If the pillars disappear then there so will the roads.

Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Reaching for the sky
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
The height of the pillars dwarfs the people who dare wander next to them.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
The cathedral pillars of Salford circus.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Gaps between the Pillars.

Are you lost yet?

A line from the 25 paintings project by Bill Drummond.

Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
So easy to lose your way under the motorway.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
There is signage to help.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Colourful signs break through the concrete monotones.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
A scrawled sign lets you know where you are.

Traces of humanity

There are examples that humans have passed through the area.

Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Real Magic
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Birmingham, England
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
A smashing time.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Walk this way

Nature fights back

Nature is slowly eroding the concrete jungle. Trees and greenery have established themselves amongst the pillars.

Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Greenery lines the paths.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Trees in the sunlight.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Concrete vs nature standoff.

I hope you enjoyed this photo essay of my recent visits to Spaghetti Junction. If you ever have the chance to visit the area then do take up the opportunity. There are regular tours that take in Aston Reservoir and the more interesting parts of the canal network. The interchange does become very quiet at the weekends. During the week, there is construction activity focused on maintaining the pillars that are essential to holding the motorway network together. The highs and lows of a visit around the Gravelley Hill interchange are illustrated below. The highlights include the wonders of the construction and architecture. The lows are the faceless nature of the area which has areas that are not particularly inviting.

Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
The classical view of the pillars lined up along the river Rea.
Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, August 2025
Barbed wire and undistinguished areas of the Junction.

Are you wanting to read more about Spaghetti Junction then here are more of my visits about what lies beneath the M6. I recommend starting with this blog post that sets the scene for my photo essay.

This series of pictures features Birmingham centre just after the clocks have gone back. Why is this so important. Sunrise for the next couple of weeks is around 7 am and that is the time that I get into Birmingham. When I took these pictures, I did not have any theme attached to them as I just felt like I needed to stroll around the city and see what is happening.

A lone figure in Victoria Square

There is a fair amount of change happening around Birmingham. This includes the next phase of the Metro tram linking up between Grand Central and Broad Street. There are also many new buildings going up around Chamberlain Square. So many changes happening. I then moved onto Gas Street Basin and caught the light from the early morning sun.

The view to Centennial Square with a lone figure

It was only when I reviewed the pictures that I noticed a figure in each of the pictures. Maybe it is the same person that was following me around the city as I was taking photographs. Whoever he/she or they were, they do add a point of interest and a story to the pictures.

Looking towards the mailbox with a lone figure
Looking towards the sunrise