Paradise Circus, one of Birmingham’s most iconic street names, has quietly ceased to exist - and surprisingly, very few people have noticed. The name, strongly associated with the city’s image since the 1960s when the large roundabout dominated the city’s landscape, was officially changed to Lyon Queensway back in December 2018.
Despite the official renaming, many maps and guides continued to refer to the area as Paradise Circus for years after the change. The only clear indication of this transition today is a roadworks sign informing motorists on Suffolk Street Queensway that Lyon Queensway is closed until winter, directing traffic instead onto Holliday Street.
The decision to rename the road traces back over a decade. Birmingham City Council declared in 2021 that the road was being prioritised for public transport and cyclists, with plans to permanently close it to through traffic. Since the original roundabout was dismantled, retaining the term “circus” was no longer appropriate.
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The name “Lyon Queensway” honours Lyon, one of Birmingham’s twin cities, continuing a tradition of reciprocal naming; Lyon itself has an Avenue de Birmingham. The renaming proposal was initially suggested by then Council Leader Cllr Albert Bore in 2016.
Consultations took place with local ward councillors in October 2016, residents in February 2017, and again through public notices in July 2018 as part of the Public Health Act. The change encountered no objections.
While the Paradise name lives on through the extensive development projects around the Town Hall and Centenary Square, the official street name has now aligned with the city’s commitment to sustainable transport and its international partnership.
Due to ongoing roadworks, official street nameplates have yet to be installed, meaning many residents and visitors remain unaware of the change on a day-to-day basis.