One of Birmingham's most recognisable street names has quietly disappeared. Paradise Circus, the name synonymous with the city's 1960s motor-age landscape, was officially changed to Lyon Queensway in December 2018, yet the alteration attracted almost no public attention at the time.
The change took place eight years ago, but many residents and visitors remained unaware for years afterward. Online maps continued to show the old name well into the 2020s, and even today the only visible indication of the renaming is a roadworks sign on Suffolk Street Queensway. That sign tells drivers that Lyon Queensway is closed until this winter, directing motorists to turn left onto Holliday Street instead.
Why the Name Changed
The origins of the renaming stretch back to 2016. Birmingham City Council confirmed in a statement that the road needed a new name because it no longer functioned as a roundabout, which is what the term "Circus" refers to in British road nomenclature.
The suggestion to call it Lyon Queensway came from then council leader Councillor Albert Bore. The name honours Birmingham's twin city of Lyon in France, reciprocating the French city's decision to name a street Avenue de Birmingham. According to a council spokesperson speaking in 2021, the proposal was intended to strengthen the relationship between the two partner cities.
The council consulted ward councillors in October 2016, followed by local residents in February 2017. Public notices were displayed in July 2018 under the Public Health Act, and the name received no objections. The official change took effect on December 20, 2018.
Road Closure and Future Plans
Despite the formal renaming, no nameplates have ever been installed due to ongoing roadworks in the area. The council stated in 2021 that the road would be permanently prioritised for public transport and cyclists, and would never reopen to through traffic.
The closure has been in place for an extended period, with the current roadworks sign indicating that Lyon Queensway will remain shut until this winter. Motorists approaching from Suffolk Street Queensway must take a detour via Holliday Street.
The Paradise name lives on through the extensive Paradise development project that has grown up around the Town Hall and stretches toward Centenary Square. The development has transformed the area into a major commercial and cultural hub, though the original roundabout that gave the street its famous name is long gone.
Impact on the City
The quiet renaming reflects broader changes in Birmingham's city centre, where the dominance of cars from the 1960s has given way to pedestrian-friendly and public-transport-focused planning. The decision to close Lyon Queensway to through traffic permanently marks a significant shift in how the city manages its central road network.
For now, anyone looking for Paradise Circus on a map will find no trace of the name. The street's new identity as Lyon Queensway is official, even if the signage has yet to catch up with the paperwork. The roadworks are expected to conclude this winter, at which point the area may finally receive the nameplates that have been missing since 2018.
