It served the Soho Manufactory, one of the world's first modern factories, which was established by Mathew Boulton in 1761.

Thomas Telford shortened the canal by joining the two ends of the Soho Loop in the 1820's.

From Rotton Park Junction on Telford's Mainline Canal, the Loop travels northwards past the former site of the Soho Manufactory, beneath Spring Hill Bridge and then past Hockley Port and City Hospital.

It then doubles back in a south-westerly direction, past Lodge Road Cricket Ground, Winson Green Prison, Winson Green Road (A4040) and the West Coast Mainline Railway before rejoining Telford's Mainline Canal at Soho Junction.

The Soho Loop contains a port that was built to tranship cargo between the canal and the Great Western Railway.

It has one main dock arm, which is cut directly from the loop, and two side arms. The port is now a mooring for houseboats and is equipped with showers, toilets, electric points and refuse/elsan disposal.

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