Solihull

Solihull is often regarded as the 'posh' part of Birmingham even though it isn't in Birmingham. Surrounded by leafy suburbs and expensive mansions, it is home to some of the Midlands' wealthiest. It is the site of the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and Birmingham Airport, and is also well known for being home of the world-famous vehicle manufacturer Land Rover, whose plant is a couple of miles from the town centre.

The Metropolitan Borough of Solihull includes towns and districts of Castle Bromwich, Dorridge, Hampton-in-Arden, Hockley Heath, Knowle, Marston Green, Olton, Shirley, and the small village of Meriden. In 2021, it was home to 127,000 people.

• Visit Solihull website

Solihull town centre is small enough to walk around on foot and much of the central area is pedestrianised. To visit attractions further afield Solihull is well served by buses and rail - see above.

• 🌍 National Motorcycle Museum, at the A45 and M42 clover leaf (take a train from New Street station to Hampton-in-Arden, then walk north along Old Station Road until the end, the museum is then on your right), ☏ +44 1675 443311. Daily 8:30AM-5:30PM. On display in the museum is the world's largest collection of British motorcycles. With over 850 models on display, the museum's history covers over a century of motorcycle design and manufacturing. The museum opened in 1984 with an initial collection of some 350 motorcycles, among which several unique specimens such as a Wilkinson Luxury Tourer, a Wilkinson 850 and a Brough Superior Golden Dream. £10 for adults, £8 for children and seniors. (updated May 2018)
• 🌍 Elmdon Park. Old walled garden is now a local nature reserve. (updated Jan 2017)
• 🌍 Brueton and Malvern Parks. (updated Apr 2021)
• 🌍 Baddesley Clinton, Rising Lane, Baddesley Clinton, B93 0DQ (6 miles south of Solihull), ☏ +44 1564 783294, baddesleyclinton@nationaltrust.org.uk. 
• 🌍 Packwood House, Packwood Lane, Lapworth, B94 6AT (6 miles south of Solihull), ☏ +44 1564 782024, packwood@nationaltrust.org.uk. 
• 🌍 Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens. Restored Jacobean gardens; listed grade II* and the only remaining example in the country of a formal English garden design. The adjacent Hall is now privately owned. (updated Jun 2018)

• 🌍 Land Rover Experience – Home of the Legend. Includes a factory tour and hands-on driving course. (updated Apr 2021)
• Watch football at Solihull Moors FC, who play soccer in the National League, the game's fifth tier in England. Their home ground is Damson Park, capacity 5500, two miles north of town towards the airport.
• Solihull Ice Rink is 10 minutes north of town centre - take the 71 or 72 bus.
• 9-screen Cineworld cinema in the Touchwood shopping centre with ten surrounding restaurants.
• Take a walk around Brueton and Malvern parks - feed the ducks, visit the nature centre and see the arboretum.

One of the main reasons for visiting Solihull has to be for shopping.

• 🌍 Touchwood. This shopping centre attracts shoppers from all over the region with its extensive range of small boutique style shops as well as big high street names. It is especially impressive for clothes shopping with a list of stores including Gap, French Connection, Zara, Bravissimo, Republic, SuperDry and Hollister. Touchwood also has the only John Lewis department store in the West Midlands and a large Apple Store. On the boutique side Touchwood is particularly strong on jewellery with ten jewellers and quirky extras such as 'Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe'. 
• Mell Square, Mell Square, B91 3BG (follow signs for Solihull Town Centre). (updated Jul 2017) is near Touchwood shopping centre.

In Solihull town centre, there is a range of food outlets ranging from McDonald's on the High Street to Nandos, Wagamama and TGI Friday in Touchwood to expensive restaurants and brasseries at the top of the High Street near the church. All 3 department stores (M&S, Beatties and John Lewis) have cafes and there are many pubs in and around Solihull that serve excellent food. The Fieldhouse pub just outside the town centre in the Hillfield area is particularly notable for good food and a great atmosphere.

• 🌍 Touchwood - multiple restaurants. (updated Apr 2021)
• 🌍 Indian Dream, Dovehouse Parade. (updated Apr 2021)

There are plenty of pubs in Solihull town centre including a JD Wetherspoon pub called the White Swan, the modern Bar Censsa, and the Masons Arms near the entrance to Touchwood. There are also 'wine bars' such as the Town House.

If the main reason you are visiting Solihull is for the NEC there is a good range of hotels on the NEC site including a Hilton, Crowne Plaza, Premier Travel Inn and Holiday Inn Express. In Solihull town centre are the Ramada hotel, the Renaissance Hotel and a Holiday Inn. There are also many B&Bs in the local area.

• 🌍 The St John's Hotel, 651 Warwick Road, ☏ +44 2920 454045, fax: +44 121 705-6629, enquiries.stjohns@principal-hayley.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Hotel and event venue offering 180 guest rooms, 13 event suites, leisure club and restaurant. (updated Apr 2021)
• 🌍 Hampton Manor, Shadowbrook Lane, Hampton-in-Arden B92 0DQ (off B4102), ☏ +44 1675 446080. Splendid country house hotel in Victorian pile done up in mock-Tudor. Great dining. No children under 12 or dogs. B&B double £180. (updated Aug 2020)

Solihull is an excellent base for visiting the surrounding West Midlands. As well the UK's second largest city, Birmingham, other places to see nearby include Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon and Coventry.